On May 1, 2026, a jury in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, convicted 57-year-old Roxanne Record of manslaughter for the 2022 death of her 4-year-old granddaughter, China Record. The incident occurred after the child took a sip of whiskey from a bottle left on a counter. As a “punishment,” prosecutors established that Record forced the toddler to kneel and drink the remainder of the 750ml bottle of Canadian Mist—which was more than half full—while the child’s mother watched.
Medical evidence revealed that China died of acute alcohol poisoning with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.680%, a level more than eight times the legal limit for an adult driver. Testimonies indicated that the grandmother ignored the child’s deteriorating state, and medical help was only summoned after the girl was found unresponsive in a bathtub. While Record was initially charged with first-degree murder, the jury ultimately opted for the lesser conviction of manslaughter.
Record is scheduled for sentencing on August 10, 2026, where she faces a prison term of 10 to 40 years without the possibility of probation. The child’s mother, Kadjah Record, is also facing charges of first-degree murder for failing to intervene or seek help; her trial is expected to begin later this summer.