Texas Parent Gives Jell-O Shots to 5th Graders, Shocked They Contain Alcohol

A woman in Texas claimed she didn't know the Jell-O shots that she bought for an elementary school party contained alcohol. She was arrested after many children reported feeling sick, some throwing up and unable to stand on their own.

A Texas Christmas to Remember

On Dec. 20, 2024, a mother in Tyler, Texas, decided to bring treats to the elementary school Christmas party. The evening ended when an assistant principal called police, claiming the mother gave alcohol to the children.

When officers arrived, they asked the mother, Teresa Isabel Bernal, what had happened. She stated that she purchased some Jell-O treats from a nearby business to share with the kids. She claimed she had no idea that they were actually Jell-O shots that contained Smirnoff Vodka.

Children Getting Sick from Jell-O Shots

Bernal told officers that she didn't know there was alcohol in the treats until several of the children had already consumed them.

Nearly 15 students reported having stomachaches and headaches from the event.

When the treats were brought out during the Christmas party, the Jell-O shots were placed with the rest of the food for the kids to come up and grab what they wanted. Allegedly, after about 20 minutes of the treats being out, a couple of teachers finally tried them, causing concern for the presence of alcohol.

The owner of the business who sold Bernal the Jell-O shots informed police that there was no way that she could not have known they contained Smirnoff, as the online purchase site clearly states that the Jell-O shots contain alcohol when you try to buy them.

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Officers also spoke with a few children who ate the Jell-O shots at the elementary school party. One said it was hard for them to stay on their feet while the other stated being too scared to move from off the floor in the classroom. A third student reportedly vomited in the bathroom after the incident.

Teresa Bernal was recently arrested and charged with injury to a child, a state jail felony, for recklessly providing alcohol to children during the elementary school Christmas Party.