Man found in South Chicago Heights is Cook County's 7th cold death of season

SOUTH CHICAGO HEIGHTS -- A 50-year-old man found Monday morning in south suburban South Chicago Heights died partly due to exposure, marking Cook County's seventh cold-related death of the season.

Police were called to the grounds of Millers Ready Mix, 3000 State St. in South Chicago Heights, at 7:30 a.m. Monday for reports of a deceased person on the property, according to a statement from South Chicago Heights police.

Michael Quincy Daughtry was found dead at the scene, police said. He lived in the 400 block of West 16th Street in Chicago Heights but had been reported missing since Saturday.

An employee of the business told investigators he had entered the business about 8:30 p.m. Sunday and went into the back area where Daughtry was later found, but did not see him, police said. It was not immediately clear whether Daughtry was there at the time because it was dark outside.

An autopsy performed by the Cook County medical examiner's office revealed no signs of foul play in Daughtry's death, and preliminary findings indicated he died from exposure, police said. A final determination is pending the results of toxicological reports.

The low temperature recorded at Midway International Airport Monday morning was 2 degrees below zero, according to the National Weather Service.

Last winter, 26 people died at least partly from cold exposure in Cook County, according to the medical examiner's office. During the 2013-14 season, there were 32 confirmed cold-related deaths.