On Wednesday, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Coroner’s Division has identified the three victims in the possible food-related deaths that occurred in Antioch.
They are identified as:
- 43-year old Christopher Cappetti
- 59-year-old Chooi Keng Cheah
- 69-year-old Jane Evans
They were residents at assisted living facilities in Antioch.
Autopsies for the victims show all three had similar intestinal abnormalities. The Forensic Pathologist is trying to determine the causes of death, which are pending the results of various tests.
The Coroner’s Division continues to work with Contra Costa Health Services on this case.
In total, 17-cases are being investigated where 3 people have died and 14-people became sick related to a foodborne illness outbreak reported in Antioch over the weekend during a Thanksgiving Day Dinner where 835 people were served by the Golden Hills Community Church at the American Legion Hall.
According to the Tuesday Press Release, investigators are in the process of collecting biological samples from the reported cases for testing at county and state public health laboratories.
5:12 pm Update – Tuesday evening Press Release 5:12 pm
(editors Note – bullet point format)
The following is comments taken during the Press Conference with the media.
- Louis McNitt, Contra Costa County Health Services
- Dr. Marilyn Underwood, Director of Environmental Health of County Health Services
McNitt’s Comments
- Currently have 17 people who began ill who attended this event and 1 is hospitalized (condition improving), 3 dead.
- This is likely a foodborne illness.
- All who were sick, have eaten food from the Thanksgiving Day Dinner and most became ill within 24-hours
- Encourage those with leftover food to throw it away.
- People are from multiple facilities
- Know so far, of people who are sick, got sick within 24-hours of consuming the food. At this point it’s a number of days after the event so don’t expect people to become ill unless they have left offers. Recommend leftovers be thrown away.
- Have not yet been able to trace the source—retail, on site, volunteers. Says it will be difficult to find the cause (food item)
- Do not have any samples of food at this time. All food at the event was donated or disposed after the event.
- Next Steps: interviewing people at the event/live at facilities, trying to get samples, going forward most important thing is food safety and washing hands—creating messages.
- Symptoms – nausea, diarrhea, vomiting
- Three people who died undergoing autopsy – police not involved at this time.
- More likely this came from foodborne illness. Single event links everyone together.
Dr. Underwood’s Comments
- Food was prepared at the facility, primary food at facility was mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, heated up creame corn and green beans—packages that were heated. Added water.
- Items brought in – Turkey’s at volunteers homes, hams, sweet potatoes.
- Pies purchased from local stores.
- Death ranges: Teens to 70’s
- Says patients came from at least 3 facilities
- Permit – Underwood says non-profits per state law can run this type of event for members and guests without a permit. Guests are not defined within State Law. In speaking with the folks who run this, that is something that will be permitted in the future.
2 comments
The article says •Death ranges: Teens to 70’s
Then shows the only 3 people that died were 43, 59, 69?
Typo?
Not a typo… during the Press Conference (Tuesday), that is what County Health said the range was — they were not giving specifics at the time due to proper notifications to family and the investigation.
The Sheriffs Office, a day later (Wednesday), provided the specifics.
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