Angela A. Chao hosts The New York City Opera Pre-Gala Celebration at a personal house in New York City onOct 21, 2010.
Patrick McMullan|Getty Images
The death previously this month of Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao– the sister-in-law of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell– is presently under “criminal investigation,” a Texas constable’s workplace stated Thursday.
Chao, 50, was discovered dead soon after midnight onFeb 11 after being took out of a vehicle that had actually entered into a pond on a personal cattle ranch in Johnson City, Texas, about 40 miles from Austin.
“This incident was not a typical accident,” the Blanco County Sheriff’s Office composed in a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday.
“Although the preliminary investigation indicated this was an unfortunate accident, the Sheriff’s Office is still investigating this accident as a criminal matter until they have sufficient evidence to rule out criminal activity,” the letter stated.
Because Chao’s death stayed the topic of a criminal probe, the Blanco County Sheriff’s public info officer informed the chief law officer that reports, 911 logs, audio and video proof, and other product must not yet be launched to media outlets that requested them, consisting of CNBC.
“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 constable’s workplace composed.
The letter did not state that there was proof that Chao passed away as the outcome of a criminal offense.
But the declaration that Chao’s death was not “a typical accident” and the possibility raised in the letter of a prosecution marked a shift from a preliminary declaration launched days after Chao’s death.
The constable’s workplace becauseFeb 16 declaration had actually stated, “EMS attempted emergency measures on Ms. Chao but she succumbed from being under the water.”
“Our preliminary investigation has determined this to be an unfortunate accident. The investigation is ongoing at this time,” the previous declaration stated.
The cattle ranch where Chao passed away is owned by a business entity linked to her spouse, investor Jim Breyer, who has a workplace in Austin.
Chao was the sis of McConnell’s other half Elaine Chao, who has actually acted as secretary of both the U.S. Labor and Transportation departments. Their daddy and mom established the Foremost Group.
The letter Thursday to Paxton from the Blanco County Sheriff’s workplace went on to ask the chief law officer for his viewpoint on whether the records and other product need to be avoided the general public in the meantime.
Once the probe of Chao’s death is total, “all reports will be released to all requesters,” it stated.
McConnell, R-Kentucky, revealed Wednesday that he would step down as the Republican leader in the Senate later on this year.
“This has been a particularly difficult time for my family,” McConnell stated on the Senate flooring. “We tragically lost Elaine’s younger sister Angela, just a few weeks ago.”
“When you lose a loved one, particularly at a young age, there’s a certain introspection that accompanies the grieving process,” stated McConnell.
Angela Chao was a double Harvard graduate who ended up being CEO of Foremost in2018 She formerly served on the board of the Bank of China and as a director of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
Her spouse Breyer is part owner of the National Basketball Association’s Boston Celtics, and formerly served on the boards of Facebook, Wal-Mart, Marvel Entertainment, News Corp., and Dell.
