Police: No Foul Play Suspected in Death of Hotel Worker Found in Freezer

SONY DSC

Hotel staff at a Westin Hotel in Atlanta discovered a 61-year-old kitchen worker’s body in a walk-in freezer after the victim’s family reported that she did not return home from work.

A startling discovery at the iconic Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in downtown Atlanta seems to be the result of an accident rather than a criminal act. Police say there is no indication of foul play surrounding the incident in which a 61-year-old hotel employee was found dead after apparently becoming trapped for several hours in one of the hotel’s walk-in freezer units.

Police told reporters that video surveillance shows culinary worker Carolyn Robinson entering the freezer just after 8 p.m. Monday evening. Her body was not discovered until the next day after family members raised alarm when Robinson failed to return home from her shift at the hotel.

“We’re still combing through the video just to make sure that there’s nothing else going on,” Atlanta police Lt. Charles Hampton told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “She worked in the culinary department of the hotel, so it would appear that she had a reason to be inside the freezer.”

Police say there was some indication that Robinson had attempted to escape from the walk-in freezer after finding herself trapped inside. The freezer door was equipped with a required safety mechanism to prevent anyone from being locked inside the unit.

“Obviously, I do not have the answer whether or not that mechanism worked or was properly operational,” Lt. Hampton said. “OSHA has been notified. It doesn’t appear that it’s going to be a criminal matter, but we are, and will assist OSHA in any way necessary.”

The Westin Peachtree Plaza Atlanta released a brief statement regarding the tragedy:

“We are devastated by the tragic loss of our long-time associate and member of our Westin family. We are working closely with the authorities in their investigation, and we are providing whatever support that we can for her family. As this is an active police investigation, we are unable to provide further information at this time. Any inquiries should be directed to the Atlanta Police Department.”

[Photo: Wikipedia]