Death of Mitch McConnell's Billionaire Sister-In-Law Under Criminal Investigation as Police Says Incident Not 'Typical Accident'

Authorities in Texas are investigating the car accident that resulted in the death of Mtch McConnell's sister-in-law Angela Chao. They have not disclosed the 911 call or video evidence.

Chao, the former CEO of shipping company Foremost Group, passed away in February when her car accidentally entered a body of water on a private ranch in the state.

Death of Mitch McConnell's Sister-in-Law Under 'Criminal Investigation'

(Photo : Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: (L-R) Jim Breyer and Angela Chao attends the AFI Awards Luncheon at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on January 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Authorities have stated that the passing of the 50-year-old individual is currently being looked into as a potential criminal matter, as reported by CNBC.

In a letter addressed to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Blanco County Sheriff's Office stated that the incident in question was not a regular accident.

While the initial investigation suggested this was an unfortunate accident, the Sheriff's Office continues to look into it as a potential criminal case until they gather enough evidence to dismiss criminal involvement. No additional information was provided regarding the type of criminal activity that may have affected Chao.

Chao's body was discovered in the early hours of February 11 after her vehicle was retrieved from a pond on a ranch in Johnson City, approximately 40 miles from Austin. According to the Austin American-Statesman, teams struggled to extract Chao from a vehicle on the ranch for more than an hour.

According to a report obtained by the news source, fire officials stated: "The deputies were in the water standing on what they believed was the vehicle, trying to gain access to the possible victim inside the vehicle."

Deputies stayed in the water as crews arranged lighting to assist in the rescue, and a tow truck was called in to remove the vehicle. Officials had to utilize tools to shatter the vehicle's windows and extract Chao from the vehicle where they administered "advanced life support" for 43 minutes.

The ranch where Chao passed away is owned by a corporate group linked to her husband, venture capitalist Jim Breyer, as reported by the outlet. Because of the ongoing investigation into her death, the sheriff's office stated that 911 logs, audio, and video evidence could not be shared with media organizations.

The office stated that releasing the reports, videos, and other information before the investigation is complete could interfere with the investigation and potential prosecution of the matter. The letter also inquired about the Attorney General's opinion on whether records should be withheld from the public.

The sheriff's office initially stated that EMS tried emergency measures on Chao, but she passed away from being submerged in the water. Chao's father, James SC Chao, fondly recalled his youngest daughter as "thoughtful, kind, and devoted," highlighting her as a beloved 'charismatic and visionary leader.'

In a statement, he expressed his sorrow over the passing of his youngest daughter, Angela Chao. The family stated that she was a pioneer for women in leadership roles, motivating others to follow their aspirations. She had a passion for music and experimented with the French horn as her instrument at a young age, always determined to carry it to each lesson on her own.

Who is Angela Chao?

Angela Chao was related to McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, who held positions in the Labor and Transportation departments. McConnell made public this week his decision to resign as the Republican leader in the Senate by the end of the year.

Angela Chao was married to Jim Breyer, who has an estimated net worth of $2.9billion. Breyer has ownership in the Boston Celtics and has been a board member for Facebook, Walmart, Marvel, News Corp, and Dell.

She was previously married to billionaire banker Bruce Wasserstein, who passed away in 2009, just months after they got married. The Chao family stands out as the only one in the school's history with four daughters who attended the Harvard Business School.

Angela achieved her bachelor's in economics with summa cum laude honors in a remarkable three years. After graduating from Harvard Business School, she joined her father's company, The Foremost Group, in 1996. Chao assumed the role of CEO of the company in 2018.

She was recognized for her innovative leadership and as a strong executive in the shipping industry. Chao was appointed as an independent director of the board of the Bank of China in June 2016.

Angela Chao, a founding advisory council co-chair of The Asian American Foundation, issued a statement regarding her unfortunate passing. The nonprofit expressed deep sadness upon hearing about the tragic passing of Angela Chao, a highly regarded businesswoman, philanthropist, and leader. Angela has made a lasting impact on The Asian American Foundation and the AAPI community.