Medical examiner reveals cause of death for Waxhaw woman found entangled in machinery at Chicago airport

CHICAGO — Officials have released the cause of death and identity of a woman who died after she became entangled in machinery at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport early Thursday morning.

Authorities responded to the area of ​​Terminal 5 during the morning hours. According to police, surveillance video showed a woman, 57, entering an unoccupied restricted area just before 2:30 am on Thursday.

The woman was identified Friday as Virginia Vinton, of Waxhaw, North Carolina.

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Around 7:30 am, Chicago fire personnel responded to a call of an unresponsive female. According to fire officials, the woman had reportedly been entangled in the conveyor belt system for moving baggage through Terminal 5.

Vinton was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Chicago fire officials told sister station WGN News the baggage handling area was not accessible to the public.

Fire officials first believed the incident to be an industrial accident. However, on Friday, the Cook County Medical Examiner released details about Vinton’s death and said the cause was determined to be asphyxiation by hanging and her death was ruled a suicide.

Vinton was not an employee of the airport according to OSHA.

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