A Chicago activists claims he has seen surveillance footage that shows a young woman enter a walk-in hotel freezer alone and un-coerced where she was later found dead.
Andrew Holmes, a long-time anti-violence campaigner who has worked with the city’s police department, told the Chicago Tribune detectives investigating the death of Kenneka Jenkins showed him the video as he sought answers for her family.
“We all was wondering and wanted to know did anybody pull her down there?” Holmes told the newspaper.
“Did anybody force her down there? Was anybody on the other side in that room when she got down there?
“And the answer to that is ‘no’.”
Ms Jenkins was found dead in an industrial freezer at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Chicago suburb of Rosemone on Saturday at about midnight.
A number of Facebook Live videos were shared in the hours leading up to the woman’s disappearance, one showing a somewhat disorientated Ms Jenkins wondering about the hotel.
The videos form part of the police inquiry, which also reportedly includes footage from more than 40 cameras from around the hotel.
The activist said surveillance tape shows Ms Jenkins waiting in the hotel lobby while her friends return to the room to get some items.
She then makes her way to a lift that takes her to the lower levels of the hotel where she walks about, opening doors in what appears to be a disorientated state, he said.
Holmes said the woman then makes her way through a kitchen area before entering a large freezer when the door shuts behind her.
“It was just an accident waiting to happen,” the activist said.
Holmes’ account differs from the widely circulating conspiracy theory that Ms Jenkins was murdered, saying the speculation was “just something they made up on social media”.
The Rosemount police said they plan to show Ms Jenkins’ mother Tereasa Martin the footage to allay fears her daughter met with foul play.
The grieving mother said she planned to view the footage with her lawyer present.
No arrests have been made in relation to Ms Jenkins’ death and there has been no official confirmation of her cause of death.
Crowne Plaza announced its intention to cover the young woman’s funeral costs, with a spokesperson for the hotel adding her family would be allowed to view a total of 36 hours of CCTV footage captured by 40 different cameras.
“Our hearts go out to the Kenneka's mother, her family and friends,” Crowne spokesman Glenn Harston said in a statement.
“We hope covering the funeral costs provides a small bit of relief for them.”
It is not yet known if Ms Jenkins’ family has accepted Crowne’s offer
Andrew Holmes, a long-time anti-violence campaigner who has worked with the city’s police department, told the Chicago Tribune detectives investigating the death of Kenneka Jenkins showed him the video as he sought answers for her family.
“We all was wondering and wanted to know did anybody pull her down there?” Holmes told the newspaper.
“Did anybody force her down there? Was anybody on the other side in that room when she got down there?
“And the answer to that is ‘no’.”
Kenneka Jenkins, 19, was found dead in a freezer on Saturday night. Source: Facebook
- Sydney resident sends letter to ban 'noisy' kids playing in street, saying it's 'not the Australian way'
- Man suffers burns to 80 per cent of his body after falling into SA hot spring
- Would you buy this chicken? Woolies customer spots glaring concern
A number of Facebook Live videos were shared in the hours leading up to the woman’s disappearance, one showing a somewhat disorientated Ms Jenkins wondering about the hotel.
Activist Andrew Holmes (inset) enquired on behalf of Ms Jenkins' family. Source: Facebook/Supplied
The activist said surveillance tape shows Ms Jenkins waiting in the hotel lobby while her friends return to the room to get some items.
Jenkins and her friends shared a number of videos on Facebook Live in the lead up to her death. Source: Facebook
Holmes said the woman then makes her way through a kitchen area before entering a large freezer when the door shuts behind her.
“It was just an accident waiting to happen,” the activist said.
One video, posted by Monifah Shelton, shows a woman talking to the camera. Source: Facebook
The Rosemount police said they plan to show Ms Jenkins’ mother Tereasa Martin the footage to allay fears her daughter met with foul play.
The grieving mother said she planned to view the footage with her lawyer present.
No arrests have been made in relation to Ms Jenkins’ death and there has been no official confirmation of her cause of death.
Ms Jenkins' death sparked numerous online theories of foul play. Source: Facebook
“Our hearts go out to the Kenneka's mother, her family and friends,” Crowne spokesman Glenn Harston said in a statement.
“We hope covering the funeral costs provides a small bit of relief for them.”
It is not yet known if Ms Jenkins’ family has accepted Crowne’s offer
Comments
Post a Comment