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June 29, 2025 12 mins

On a September night in 2017, 19-year-old Kenneka Jenkins vanished from a hotel party outside Chicago. Nearly 20 hours later, she was found in a walk-in freezer—sparking national outrage, unanswered questions, and a mother’s fight for justice. In this episode, we unravel the mystery, the digital clues, and the legacy of a case that still haunts a community.

#NoTearsForBlackGirls


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Episode Transcript

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(00:00):
No tears for. Black girls.
When they disappear, no tears for black girls like they were
never here. But we remember.
We'll speak their names, their stories matter.
We'll break these chains. No tears left to cry.

(00:25):
Today we return to Illinois to share the latest updates on a
heartbreaking story. On the night of September 8th,
2017, nineteen year old Kenneka Jenkins was getting ready for a
night out. She was full of life.
Her family described. Her as sweet, a little shy.
And always smiling. She lived with her Mother,

(00:47):
Teresa Martin, in Chicago and was just beginning to figure.
Out her future. That night, Kenneka joined
friends for a party at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rosemont,
IL, a suburb northwest of Chicago.
They checked in around 1:00 AM, crowding into a 9th floor room.
Music played from phones, drinkswere poured and phones flashed

(01:10):
as videos and pictures were taken, streaming their night to
friends and followers on Snapchat and Instagram.
As the. Party continued into the early
morning hours. The room filled with more
people, some friends, some strangers.
Kenneka appeared in a Snapchat video posted at 1:36 AM,
surrounded by people, her expression unreadable.

(01:34):
Later witnesses reported she hadbeen drinking and was possibly
under the influence of somethingmore, though the details
remained hazy. The room was crowded.
The music was loud. And people were coming and
going. Around 3:20 AM, Kaneka's friends
realized she was missing. They claimed she had left the
room with her phone and car keys, but had left them behind

(01:57):
before wandering off. Her friends searched the hotel
but came up empty handed. One account said Kenneka was
last seen on security footage staggering near the hotel front
desk, alone and disoriented. Another video.
A crucial. Piece of evidence showed her
walking down empty. Hotel corridors.
And at one point, entering a hotel kitchen.

(02:21):
After that. She was never seen alive again.
At 4:00 AM, Kenica's friends called her mother, Teresa
Martin. They sounded panicked, saying
they couldn't find Kenica. The story they told?
Was confusing and inconsistent. Why was she alone?
Why hadn't they gone with her? Teresa.

(02:42):
Rushed to the Crowne Plaza and arrived around 5:00 AM.
Hotel staff were. Hesitant to help, saying they
couldn't release surveillance footage.
Or search private areas without a police report.
Police were called. And an officer arrived at 7:15
AM. But.
Suggested Kenneka would likely turn up soon.

(03:02):
Teresa was frustrated. She knew her daughter would not
disappear on her own. For hours.
Teresa, Martin and relatives searched the hotel themselves,
peering into stairwells, knocking on doors and calling
Kenneka's phone. It rang unanswered until
eventually going straight to voicemail.
Meanwhile, Kenica's friends returned home in her car.

(03:26):
Which raised. Additional questions.
Teresa's. Suspicions grew.
Had they? Really done everything they
could. Had they seen something they
weren't revealing? The search for Kenica exploded
on social media. Strangers online began
dissecting every detail. Videos from the party were

(03:46):
posted and scrutinized frame by frame in Facebook live streams.
Background sounds were debated. Some claim they heard Kenneka
slurring or calling for help, while others heard nothing
unusual. Screenshots of.
Text messages. Circulated.
Some speculated about. Possible fights?
Drugs being slipped into drinks or even a setup the Internet

(04:10):
was. Flooded with theories, Digital.
Detectives attempted to build a timeline mapping Kenneka's last
known movements using party videos, Snapchat, time stamps
and surveillance. Footage at.
Approximately 10:00 PM on September 9th, nearly 20 hours
after Kaneka vanished. Hotel staff discovered.
Her body She was found inside anindustrial walk in freezer in a

(04:34):
closed off kitchen area that wasnot in public use and was
difficult. To access.
She was lying face down with disheveled hair and one shoe
missing. Her phone was not with her.
The freezer. Was operational, with
temperatures below freezing. There were no signs of physical
trauma or struggle on her body. The medical examiner later

(04:54):
determined her death. Was caused by.
Hypothermia, cold exposure complicated by alcohol
intoxication, and the presence of topiramate, a prescription
epilepsy medication that Kennekahad not been prescribed.
The official ruling was accidental.
Death, however. For Kenneka's mother and much of
the public, too many questions remained unanswered.

(05:17):
Why was Kenneka able to access akitchen that was supposed?
To be closed to guests. Why didn't the hotel act more
quickly? Why did her friends leave her
behind? Did someone slip her something
without her knowledge? How did she end up alone in the
freezer, and could she have beensaved?
These questions raised concerns about the.

