Moneque Cook’s tragic death sparks community outrage
*Moneque Cook, a 53-year-old Black woman from Eastpointe, Michigan, was found dead after spending a night in subzero temperatures. She was discovered behind a building in Mount Clemens early Tuesday morning, January 20 or 21, 2026.
A waste collection worker found her barefoot, coatless, and unresponsive around 3:48 a.m. She was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The Moneque Cook death has raised serious concerns about shelter policies, winter safety, and possible foul play.
Turned away from shelter due to late bus arrival
According to viral social media posts and family statements, Moneque had been living in shelters while struggling with homelessness. That night, she arrived about 20 minutes late to a shelter due to a bus delay.
Because she missed the strict check-in cutoff, staff reportedly refused her entry—leaving her outside with no place to go in the deadly cold. Her death has sparked a firestorm of criticism over rigid shelter rules and lack of emergency exceptions during extreme weather.
Signs of trauma raise questions about foul play
While officials initially suggested hypothermia as the likely cause, family members and witnesses say the story may not be so simple. Cook was found with visible signs of trauma, including a swollen face and blood on her pants…