Milwaukee Woman Dies of Hypothermia After 911 Call Overlooked

Jolene Waldref's death prompts scrutiny of emergency response protocols and community responsibility.

Jolene Waldref, 49, died from hypothermia after her 911 call for help was deemed low priority and first responders failed to locate her at a Milwaukee bus stop.
Despite having precise location data, emergency services struggled to find Waldref, who was obscured by snowbanks and darkness, leading to questions about the adequacy of search efforts.
A passerby eventually found Waldref, but it was too late, sparking outrage and calls for a review of emergency response protocols.
Waldref's death has raised concerns about the community's responsibility to help those in distress and the challenges faced by emergency services in locating individuals in need.
Officials are investigating the incident as a probable case of hypothermia, with an official cause of death pending a toxicology report.