Kenneka Jenkins' Family Seeks $50M: Rosemont Hotel Freezer Death

ROSEMONT, IL — The mother of the 19-year-old Chicago woman found dead inside a Rosemont hotel freezer in September 2017 is suing the establishment, more than a year after investigators determined Kenneka Jenkins' death was accidental. According to The Chicago Tribune, Jenkins' family and her mother, Tereasa Martin, this week filed a lawsuit seeking $50 million against the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel, the Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant — which reportedly rented the area where Jenkins' body was found — and Rosemont's security contractor, Capital Security and Investigations.

The lawsuit claims the defendants were negligent, saying the security company failed to put an end to the Sept. 8, 2017 party Jenkins attended, did not quickly review security camera footage, and did not properly search for her when she went missing, despite claims Jenkins passed hotel employees while wandering hotel hallways, the Tribune said.

According to the lawsuit, the walk-in freezer in which Jenkins' body was found on Sept. 10, 2017, had “a sticker affixed that was completely faded and failed to instruct how to release the lock system of the door."

Patch reported the investigation into Jenkins' death was closed in October 2017 after the Cook County medical examiner's office and the Rosemont Public Safety Department concluded her death was an accident, caused by hypothermia from cold exposure. The conclusion was reached after authorities interviewed 44 people, held five photo lineups, executed three search warrants generating 135 reports, according to Patch.

RELATED:

• 1 Year Since Death Of Kenneka Jenkins In Rosemont Hotel Freezer
• Kenneka Jenkins Case Closed, Death Was Accidental: Rosemont's Top Cop
• Chicago Teen Found Dead In Hotel Freezer; Facebook Video Could Provide Clues: "I believe someone in this hotel killed my child," Kenneka Jenkins's mother said.
  

>>More Patch coverage on Jenkins' death investigation

An autopsy concluded that alcohol and a drug used to treat epilepsy and migraines were "significant contributing factors." There were no signs of trauma to her body, authorities said.

Image of Kenneka Jenkins via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner