Last week, two women in Tarrant County tragically died of hypothermia during the severe winter storm.
The first woman, 81-year-old Odessa Johnson, passed away on January 16 at her Fort Worth home on Bratcher Street. The extreme cold temperatures during the winter storm led to her developing hypothermia. Johnson, who lived alone, was found dead inside her home by the Fort Worth Fire Department. Neighbors mentioned the challenges she faced in taking care of herself, and her death was described as a tragic situation.
Five days later, another death occurred due to cold-related conditions. Vernestine Kidd, 78, developed hypothermia at Mountain Creek Senior Living in Grand Prairie. She was hospitalized and succumbed to the condition on January 21. Family members, shocked by her passing, raised questions about the circumstances leading to her hypothermia, particularly considering the freezing temperatures. Kidd’s stepson expressed concerns about why she was outside in such weather conditions without anyone knowing her whereabouts.
When NBC 5 inquired about how Kidd developed hypothermia, both Mountain Creek Senior Living and the Grand Prairie Police Department declined to provide information, citing HIPAA regulations. Kidd’s family found these responses puzzling and unsatisfactory. They called for more transparency, especially when the circumstances leading to the deaths are unknown.
Efforts to obtain information from the management company overseeing Mountain Creek Senior Living are ongoing, with inquiries about policies to ensure resident safety and accountability.
