Kenneka Jenkins' Family Awarded $6.4M Settlement for Hotel Freezer Death

The family of Kenneka Jenkins, a 19-year-old woman who was found dead in a hotel freezer in 2017, will receive a $6.4 million settlement in a lawsuit against the hotel, its security contractor, and a restaurant. The settlement, which was reached in October but only made public recently, allocates the funds to Jenkins' mother, half-sister, and brother. The lawsuit claimed negligence on the part of the hotel, security contractor, and restaurant for failing to secure the freezer and conduct a thorough search for Jenkins when she went missing. Jenkins' death, ruled as hypothermia with alcohol and drugs as contributing factors, sparked protests and conspiracy theories. The case has been dismissed by a Cook County judge.