Representative James A. O’Rourke III (D-CT) was suspended from his post on Friday amid allegations that a woman who fled his car last winter without shoes, die of hypothermia.

O’Rourke, 45, will continue to keep his House seat, but was suspended indefinitely from his leadership role because the legal case could interfere with his duties, House Speaker Christopher Donovan said.

When the incident occurred in January, Hartford police said criminal charges were not going to be filed against the politician, however, last Friday sources said that prosecutors were considering a criminal misdemeanor charge.

On January 22, the body of forty-one year old Carol Jean Sinisgalli was found by a cross-country skier 12 feet from a railroad track.  It is believed that the woman walked half a mile before she collapsed in the snow and froze to death.

Back in January, the politician told authorities that he was leaving a tavern in Cromwell, Connecticut when Sinisgalli, who had gotten into an argument with a patron at the restaurant, ran out to his car and pulled opened a back door and jumped in.

The Democrat said he had previously met the woman through a mutual friend and although he did not know where she lived, he gave her a ride because he thought she too intoxicated to drive.

Authorities said the woman had left her coat, shoes and purse behind, along with her car in the parking lot.

O’Rourke told authorities that while he driving the woman became belligerent, knocking down his rear view mirror, garage door opener and glasses before jumping out of his car.  He said when the woman jumped out of the car he didn’t realized she was not wearing shoes, and he thought she was close to her home.

Authorities said the woman died five hours later.

O’Rourke represents central Connecticut and will lose his $6,446 stipend while on suspension