Locked In the Ice Box, 19-Year-Old Woman Frozen Alive at Crowne Plaza

The family of Kenneka Jenkins, a 19-year-old who was found dead inside a walk-in freezer at the Crowne Plaza Chicago-O’Hare Hotel in 2017, has reached a settlement worth over $6 million. Jenkins’ death, ruled accidental by the Cook County medical examiner, drew intense public interest, with her mother accusing hotel staff of negligence for failing to locate her daughter in time.

A Mysterious Disappearance

On Sept. 9, 2017, Jenkins attended a party on the ninth floor of the Crowne Plaza. Surveillance footage later showed her wandering the hotel in a disoriented state, and at one point, moving toward the kitchen, where she was last seen before her death. Jenkins was reported missing around 2:30 a.m., and family and friends alerted hotel staff, urging them to search the premises. However, it took nearly 24 hours before her body was found in a freezer within an unused section of the hotel’s kitchen, an area under renovation at the time.

Questions of Negligence

Jenkins’ mother, Tereasa Martin, filed a lawsuit against the hotel in 2018, citing staff negligence in both security measures and the failure to check surveillance footage promptly. Martin’s attorneys stated that Jenkins was visibly impaired on the hotel’s security cameras and that multiple staff members saw her wandering toward the freezer area but did not intervene. Martin alleged that quicker action could have potentially saved Jenkins’ life. The settlement comes as the hotel, its security company, and other involved parties avoid a full court trial.

Controversial Circumstances and Theories

The medical examiner’s report attributed Jenkins’ death to hypothermia, compounded by alcohol and topiramate - a medication used for migraines and epilepsy, though not prescribed to Jenkins. Together, the alcohol and drug could have significantly impaired her motor skills and judgment, contributing to her accidental entrapment in the freezer. Surveillance cameras in the kitchen recorded her entry, but did not show her entering the freezer directly. Her death spurred conspiracy theories online, drawing further public scrutiny and petitions for reopening the investigation.

A Broader Conversation on Media Coverage and Missing Persons of Color

The Jenkins case also brought attention to what advocates argue is a pattern of inadequate media coverage for missing Black women and girls. While Jenkins’ death was heavily discussed, the heightened interest largely came from public advocacy rather than immediate media coverage, highlighting gaps in how these cases are treated. In response, some states, including California, have implemented initiatives like the “Ebony Alert” to improve visibility and resources for missing Black individuals.

With the settlement, Jenkins’ mother and family members may finally have some form of closure, though the emotional pain remains. While questions still linger, the settlement provides a significant measure of accountability for Jenkins’ tragic death. Beyond the financial agreement, the case highlights the critical need for vigilance and timely action in protecting hotel guests, reminding institutions of their role in ensuring the safety of all who rely on their services.

References: She died in a hotel’s walk-in freezer. Her family will receive more than $6 million | Death of woman in hotel freezer is ruled an accident