(05:38):
Hotel's security the. Friend group's loyalty and the
police investigation. Some activists and family
members accused the hotel of negligence and the police of
responding too slowly. Especially after.
The family's pleas were initially dismissed.
Teresa Martin organized protestsat the Crowne Plaza demanding
answers and accountability. The case continued to generate

(06:02):
national attention and ongoing debate.
About the safety. Of black women and the
reliability of digital evidence in seeking justice over time,
the community and kenneka's family pressed for
accountability in 2018, Teresa Martin filed a wrongful.
Death lawsuit. Against the hotel's parent

(06:22):
company, it's security firm and the on site restaurant claiming
staff were negligent for failingto secure the walk in freezer
and for not conducting a proper search when Kaneko was reported
missing. The lawsuit.
Sought $50 million in damages. After years of legal battles.
A wrongful death settlement was reached in late 2023.

(06:46):
The settlement totaled $10 million.
With over. $6.4 million awarded to Kenica's mother and family.
The terms included funeral expenses and attorney fees, and
the settlement only became public after a judge.
Denied requests to keep it sealed.
The hotel and its staff have continued to deny wrongdoing,
but the settlement represents a measure of closure for Kenica's

(07:08):
family. Kenneka Jenkins story remains A
haunting reminder of the importance of vigilance,
transparency and accountability.Seven years later, her death
continues to be the. Subject.
Of activism, documentaries and public discussion.
Each year, her family and supporters hold vigils and

(07:29):
marches to honor her memory and call for better protections for
vulnerable young women. Her story continues to resonate
because it. Exposes how easily the voices.
Of black women can go unheard and how the digital.
Traces. We leave behind those
notifications, screenshots and videos can both illuminate truth

(07:50):
and leave us with more questionsfor her Mother Teresa Martin
the. Fight for.
Her daughter's dignity and for answers has never truly ended.
Sometimes our phones serve as. Bridges.
Connecting us to what matters and keeping us safe.
Sometimes they preserve our memories and hold evidence for
stories we cannot fully tell. Kenneka Jenkins story is 1 of

(08:13):
seeking truth in darkness and the power of refusing to be
silenced. Immediately following this
episode is the song Trap Phone from No Tears.
For black. Girls volume 1 a current mixtape
playlist of original music inspired.
By the books. The Price of silence and The
girl who knew too much from the no tears.
For black girls series. Written by the creator.

(08:36):
Of this podcast, JC Reedberg, these.
Books were inspired by true stories and events featured on
this. Podcast, however.
The names of real people and locations have been changed to
protect the. Privacy.
Of those involved. Here is a full preview of the
song. Trap Phone by Velvet Void.

(08:56):
If you enjoy the track. You can listen again on our
YouTube page under our original music and soundtrack.
Playlist where you can. Also check out other tracks from
our mix tape. While we prepare for the full
release, stay loved. Stay blessed.
And stay safe. Jr. 3 on the chat, Three missed

(09:19):
calls. 2:00 AM Same unknown number again.
Who is she? Blue light burning through my
bedroom ceiling. Screenshot evidence got me in my
feelings. Working late but your locations
say different. Got you lacking boy.
The story inconsistent double tap of pics at 3 AMI peeping

(09:40):
wherever seats off now you're moving real secretive baby trust
me. Heard that line before.
Her name keep popping up more and more every.
Pause every ring got me questioning and everything this
fall supposed to keep us close. Now it's showing.
Me. Your ghost.

(10:15):
Try phone. Try phone.
Evidence in my head. Screenshots and lies I
understand here. Run.
From the truth when it's glowingin the dark.
Baby, you try me with the phone in your heart.
FaceTime in midnight but you decline the call.
Phone was dead. Boy, I ain't buying that at all,
she comments in hearts while I'mlaying in your bed.

(10:37):
Her. Story Views.
Got me seen red. Airplane mode when you're right
beside me. I just want to change what
you're trying to hide. You.
Your phone. Face don't tell me what I need
to know. Try phone.
Try phone got me going. Insane.
You turn my. Lifeline to a chain.

(10:59):
Thought you were my piece but you just set me up.
Definitely paranoid. Boy was that enough.
You were about 247 wrong person and delete messages but I
already seen them. Your digital footprint gave you
away. Now I'm deleting the pictures
today. Shared locations.

(11:20):
Now I know where you've been. Her apartment complex.
Don't even try to pretend group chat exposed do.
Your boys ain't loyal either. Screenshots of my camera roll.
I got the receipts here. I thought I was trapped but I

(11:46):
just woke us. What?
I listened boy, and never went on.
Trifle trifle dust and in disguise.
Show me a truth behind my. Eyes Airplane.
Mode on. My heart, now you're number.
Blocked. I'm moving.
On now, no more notifications. I'm at peace.

(12:07):
Now.
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