Officials investigating whether hypothermia contributed to four CT deaths during frigid stretch

State officials are investigating whether hypothermia could have played a role in four deaths reported throughout Connecticut last week during a particularly cold spell of weather.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said the deaths were reported between Jan. 14 and Jan. 20 in Hartford, Westbrook, Bridgeport and Thomaston. The autopsy results for the four individuals will likely not be available for several weeks, a spokesperson for the office said.

The cause of death in all the cases is currently pending, though a spokesperson for the medical examiner confirmed officials are looking into whether hypothermia could have been the cause or a contributing factor in each instance.

In one such case, a Silver Alert was issued for 66-year-old Palma Hyross after she was last seen walking from Toby Hill Road in Westbrook on Jan. 18, according to Connecticut State Police. State police said Hyross was found dead days later just before 10:40 a.m. on Saturday.

State police have not released further details.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Thursday she could not identify the other three individuals whose deaths are being investigated for possible hypothermia.

The cold temperatures the state saw last week fell as low as into the single digits at times with wind chills near zero degrees. In response, Gov. Ned Lamont activated the state’s cold weather protocol between Jan. 17 and Jan. 22, while warming centers around Connecticut opened their doors.