A tragic case is unfolding in Louisiana, where a grandmother is facing the consequences of a harrowing incident involving her young granddaughter. Roxanne Record has been convicted of manslaughter following the death of four-year-old China Record, as reported by the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office. The heartbreaking events date back to April 21, 2022, when emergency responders arrived at a home to find China unresponsive.
According to a press release from the Baton Rouge Police Department, the child’s blood alcohol content was an astonishing .680. Investigators later discovered that China had been forced to consume an entire bottle of whiskey by her grandmother while her mother, Kadjah Record, watched the shocking scene unfold. This disturbing act stemmed from an alleged incident where the child might have taken a sip from a whiskey bottle left on the counter.
Details from an arrest warrant, as covered by WAFB, reveal that in a punitive measure, the young girl was made to kneel and drink the remaining whiskey. Both the grandmother and mother purportedly reacted with anger over the child’s potential initial sip, leading to this extreme and fatal punishment. As the community grapples with this tragic loss, the case highlights grave concerns over child safety and family dynamics.
An investigation later determined that Roxanne had forced China to drink a bottle of whiskey while China’s mother Kadjah Record watched, according to the press release.
Investigators said the mother and daughter were allegedly upset because China may have sipped from a bottle of whiskey sitting on the counter, according to an arrest warrant obtained by WAFB. The girl was allegedly forced to get on her knees and finish the remaining contents, per the outlet.
China died that day of acute ethanol intoxication, according to an autopsy report sent to from the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office.
Roxanne allegedly told investigators in the arrest warrant that she “messed up” and “wanted to take full responsibility” for China’s death, according to WAFB. Roxanne allegedly added, “This went too far” and that “she ruined everyone’s lives.”
Roxanne and Kadjah were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for first-degree murder, according to the release. Kadjah pleaded not guilty, a court spokesperson told Oxygen.
During Roxanne’s trial, prosecutor Dana Cummings reportedly said she treated China differently than her other grandchildren, according to The Advocate, allegedly punishing her for taking food and drinks from the kitchen.
On the day of China’s death, two other grandchildren reportedly heard Roxanne say, “Now, drink the rest,” according to WBRZ, and said China was “flailing around” before losing consciousness.
Roxanne’s defense team argued that China was tall enough to reach the bottle of whiskey on her own, according to WBRZ.
Defense attorney Caitlin Fowlkes did not respond to a request for comment from Oxygen, however, she reportedly told the court that China’s death was accidental.
“That little girl is gone, and it’s a tragedy that nobody, no family, nobody should ever have to endure,” Fowlkes said, according to The Advocate. “But tragedy is not the same as murder. Accidents are not the same as intent. And grief is not the same as guilt.”
Fowlkes further argued that Roxanne told detectives she was taking “full responsibility” for the death to protect Kadjah and that interviews with China’s siblings—which were included as evidence—were unreliable.
Fowlkes also said Roxanne attempted CPR on China while speaking to 911, per The Advocate.
After the verdict, East Baton Rouge Assistant District Attorney Dana Cummings, told WBRZ, “The jury made a good decision.”
Roxanne will be sentenced Aug. 10, according to court records viewed by Oxygen.
Kadjah’s next court date is June 29, court records show. Her attorney could not immediately be reached for comment by Oxygen.