Baton Rouge Grandmother Convicted of Manslaughter in 4-Year-Old Granddaughter’s Whiskey Poisoning Death

Granny convicted of fatally poisoning 4-year-old granddaughter by forcing her to chug bottle of whiskey – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)

A Baton Rouge jury delivered a manslaughter conviction against grandmother Roxanne Record on May 2 after a three-day trial revisited the tragic 2022 death of her 4-year-old granddaughter, China Record.[1][2] Prosecutors argued the child succumbed to acute alcohol poisoning after Record forced her to consume more than half a bottle of Canadian Mist whiskey as punishment for taking a sip.[3] China’s blood-alcohol concentration reached 0.631%, a level more than eight times the adult legal driving limit and well into lethal territory.[1]

A Sip Sparks Fatal Retribution

On April 21, 2022, at the family home on Wallis Street, young China reached for a bottle of whiskey left on the kitchen counter. Her 10-year-old brother noticed the lower liquid level and alerted her mother, Kadjah Record. The mother, unconvinced by China’s denial, ordered the girl to her knees.[1]

Roxanne Record then intervened, directing the child to drink from the bottle in what prosecutors described as a harsh penalty for “stealing” the sip. Witnesses later recounted how Record poured the whiskey down the toddler’s throat, far exceeding half a pint. China soon lost balance, collapsed, and showed signs of distress, including a gray complexion and foaming at the mouth. Family members placed her in a cold bath in a futile attempt to revive her, but a delayed 911 call sealed the grim outcome.[2][1]

Paramedics arrived to find the child unresponsive in the yard. Despite efforts at CPR, China was pronounced dead shortly after. The East Baton Rouge Parish coroner’s autopsy confirmed acute alcohol poisoning as the cause, ruling it a homicide.[1]

Pattern of Differential Treatment Emerges

Prosecutors painted a picture of longstanding mistreatment, noting Record singled out China unlike other grandchildren. Household members reportedly labeled the girl’s requests for food or water as “stealing,” fostering a toxic environment. Assistant District Attorney Dana Cummings emphasized this during opening statements: “Her grandmother never, ever took to her, never liked her, treated her differently than she treated the other children.”[2][3]

Aunt Ebony Record testified to her mother’s evident distaste for China, admitting family failures in addressing the abuse. Siblings, now teenagers, provided crucial accounts that implicated their grandmother, though defense attorneys highlighted inconsistencies in their early interviews. The empty whiskey bottle served as stark evidence in court, underscoring the volume consumed.[1]

• China accused of “stealing” basics like food and water.
• Record enforced punishments uniquely on the victim.
• Other children conditioned to view her actions negatively.
• Family awareness of issues but no prior intervention.

Trial Evidence Centers on Intent and Delay

Forensic experts bolstered the prosecution’s case. Toxicologist Dr. Carolina Noble and pathologist Dr. Yen Van Vo explained how the alcohol levels in China’s blood and stomach indicated forced ingestion beyond what a child could manage alone. Levels above 0.3% prove fatal for adults, making China’s reading catastrophic.[1]

Body camera footage captured paramedics questioning the lag in seeking help, with one asking why the call came so late. Defense attorney Ashley Deschamp countered that while alcohol poisoning caused the death, no direct link proved Record poured the liquor, calling it a tragic puzzle missing key pieces. Record herself admitted going “too far” and attempting CPR during the 911 call, aiming to shield her daughter.[3][1]

Cummings likened the act to handing a child bleach: “Your imagination can only take you to what was happening to China. Was she begging? Was she crying?” The jury, unmoved by arguments of accident, rejected first-degree murder but settled on manslaughter.[1]

Guilty Verdict and Lingering Questions

After deliberation, the panel convicted Record of manslaughter, sparing her a life sentence but exposing her to 10 to 40 years without probation. Sentencing is set for August 10. Kadjah Record faces separate charges of first-degree murder and cruelty to juveniles, with her next hearing on June 29.[2][1]

The defense expressed sorrow without conceding full guilt, with attorney Caitlin Fowlkes stating, “Tragedy is not the same as murder. Accidents are not the same as intent.” Yet the conviction underscores accountability for the callous oversight that cost a child’s life.

As the Records await further proceedings, Baton Rouge reflects on a case that exposes deep family fractures. China’s short life ended in unimaginable suffering, leaving a community to ponder how punishment crossed into lethality and what safeguards might prevent the next such horror.