*The mother of a Chicago teenage girl found dead in a hotel freezer in 2017 has settled her lawsuit against the establishment.
Teresa Martin filed a $50 million suit against the Crowne Plaza Chicago-O’Hare Hotel for negligence after her daughter Kenneka Jenkins, 19, was found dead in the freezer. In the legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Martin alleged that the hotel was made aware of Jenkins’ disappearance from a room where a party was being thrown.
The lawsuit accused hotel staff of not properly reviewing the video footage because her teen daughter could clearly be seen stumbling into the kitchen. Martin also alleged that several hotel staffers failed to help Jenkins when she walked by them after allegedly wandering off from the party.
Jenkins’ body was found in the freezer nearly 24 hours after she was reported missing. The cause of death was listed as hypothermia and ruled accidental, but many suspected foul play. The police closed out their investigation without any arrests. Martin believes the blame lies with the hotel.
#BREAKING Kenneka Jenkins’ mother, Teresa Martin, has reached an agreement with the Crowne Plaza Hotel six years after her daughter was tragically discovered deceased in a walk-in freezer. She wishes to keep the settlement amount confidential to ensure her safety. pic.twitter.com/vpbw0nhTaP
— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) October 6, 2023
In 2018, the hotel released the following statement: “The death of Kenneka Jenkins was a tragedy, but the proximate cause of her death were the unsavory individuals who used a stolen credit card to book a room and host an illegal party which Ms. Jenkins attended. Those criminals escaped the hotel before police arrived and have never truly been held accountable. This lawsuit has no merit and we will vigorously contest it.”
According to People, the parties agreed on the settlement in August, but details about the agreement have not been disclosed.
Martin and the defendants also want the records to remain sealed for privacy and safety reasons, according to CBS Chicago.
READ MORE: Kenneka Jenkins: Mother Sues Chicago Hotel for $50M After Teen Found Dead in Freezer
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