Irene Chavez
Irene Chavez, a 33-year-old woman who had served in the U.S. Army, died on December 18, 2021, after being placed in a holding cell at a Chicago police station on the South Side. Her family said she had post-traumatic stress disorder, struggled with alcoholism, and had asked to speak with her therapist. Police reports say an officer last checked on her about five minutes before she was found with a shirt wrapped around her neck, and efforts to resuscitate her failed. The family's federal wrongful death lawsuit says officers ignored her cries for help for at least 45 minutes and that the cell had suicide hazards and a window covered with paper. The city has proposed a $1.75 million settlement, and the police superintendent and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability have agreed on discipline for eight officers, while COPA's investigation results have not been made public.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Chicago police and COPA say she died by suicide by hanging with a shirt in her holding cell, while city lawyers and her family's wrongful death lawsuit say officers ignored her requests for help and her therapist and medication, and that the cell had suicide hazards and a window covered with paper.
Reported by: Chicago Police Department (the agency that held her); Civilian Office of Police Accountability (outside investigators); city lawyers; Irene Chavez's family's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family sued the city in federal court over her death, and the city agreed to pay $1.75 million to settle the wrongful death claim.
Sources (7)
- Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Death in Custody Reports (edition of 2026-07-28)
- Irene Chavez Chicago: COPA releases video after woman's death in Chicago Police holding cell after bar arrest
- Chicago Should Pay $1.75M to Family of Woman Who Died in Police Holding Cell, City Lawyers Recommend
- Chicago set to pay $1.75 million settlement to family of woman who died in police holding cell
- Misconduct Agency Ruled 8 Chicago Officers Responsible for Woman Who Died in Police Holding Cell Should be Fired or Face Lengthy Suspensions, But Top Cop Objected
- Suspend 8 CPD Officers Responsible for Woman Who Died in Chicago Police Custody for No More Than 2 Months Each: Misconduct Agency, Top Cop Agree
- Chicago Taxpayers to Pay $1.75M to Family of Woman Who Died in Police Holding Cell