Man Goes Out To Smoke, Freezes To Death In Frigid Weather

As much of the United States was trapped beneath snow and ice, a Wisconsin man took a fatal trip outside to smoke. John W. Boehm, 51, was found dead in Milwaukee Sunday by his partner, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. It was one of many cold-related fatalities in recent weeks.

On Saturday night, Boehm reportedly argued with his partner about his drinking habits. This led to him exiting his home to go out to his usual smoking spot during freezing weather. When his partner did not see or hear from him for a long time, they assumed he had gotten someone to pick him up and go somewhere else.

It was not until the next day that they discovered Boehm in the back of a van, frozen to death and partially undressed. According to the report, Boehm showed evidence of “paradoxical undressing,” a phenomenon in which hypothermia victims undress due to a sort of burning sensation, which exacerbates their already precarious situation.

Boehm was also said to have been “drinking heavily,” which does not mix well with frigid weather. Alcohol falsely makes the body feel warmer while actually lowering body temperature. Within days of Boehm’s death, a 34-year-old Milwaukee man died of hypothermia after fleeing a car accident and a 27-year-old woman suffered a similar fate after walking away from a New Year’s Eve party, also in the area.

Similarly, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper announced three people had been killed in circumstances related to heavy snow brought on by Winter Storm Grayson, which blanketed the east coast Wednesday and Thursday.