Northfield Man Is 11th Cold-Related Death In Cook County
NORTHFIELD (CBS) -- A north suburban man is at least the 11th reported cold-related death this winter in Cook County.
Northfield police officers preforming a well-being check found Robert Sembrat, 55, unresponsive at his home on Bristol Street in Northfield about 11:34 a.m. Wednesday, police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said.
Sembrat's boss was concerned because he had not heard from him in a few days and called police, Deputy Chief Claude Casaletto said.
Sembrat was pronounced dead at 12:30 p.m. at the scene, the medical examiner's office said.
He died of hypothermia, cold exposure and heart disease, an autopsy showed.
Casaletto could not immediately say whether Sembrat's home was heated.
At least 10 other people have died because of the cold this winter:
Andrea Ysaguirre, 66, died at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island at 11:10 a.m. Jan. 7. Ysaguirre, of Calumet Park, died of cold exposure, heart disease, kidney disease and heart failure.
Bernabe Garcia, 49, died in the 3600 block of West Palmer Street at 5:55 a.m. Jan. 7. Garcia, who was homeless, died of of hypothermia, cold exposure, alcohol intoxication and heart disease.
Elias Contreras, 80, was the first cold-related death of the year in Cook County and died at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island at 9:15 p.m. Jan. 6. Contreras, of Blue Island, died of hypothermia, cold exposure, diabetes and heart disease.
Thomas Kachlicki, 66, was found dead at his home Dec. 19 on West Wrightwood Avenue. He died of hypothermia and cold exposure.
William Buckley, 67, was found dead Dec. 17 by officers conducting a well-being check at his home on West 118th Street, authorities said. He died of hypothermia, cold exposure, and heart disease.
Margie Chandler, 62, died at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center Dec. 12. An autopsy found she died from complications of hypothermia and cold exposure.
Carolyn Wilkins, 61, died at Franciscan St. James Health in Chicago Heights at 8:32 a.m. Dec. 10. An autopsy found Wilkins, of Chicago Heights, died of heart disease, hypothermia and diabetes.
David Kraft, 52, was found dead under a bridge Nov. 26 in the 3000 block of West Washington Street. Kraft, whose home address is unknown, died of hypothermia, cold exposure and alcoholism.
Daniel Badillo, 50, was found in the 3100 block of West 99th Street and pronounced dead at St. Anthony Hospital on Nov. 24. An autopsy found he died of hypothermia, cold exposure, and acute and chronic alcoholism
Beverly Weaver, 64, was found dead in the 1500 block of West Lawrence Avenue on Oct. 25. An autopsy found she died of hypothermia, cold exposure and heart disease.
All of the deaths have been ruled accidental.
