Cause of Death Revealed for Woman Found 'Entangled' in Chicago Airport Baggage System

Mar. 15, 2025

Chicago’s O’hare Airport.Photo:Getty

Chicago’s O’hare Airport file image

Getty

The cause of death for the 57-year-old woman whose bodywas found in a baggage area at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airportlast week has reportedly been revealed.

The manner of death was hanging and asphyxiation.

On Aug. 8, Vinton was pronounced deceased at the scene at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time, the Chicago Police Department previously confirmed to PEOPLE.

She had been seen on video “entering an unoccupied restricted area at 2:27 a.m.,” police added, stating that the Chicago Fire Department had responded to a call of an unresponsive female later that morning.

According to theAP, she was found “entangled in a conveyor belt system in a baggage room.”

U.S. Department of Labor spokesperson Scott Allen told PEOPLE that Vinton was not an airport employee.

Stock image of luggage on a conveyor belt in the airport.Getty

Luggages on Conveyor belt in the airport file

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Representatives for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chicago Police Department didn’t immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Wednesday.

source: people.com