Nationwide — China Record, a 4-year-old girl from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, died after her grandmother allegedly forced her to drink whiskey as punishment. Authorities say the child suffered severe alcohol poisoning and could not be revived. The grandmother, Roxanne Record, was later convicted of manslaughter.
Police responded to a home in Louisiana just before 11 a.m. on April 21, 2022, after reports of an unresponsive child. Emergency responders, including firefighters and EMS, arrived quickly and attempted life-saving efforts, but the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to WLBT, investigators alleged that Roxanne Record forced the child to drink whiskey from a bottle. The child’s mother, Kadjah Record, was reportedly present during the incident but did not step in to stop it.
According to the arrest warrant, the child’s blood alcohol level measured 0.680. Authorities said the incident followed suspicions that the child may have taken a drink from a whiskey bottle left on a counter. Investigators stated she was then forced to drink the remaining alcohol, believed to be more than half a bottle, while kneeling in a hallway.
Roxanne Record reportedly told investigators she “messed up” and took responsibility for what happened. She also said the situation “went too far” and that it destroyed lives.
Kadjah Record allegedly told police she saw her mother take the bottle from the kitchen. She later said it was empty when she returned and found the child unresponsive. Investigators noted her statements changed during questioning.
Roxanne Record was convicted of manslaughter by a jury and is set to be sentenced on August 10. She faces up to 40 years in prison. Kadjah Record has also been arrested and is scheduled to return to court next month.