A 72-year-old Whitley County woman died during this weekend’s winter storm, but her family says that she didn’t die from hypothermia as Gov. Andy Beshear stated Monday evening in a Facebook post.
“Kentucky, I’ve got some sad news to share. We’ve confirmed one fatality in Whitley County with the passing of a 72-year-old woman due to hypothermia. Please join me in praying for her family during this difficult time,” Beshear wrote in the post.
According to published reports, the victim’s family has identified her as Betty Veach.
Her son, Dale Byrd, told WKYT and the Lexington Herald Leader Monday evening that Veach suffered from dementia and was watched by family members.
Shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday, she slipped out of the house and made her way to the icy train tracks beside her home and slipped fracturing her head.
She was taken to Baptist Health Corbin where she died from bleeding on the brain, not hypothermia, Byrd said.
Beshear clarified at a news conference Tuesday morning that a lot of factors can contribute to someone’s death, and the Kentucky Department of Public Health determined that hypothermia contributed to her passing in addition to suffering from a significant fall. He noted that even 10 to 30 minutes outside can cause frost bite or hypothermia.
“More than anything, we want her family to know that our thoughts and our prayers are with them. This is a tough time, and we don’t want anything to contribute to their pain,” Beshear said.
Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley told the News Journal Monday evening that this wasn’t a coroner’s case as his office wasn’t notified about the death by the hospital.
Anyone wanting to donate to the family can do so through Harp Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 12 – 2 p.m. at the Harp Funeral Home Chapel in Jellico, Tennessee. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. with Rev. Leon Veach officiating. Burial will follow in the Hackler Cemetery in Jellico.
