On December 12, 2023, the family of Kenneka Jenkins, who was discovered dead in the walk-in freezer of a hotel at the age of 19, reportedly struck a settlement for $6 million after a years-long battle. The tragedy took place in the Chicago region and elicited attention from several people. Conspiracy theorists were among those who took notice of Jenkins’ death.
She was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 27, 1998. After attending a hotel party with her friends on September 8, 2017, she was last observed on surveillance footage in the hotel’s hallways on the early morning of September 9. Her friends and family started to worry when she did not come home, and began looking for her.
Jenkins was discovered on September 10, 2017, in the hotel’s walk-in freezer. People on social media suggested foul play in response to the circumstances surrounding her death. That being said, there was no proof of any criminal behavior or foul play, according to investigations conducted by law enforcement, including the Rosemont Police Department.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office declared alcohol consumption was a contributing factor in Kenneka Jenkins’ official cause of death, hypothermia. The coroner declared her death to be an accident.
Teresa Martin, her mother, sued the Crown Plaza Hotel, its outside security firm, and the restaurant that regularly utilized the commercial freezer for $50 million in 2018. The lawsuit stated that because no one started looking for Jenkins after she vanished, staff members were negligent in the teen’s death.
Court records indicate that in August, both parties decided on a settlement. Martin made an attempt to keep the public unaware of the litigation. However, the court overseeing the case denied her plea, revealing that information to the public on Tuesday, December 11.
After a six-year wrongful death settlement, the family of the teen received $6.4 million. More than $3.7 million will go to Martin. Jenkins’ brother, Kenneth Lee Jenkins, will receive $1.2 million, and her half-sister, Leonore Harris, will get $1.5 million. Notably, court documents stated that almost $3.5 million of the total settlement would go toward attorney fees, and an extra $6,000 would have been used for burial expenses.
