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Chicago Woman Dies Of Hypothermia, Cold Exposure At Home

(STMW) -- A woman who died Thursday at her home in the West Side Austin neighborhood was at least the 23rd cold-related death of the season in Cook County, authorities said.

Ernestine Felters, 64, died Feb. 27 at her home in the 1700 block of North Luna Avenue, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said.

Officers were called to the home about 6:20 p.m. when she was found unresponsive at home, police News Affairs Officer Daniel O'Brien said.

She was dead at the scene, the medical examiner's office said.

An autopsy Friday found Felters died of hypothermia and cold exposure, according to the medical examiner's office. Her death was ruled an accident.

The last time the county saw more than 20 cold-related deaths was 2008-09, when 23 people died of cold-related causes, officials said. Last winter and the winter of 2011-2012 each saw 14 cold-related deaths in the county.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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