Authorities have launched a 'criminal investigation' into Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao's death, report says
Her sister, Elaine Chao, was a former Secretary of Transportation in the Trump administration and the wife of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Frazer Harrison
- Authorities have launched a "criminal investigation" into the death of the Foremost Group CEO.
- Angela Chao was found dead in a car that had entered a pond on a Texas ranch.
- Her sister, Elaine Chao, is the wife of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Authorities in Texas have said they are carrying out a "criminal investigation" into the death of Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao, CNBC reported.
The 50-year-old was found dead on February 11 in a car that had entered a pond on a ranch in Johnson City, Texas, just outside Austin.
A public information officer for the Blanco County Sheriff's Office told Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that media requests for 911 call logs and video evidence, among other things, should be refused for the time being, per the CNBC report.
In a letter to the attorney general, the sheriff's office also noted that it "was not a typical accident," the report added.
"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," it continued.
The ranch where the incident occurred has ties to Chao's husband, venture capitalist Jim Breyer, the CNBC report added.
Chao took over the Foremost Group, a shipping company, from her father, James S.C. Chao, in 2018.
"Angela Chao was a formidable executive and shipping industry leader, as well as a proud and loving daughter, sister, aunt, wife, and mother," the company said in a statement.
"She was also a precocious youngster, learning about the shipping industry at an early age as she lovingly followed her father around during 'Take Your Daughter to Work' days on his ships."
Her sister, Elaine Chao, is a former US Secretary of Transportation and the wife of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Business Insider reached out to the Blanco County Sheriff's Office for comment.