A Night Out
On the evening of September 8, 2017, Kenneka Jenkins attended a hotel party at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel with friends to celebrate a birthday.
The group had rented a room, drank alcohol, and socialized.
Multiple videos later surfaced showing Kenneka drinking heavily. Friends described her as intoxicated but still functioning.
At some point after midnight, Kenneka became separated from her friends.
The Disturbing Surveillance Footage
Hotel surveillance footage later showed Kenneka:
- Wandering alone through hallways
- Appearing disoriented
- Stumbling and leaning on walls
- Entering restricted staff areas
- Eventually entering the hotel kitchen
Crucially, the kitchen door to the walk-in freezer was not locked.
The footage showed Kenneka entering the freezer area alone. She did not exit.
The Search & Police Response
When Kenneka’s friends realized she was missing, they searched the hotel themselves. Later, her mother Teresa Martinarrived and demanded police action.
Despite repeated pleas, police initially dismissed concerns, suggesting Kenneka might return on her own.
Hours later after extensive searching Kenneka’s body was found inside the walk-in freezer, face-down.
Autopsy Findings
The Cook County Medical Examiner ruled Kenneka’s death an accident, citing:
- Hypothermia
- Alcohol intoxication
- No signs of trauma
- No evidence of sexual assault
- No defensive injuries
Her blood alcohol level was reportedly high.
Why the Public Was Outraged
Despite the ruling, the case exploded nationwide due to:
- Conflicting timelines
- Delayed police response
- Hotel security concerns
- Why the freezer was accessible
- Why staff didn’t check it earlier
- Allegations of cover-up
Social media amplified speculation, with theories ranging from:
- Foul play by acquaintances
- Human trafficking
- Organ harvesting (unfounded)
- Hotel negligence
- Evidence tampering
No evidence ever supported these claims but the unanswered why lingered.
Civil Lawsuit & Settlement
Kenneka’s family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against:
- The hotel
- The city
- Security contractors
The lawsuit alleged negligence and failure to properly respond.
In 2019, the case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
What Likely Happened
Based on evidence:
- Kenneka was extremely intoxicated
- She became disoriented
- She entered a restricted area unnoticed
- She entered the freezer
- She could not exit
- Hypothermia set in quickly
It’s a tragic combination of intoxication, unsafe access, and delayed response.
This case unsettles people because it feels preventable.
Not because someone murdered Kenneka but because multiple systems failed her:
- Friends didn’t realize how impaired she was
- Hotel security missed warning signs
- Police response lacked urgency
Her life mattered.
True Crime Weekly 
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