A Texas woman was arrested last week for bringing alcohol-laced treats to a Christmas party at an elementary school.
Teresa Bernal, 33, allegedly brought vodka Jell-O shots to her daughter’s fifth-grade classroom in Tyler on December 20, 2024. Fifteen students had the shots, and almost all of them reported having stomachaches or headaches afterward, according to KYTX
The school nurse assessed students who had the shots. Teachers who tried the shots believed they contained alcohol, according to KYTX.
One student reportedly said he vomited twice after consuming the shots, while another boy said he passed out after having six of them. A parent claimed their son was “behaving oddly” when she picked him up at school before he passed out on the floor at home, according to KLTV.
Bernal allegedly admitted to authorities that the Jell-O tasted odd, but she was unaware that they contained alcohol. Police reportedly visited the at-home business that sold the shots to Bernal, and they confirmed the shots she purchased were advertised as containing Smirnoff, a brand of vodka.
Police concluded there was no way Bernal overlooked that the shots had vodka in them. KDFW reported that a lab report completed on March 6 confirmed the shots contained alcohol.
Bernal was charged with injury to a child. She was released from custody after posting a $75,000 bond.
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[Feature Photo: Smith County jail]