Woman Found Dead Behind Dumpster In Metro Detroit Amid Brutally Cold Temps: Sheriff

MOUNT CLEMENS, MI — A woman was found dead earlier this week behind a dumpster amid brutally cold temperatures in Macomb County, according to the sheriff's office.

A waste disposal driver, who was trying to empty the dumpster, found the unresponsive woman lying on the ground along North Main Street in Mount Clemens at 3:45 a.m. Tuesday and called police, officials said.

Officials identified the woman as 53-year-old Moneque Cook, of Eastpointe.

Mount Clemens Mayor Laura Kropp posted on Facebook on Wednesday that the woman "appears to have died after freezing to death behind a dumpster in our community." She said officials were waiting for the sheriff's office to confirm the woman's cause of death.

"Any loss of life—especially under such devastating circumstances—demands our collective grief, reflection, and compassion," Kropp said. "My heart goes out to this woman, to those who knew her, and to anyone who is struggling, unhoused, or vulnerable—especially during the harsh winter months."

She also asked residents to look out for neighbors in need. A list of Macomb County warming centers can be found here.

Motor City Mitten Mission, a nonprofit in the area that helps unhoused individuals with food, resources and shelter, told WXYZ they regularly worked with Cook.

"Monique never gave us any problems or issues and was just very grateful and very appreciative for the food that we gave and the blankets that we provide and the bus passes that we provided," Motor City Mitten Mission Executive Director Gail Marlow told the news station.

Officials were still investigating the cause of death, but don’t believe there’s any threat to the public.

Highs across the Detroit area are expected to stay in the single digits over the next few days with wind chills falling to as low as -25 degrees. You can find a list of warming centers across the Detroit area here.