Authorities launched a 'criminal investigation' into Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao's death
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 opened a "criminal investigation" into the death of Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao.
- 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 said they are carrying out a "criminal investigation" into the death of Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao.
The 50-year-old was found dead on February 11 in a car that had entered a pond at a ranch in Johnson City, Texas, just outside Austin.
"This incident was not a typical accident," the local sheriff's office said in a letter to the attorney general, which was obtained by Business Insider.
"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," the letter said.
As a result, 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. CNBC was the first to report on the criminal investigation.
Property records show that Chao and her husband Jim Breyer owned a large tract of land in Blanco County. CNBC reported that the private ranch where the incident occurred has ties to Chao's husband, Breyer, a venture capitalist.
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.
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