Feb. 17--A Blue Island woman became at least the 18th person this winter to die from cold-related causes in Cook County, the county medical examiner's office said Monday.
Debra Togtman, 49, of the 14100 block of South Western Avenue in Blue Island, was pronounced dead at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Metro South Medical Center. She was found in the 2200 block of 135th Place in Blue Island, according to the medical examiner's office.
Following an autopsy Monday, the office determined Togtman died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease. A secondary cause of death was hypothermia due to cold exposure, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease a contributing factor in her death.
Togtman is the 18th confirmed cold-related death so far this season, said Frank Shuftan, spokesman for the medical examiner's office. One case is pending, according to the office.
Before Togtman, Geraldo Delgado, 55, who was pronounced dead earlier this month, had been the latest person to die from cold-related issues.
He was pronounced dead at 4:14 p.m. Feb. 3 at Community First Medical Center--formerly Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center--after being found in the 5500 block of West Diversey Avenue, according to the medical examiner's office.
Following an autopsy, the office determined Delgado died from hypothermia due to cold exposure, with chronic alcoholism a contributing factor in his death.
Last winter -- during which Chicago had record-breaking low temperatures -- 32 cold-related deaths were counted in Cook County from Oct. 24, 2013, through April 3, 2014, officials said.
