Lawyers: Pics of Kenneka Jenkins' Body 'Raise More Questions'

But police have officially ended the investigation into her death
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 21, 2017 3:32 PM CDT
Police Officially End Investigation Into Death of Kenneka Jenkins
This Sept. 10 photo shows the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel & Conference Center in Rosemont, Ill., where the body of 19-year-old Kenneka Jenkins was found dead in a freezer.   (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Authorities on Friday officially closed their investigation into the death of Kenneka Jenkins, who was found "frozen solid" in a freezer in the unused kitchen of a Chicago-area hotel Sept. 10, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. According to the Chicago Tribune, Rosemont police—after a thorough investigation that included interviews with 44 people, dozens of hours of surveillance footage, forensic analysis on multiple cellphones, and more—have determined the 19-year-old's death to be accidental, stating there is "no evidence that indicates any other conclusion." Police say none of the conspiracy theories about foul play floated on social media "were supported by facts," CNN reports. Police say there is no evidence Jenkins was forced to drink or take drugs at the party where she was last seen.

Jenkins' family doesn't appear satisfied with the conclusion of authorities. Along with the closing of the investigation, police released documents related to the case on Friday. Lawyers for Jenkins' mother say the "graphic and disturbing" photos of Jenkins' body in the freezer "inexplicably show portions of Kenneka's body exposed" and "raise more questions ... than they answer." Photos of Jenkins' body in the freezer show her with her jean jacket still on but her shirt pulled up "exposing her breasts." This could be the result of what scientists call "paradoxical undressing" in which a hypothermia victim removes clothing despite freezing to death. A medical examiner had already concluded Jenkins died from hypothermia with no signs of internal or external trauma. In a statement, police called her death "especially sad." (More Kenneka Jenkins stories.)

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