![\"Heat-related](\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Upn49/full.png\")
Cook County records 13th heat death of 2026, more than doubling previous decade high
<p>Cook County has recorded its 13th heat death of the year, now more than doubling the highest counts of the last decade, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.</p><p>The 69-year-old Chatham man died July 2 of cardiovascular disease, ethanol poisoning and heat exposure</p><p>A <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/07/30/extreme-heat-wave-death-chicago-cook-county-oak-lawn-july-stroke-stress-elderly-air-conditioning" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times analysis</u></a> of medical examiner data previously found Cook County has had more deaths related to the heat in 2026 than any other year in the last decade, and the number continues to go up. Heat deaths previously peaked in Cook County in 2019 and 2022 when there were six deaths each.</p><p>Ten of the 13 have been Chicago residents, and all but one — which was in the East Side neighborhood — have been on the South and West sides.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-3e0000" name="html-embed-module-3e0000"></a><div style="min-height:866px" id="datawrapper-vis-Upn49"><script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Upn49/embed.js" charset="utf-8" data-target="#datawrapper-vis-Upn49"></script><noscript><img src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Upn49/full.png" alt="Heat-related causes have killed thirteen so far this year in Cook County, with ten dead in Chicago (Locator map)" /></noscript></div> </div> </div><p>The first heat-related death this year occurred July 1, and most others followed throughout the month as the area saw several waves of severe heat.</p><p>Earlier this month, Otto Kedzior, 64, died of cardiovascular disease <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/08/05/cook-county-10th-heat-related-death-2026" target="_blank" ><u>complications and heat stress</u></a> in the 1000 block of South Wood Street, authorities said.</p><p>Others whose deaths have at least in part been attributed to the heat this year include Otto Kedzior, 64; Claremont Little, 94; Joseph Huff, 65; Robert Feldon, 77; Stephanie Rodriguez, 45; David Gonzalez, 44; Barbara Whigham, 71; Mike Rodriguez, 57; Daniel Machnikowski, 69; Victor Ferguson, 48; and David P.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>Cook County has recorded its 13th heat death of the year, now more than doubling the highest counts of the last decade, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.</p><p>The 69-year-old Chatham man died July 2 of cardiovascular disease, ethanol poisoning and heat exposure</p><p>A <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/07/30/extreme-heat-wave-death-chicago-cook-county-oak-lawn-july-stroke-stress-elderly-air-conditioning" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times analysis</u></a> of medical examiner data previously found Cook County has had more deaths related to the heat in 2026 than any other year in the last decade, and the number continues to go up. Heat deaths previously peaked in Cook County in 2019 and 2022 when there were six deaths each.</p><p>Ten of the 13 have been Chicago residents, and all but one — which was in the East Side neighborhood — have been on the South and West sides.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-3e0000" name="html-embed-module-3e0000"></a><div style="min-height:866px" id="datawrapper-vis-Upn49"><script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Upn49/embed.js" charset="utf-8" data-target="#datawrapper-vis-Upn49"></script><noscript><img src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Upn49/full.png" alt="Heat-related causes have killed thirteen so far this year in Cook County, with ten dead in Chicago (Locator map)" /></noscript></div> </div> </div><p>The first heat-related death this year occurred July 1, and most others followed throughout the month as the area saw several waves of severe heat.</p><p>Earlier this month, Otto Kedzior, 64, died of cardiovascular disease <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/08/05/cook-county-10th-heat-related-death-2026" target="_blank" ><u>complications and heat stress</u></a> in the 1000 block of South Wood Street, authorities said.</p><p>Others whose deaths have at least in part been attributed to the heat this year include Otto Kedzior, 64; Claremont Little, 94; Joseph Huff, 65; Robert Feldon, 77; Stephanie Rodriguez, 45; David Gonzalez, 44; Barbara Whigham, 71; Mike Rodriguez, 57; Daniel Machnikowski, 69; Victor Ferguson, 48; and David P. Sopys, 46.</p><p>While the majority of the deaths have been older residents, younger people have been among the grim count.</p><p>Jesus Rodriguez <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/08/13/heat-death-july-heatwave" target="_blank" ><u>died July 17</u></a> due to hyperthermia and environmental heat exposure, in addition to cocaine toxicity, according to the medical examiner’s office. The 33-year-old is the youngest of the more than dozen deaths tied to the heat this year.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-a00000" name="html-embed-module-a00000"></a><div style="min-height:529px" id="datawrapper-vis-BaAyK"><script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BaAyK/embed.js" charset="utf-8" data-target="#datawrapper-vis-BaAyK"></script><noscript><img src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BaAyK/full.png" alt="Thirteen people have died so far this year in Cook County from heat-related causes, the most in at least a decade (Column Chart)" /></noscript></div> </div> </div><p></p>
Read the full report at Chicago Sun-Times ↗
Why it matters
A world story we're tracking; its significance and source trust firm up as more outlets confirm it.
- What's the story?
- <p>Cook County has recorded its 13th heat death of the year, now more than doubling the highest counts of the last decade, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.</p><p>The 69-year-old Chatham man died July 2 of cardiovascular disease, ethanol poisoning and heat exposure</p><p>A <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/07/30/extreme-heat-wave-death-chicago-cook-county-oak-lawn-july-stroke-stress-elderly-air-conditioning" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times analysis</u></a> of medical examiner data previously found Cook County has had more deaths related to the heat in 2026 than any other year in the last decade, and the number continues to go up. Heat deaths previously peaked in Cook County in 2019 and 2022 when there were six deaths each.</p><p>Ten of the 13 have been Chicago residents, and all but one — which was in the East Side neighborhood — have been on the South and West sides.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-3e0000" name="html-embed-module-3e0000"></a><div style="min-height:866px" id="datawrapper-vis-Upn49"><script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Upn49/embed.js" charset="utf-8" data-target="#datawrapper-vis-Upn49"></script><noscript><img src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Upn49/full.png" alt="Heat-related causes have killed thirteen so far this year in Cook County, with ten dead in Chicago (Locator map)" /></noscript></div> </div> </div><p>The first heat-related death this year occurred July 1, and most others followed throughout the month as the area saw several waves of severe heat.</p><p>Earlier this month, Otto Kedzior, 64, died of cardiovascular disease <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/08/05/cook-county-10th-heat-related-death-2026" target="_blank" ><u>complications and heat stress</u></a> in the 1000 block of South Wood Street, authorities said.</p><p>Others whose deaths have at least in part been attributed to the heat this year include Otto Kedzior, 64; Claremont Little, 94; Joseph Huff, 65; Robert Feldon, 77; Stephanie Rodriguez, 45; David Gonzalez, 44; Barbara Whigham, 71; Mike Rodriguez, 57; Daniel Machnikowski, 69; Victor Ferguson, 48; and David P.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 14m ago.
How outlets are framing the same story
Here's how each outlet is covering the story — compare their headlines and timing at a glance.
- Coverage card1 outlet1CoverageScouting report
Cook County records 13th heat death of 2026, more than doubling previous decade high
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times