UPDATE: Jan. 27 at 6 p.m.
A Whitley County woman who died during severe winter weather Sunday has been identified as 72-year-old Betty Veach. Now, her son is questioning how hypothermia was listed as a contributing factor in her death.
During a press briefing Tuesday, Governor Andy Beshear said one person has died as a result of the winter storm.
"There are a lot of factors that can contribute. According to the department of health, hypothermia did contribute to her passing. But she also suffered a significant fall," Beshear said.
However, Dale Byrd, Veach's son, said he's unsure why his mother's cause of death was conveyed to the governor as hypothermia-related.
"I was just trying to clear the air on everything," Byrd said.
Byrd said his mother, who had dementia, walked out of their home Sunday afternoon and fell, hitting her head near a set of nearby train tracks. Family friends found her and she was taken to the hospital, where she passed away less than five hours later.
"Her temperature was 98.1, they didn't say anything about hypothermia or anything like that," Byrd said.
He believes there may have been a communication breakdown.
"I'm thinking, I'm learning what's happened, the hospital never talked to the coroner," Byrd said.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding her death, Byrd wanted to share memories of his mother's kindness and compassion for others.
"Didn't matter if you were a drug addict, it didn't matter if you were a drunk, she still saw the best in you," Byrd said.
"She won't let nobody talk bad about nobody, don't matter what they're doing and if it's the truth or not she still sees the best in a person," he said.
When asked what he wants people to remember most about his mother, Byrd said simply: "The love of her for others. She loved you no matter what."
UPDATE:
Family have identified the Whitley County woman who Governor Andy Beshear reported died as a result of hypothermia as 72-year-old Betty Veach. However, Veach's son, Dale Bryd, told LEX 18 that Veach died due to injuries connected to a fall on Sunday, not severe weather.
Bryd said that Veach, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2020, walked out of their home and fell near a set of nearby train tracks and died as a result of her injuries. He said that he was unsure why his mother's cause of death would be conveyed to the governor as hypothermia.
On Tuesday, Beshear added during a briefing that hypothermia did contribute to her death but also a severe fall did occur.
Original Story:
One woman has died in connection to ongoing severe weather and frigid temperatures impacting much of the region, Governor Andy Beshear confirmed Monday.
According to Beshear, the 72-year-old Whitley County woman died as a result of hypothermia.
Kentucky, I’ve got some sad news to share. We’ve confirmed one fatality in Whitley County with the passing of a 72-year-old woman due to hypothermia. Please join me in praying for her family during this difficult time.
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) January 26, 2026
Frigid temperatures are expected to last into the rest of the week.
