Angela Chao, the sister-in-law of Mitch McConnell and sister of Elaine Chao.
More details have been released about the death ofAngela Chao, a business executive and sister-in-law ofMitch McConnell, who was recovered from a pond in February following a reported accident.
Though an autopsy was not performed on Chao, a toxicology test revealed that her blood alcohol concentration was 0.233, nearly triple the legal limit to drive in Texas.
“After reviewing all of the evidence, it was determined to be an unfortunate accident,” concludes Blanco County Sheriff’s Investigator Adam Acosta in the final report.
Angela Chao attends the AFI Awards Luncheon in Los Angeles with husband Jim Breyer one month before her death.Frazer Harrison/Getty
Frazer Harrison/Getty
Chief Deputy Robert Woodring with the Blanco County Sheriff’s Office said in an initial statement that officers “responded to a possible water rescue on a private ranch located in Blanco County, TX” late that night.
“On arrival Blanco County deputies along with Blanco County EMS and Fire recovered the body of Angela Chao from a pond on the ranch. EMS attempted emergency measures on Ms. Chao but she succumbed from being under the water,” he said.
Though a preliminary investigation determined it to be an accident, the sheriff’s office told Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, per NBC News, that it was “not a typical accident” and that the office was investigating it as “a criminal matter until they have sufficient evidence to rule out criminal activity.”
“Releasing the reports, videos and other information prior to the completion of the investigation would interfere with the investigation and possible prosecution of this matter,” the Sheriff’s Office reportedly wrote late last month.
The final incident report states thatChao called a friend from her vehicleto tell her that she was trapped and that the water was beginning to rise.
Throughout the eight-minute call, the report details, Chao maintained a “calm voice,” ultimately concluding that she was going to die and telling her friend, “I love you.” One friend jumped into the pond and another kayaked over the vehicle, but they could not find a way to get her out, per the report.
Angela Chao, far right, at the swearing-in of her brother-in-law Mitch McConnell on Jan. 6, 2015.Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
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Her older sister, former Labor SecretaryElaine Chao, is married to McConnell. Elaine served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor in theGeorge W. Bushadministration and as the Secretary of Transportation inDonald Trump’s cabinet, from 2017 to 2021.
source: people.com
