Arlington Heights man is Cook County’s 9th cold death of season

A 78-year-old man who died Thursday morning in northwest suburban Arlington Heights was Cook County’s ninth confirmed cold-related death this season.

About 5:45 a.m., a newspaper delivery person found Marvin Miller unresponsive outside his home in the 800 block of East Thorntree Terrace, authorities said.

Miller was taken to Northwest Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:57 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Friday found he died of hypothermia and cold exposure, with organic cardiovascular disease listed as a secondary cause. His death was ruled an accident.

Arlington Heights Police Sgt. Chuck Buczynski said family members told investigators that Miller would wake up early to start his day and would often wait outside for the newspaper.

“We do not think he was out overnight. We think he had a medical event while he was outside in the morning,” Buczynski said, adding no foul play is suspected.

Thursday’s low temperature in Arlington Heights was 28 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Last winter, 26 people died at least partly from cold exposure in Cook County, according to the medical examiner’s office. During the 2013-14 winter season, there were 32 confirmed cold-related deaths.