Last week, the Rosemont Police Department closed the case of 19-year-old Kenneka Jenkins, whose body was discovered inside a hotel freezer at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chicago. The announcement came after authorities ruled the teen’s death was accidental caused by hypothermia in mid-October.
According to the medical examiner’s office, alcohol, and topiramate intoxication, a prescription drug used to treat epilepsy, were found in the teen’s system. However, Jenkins’ was not prescribed the drug.
“While there were many theories, rumors and much speculation floating around social media regarding the death of Ms. Jenkins, none were supported with facts,” said Rosemont Police Chief Donald Stephens III in a statement. “While all leads and theories were investigated by our department, what we have reported throughout the investigation and again, today, are the facts.”
“At this time, the Rosemont Public Safety Department has closed the death investigation of Kenneka Jenkins and has classified this incident as an accidental death. There is no evidence that indicates any other conclusion.”
Aside from the statement released by chief Stephens, graphic police photographs taken after Jenkins’ body was found, were published on the Rosemont Police Department’s website leaving the public with more unanswered questions rather than answers.
According to Rosemont police reports, Jenkins’ was found on her side, face down, with her left arm underneath her, her right shoe off and a small cut on her right foot.
The photographs show Jenkins wearing jeans, a jean jacket, with her t-shirt pulled up exposing her breasts.
“Scientist who have studied hypothermia have described a phenomenon known as paradoxical undressing, in which people freezing to death remove their clothing,” reported the Chicago Tribune.
“It is concluded that paradoxical undressing might be explained by changes in peripheral vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels supplying the extremities) in the deeply hypothermic person,” scientists wrote in a 1979 journal article. “It represents the last effort of the victim and is followed almost immediately by unconsciousness and death.”
Despite conspiracy theory claims on social media, Rosemont Police believe that Jenkins’ was not the victim of foul play.