A grandmother in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been convicted of manslaughter after forcing her 4-year-old granddaughter to consume half a bottle of whiskey, resulting in the child's death from acute alcohol poisoning. The incident occurred on April 21, 2022, when police responded to a call about an unresponsive child at a residence. Despite efforts by firefighters and EMS workers, the child, identified as China Record, could not be revived.
Investigation reveals forced alcohol consumption
Detectives investigating the case discovered that Roxanne Record, the child's grandmother, suspected the girl had taken a sip of whiskey from a bottle in the house. As punishment, Record forced the child to drink approximately half a bottle of whiskey, according to police reports. The child's mother, Kadjah Record, allegedly witnessed the punishment without intervening.
Medical findings and legal proceedings
The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office determined that China died from acute alcohol poisoning. The toddler's blood-alcohol content was measured at .680, a level far exceeding the potentially fatal threshold of 0.4. Roxanne Record reportedly told police she had "messed up" and wanted to take full responsibility, adding that she had "ruined everyone's lives."
Kadjah Record, the child's mother, gave inconsistent statements to investigators and was arrested at the scene. She faces first-degree murder charges and is scheduled to return to court next month. Roxanne Record will be sentenced on August 10 and faces up to 40 years in prison.
