A 61-year-old woman was found dead after 13 hours inside a walk-in freezer at a well-known Atlanta hotel where she worked after her family called to say she never came home.
Carolyn Robinson was found at the downtown Westin Peachtree Plaza.
The kitchen worker entered the freezer in the lower level kitchen area, but authorities do not suspect foul play.
Evidence suggests Robinson may have tried to get out of the freezer, which has an exit mechanism, but it was not clear if it was working properly.
After Robinson failed to return home from work, her family called the hotel.
Hotel staffers found her body inside the freezer and called the police.
A spokeswoman for the hotel said that Westin staff members are working with authorities in their investigation.
“We are devastated by the tragic loss of our long-time associate and member of our Westin family,” Sally McDonald said.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident with the assistance of Atlanta police.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine if Robinson had a preexisting condition that could have contributed to her inability to get out.
The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel opened in 1976 as the tallest hotel in the world, standing 73 stories tall.
The hotel has seen guests and visitors including Ringo Starr and Barack Obama.
