Blue Island woman 18th cold-related death in Cook County

BLUE ISLAND, Ill. (AP) - The Cook County medical examiner says cold exposure contributed to the death of a 49-year-old Blue Island woman.

Officials say Debra Togtman is at least the 18th person to die this winter from cold-related causes. Togtman was pronounced dead Sunday at Metro South Medical Center. A Monday autopsy found she died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease with the contributing factors of cold exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Her death was ruled an accident.

The medical examiner's office says one possible cold-related death case is pending.

Last winter Cook County had 32 cold-related deaths.