Autopsies: Three men found in Avondale building died of hypothermia

Three men found dead in a vacant Northwest Side Avondale neighborhood building Monday morning all died of hypothermia, officials said.

Emergency officials responded to 3310 N. Harding about 11:15 a.m. and found the three men dead in a vacant building, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The identities of the three were not known Wednesday afternoon, but the medical examiner’s office said two of the men were in their 40s and the third in his 50s. All three may have been homeless.

Autopsies Wednesday found all three men died of hypothermia because of cold exposure, and alcohol intoxication was listed as a contributing factor, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Their deaths were ruled accidents.

Their deaths raise the total number of cold-related deaths this season in Cook County to 14, according to the medical examiner’s office.