Snow tragedy: Woman freezes to death after party
Olivia Benito, 66, went for drinks with the neighbours on Saturday night, just two doors down, but never made it home.
She had stopped by a neighbour's house for drinks after a benefit event at an Elks Club in Lakewood, New Jersey, Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor's office, said in a news release.
The neighbour told police that Benito had some alcoholic beverages during the course of the evening, Della Fave said.
She left the neighbour's townhouse at about midnight to walk home two doors away, he said.
The neighbour said she discovered Benito face down in snow when she went out to clear her car of snow at about 7am on Sunday, Della Fave said.
She was pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance personnel, he said.
Benito's husband assumed his wife had stayed the night with their neighbour.
Police found no outward signs of trauma or foul play but the death remains under investigation, Della Fave said.
The temperature at 7am on Sunday in the Lakewood area was 10 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Morning news break – February 17
