Kenneka Jenkins Case: FBI Not Needed For Investigation, Rosemont's Top Cop Says

ROSEMONT, IL — The death investigation of Kenneka Jenkins — the 19-year-old woman who was found dead in a Rosemont hotel walk-in freezer — will remain with local police despite demands for the FBI to be brought in, the village's public safety chief said Monday. The calls to bring in the federal law enforcement agency began over the weekend during a memorial for the teen in Chicago. Participants marched Sunday to the FBI's Chicago headquarters and demonstrated outside the downtown building to convince the agency to step in.

Rosemont Public Safety Chief Donald E. Stephens III said in a statement Monday that Jenkins' death investigation — which he said was "an utmost priority" — will stay with his department, according to the Daily Herald. Investigators, however, will keep the door open when it comes to consulting with other law enforcement agencies down the road.

"As with any investigation, we have resources and assistance available from the local, county, state, and federal level," Stephens said in the statement. "I am fully confident in the ability of each and every one of the officers, detectives, and leadership team charged with this case. At no time have I doubted the work that is being done." (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

As of the end of last week, detectives had questioned 25 people connected with the Jenkins' time at the hotel, including 16 who were at the party, the Herald reports. Investigators are still trying to contact 15 more people to interview, the report added.

Police have classified the death investigation as noncriminal, and investigators initially told Jenkins' family that she was intoxicated when she let herself into the freezer and died inside. But Jenkins' mother, Tereasa Martin, and others have questioned that theory. Some have suggested foul play was involved in her death.

More Patch Coverage

Chicago Teen Found Dead In Hotel Freezer; Facebook Video Could Provide Clues: "I believe someone in this hotel killed my child," Kenneka Jenkins' mother said.

Autopsy For Chicago Teen Found In Hotel Freezer Inconclusive: Rosemont police plan to show hotel security camera video to the victim's mother.

Kenneka Jenkins Walked Into Hotel Freezer Alone: Activist: Rosemont hotel offers to pay for 19-year-old's funeral.

Videos Released By Cops Don't Show Kenneka Jenkins Entering Freezer: A lawyer for the victim's family said they have not seen footage showing the teen walking into a hotel freezer alone.

According to authorities, Jenkins went to Rosemont's Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel & Conference Center Sept. 8 to attend a party. After about 4 a.m. Sept. 9, friends contacted Jenkins' mother, saying they couldn't find the teen. Jenkins was reported missing that afternoon. Following an 11-hour search, hotel staff found Jenkins' body inside a walk-in freezer early Sept. 10.

Hotel security camera videos of Jenkins' time there were made public by police Friday. The footage shows her stumbling around areas of the hotel, but no videos were released that capture Jenkins entering the freezer. A day before the videos became public, Chicago activist Andrew Holmes said police had shown him footage of Jenkins walking into the freezer and not coming out.

Martin has disputed Holmes' account, and Larry Rogers Jr., a personal injury attorney representing the family, said Martin has not seen or been given any footage showing her daughter walking into the freezer.

More via the Daily Herald

Kenneka Jenkins (right), 19, was found inside a walk-in freezer at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel & Conference Center in Rosemont. (Photo via GoFundMe)

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