A horrifying case from Louisiana is now being heard in court, where a 57-year-old grandmother is accused of killing her 4-year-old granddaughter by forcing her to drink a large amount of whiskey as punishment. Prosecutors say the child’s death was not just a sudden tragedy, but the result of a cruel and abusive home environment where the little girl was treated differently from other children.
Louisiana Grandmother on Trial in Granddaughter’s Death
Roxanne Record is facing charges of first-degree murder and cruelty to a juvenile in the death of her granddaughter, China Record. If she is found guilty, she will face a mandatory life sentence in prison.
China’s mother, Kadjah Record, is also facing a murder charge. Prosecutors say she watched the punishment happen and did nothing to stop it. Her court appearance is expected later this summer.
Prosecutors Say China Was Treated Cruelly at Home
At the start of the trial, prosecutors described China’s final hours in deeply disturbing detail. Assistant District Attorney Dana Cummings told jurors that while grandparents are usually seen as loving and protective, China did not have that kind of relationship with her grandmother.
According to the prosecution, Roxanne Record never accepted China in the same way she treated some of the other grandchildren. Cummings said China was “demonized” inside the home and was often treated as if she was a problem.
One of the most troubling claims made in court was that the children in the house had been taught to believe China was “stealing” when she took basic things like food and water. Prosecutors said that even drinking water in her own home was described as stealing by others in the household.
What Allegedly Happened on the Night China Died
The fatal incident happened in April 2022 at a home on Wallis Street. Prosecutors say China had taken a sip from a bottle of Canadian Mist whiskey that had been left on the counter.
When Roxanne Record found out, she allegedly punished the child in a cruel way. Investigators say she made China get on her knees in the hallway and forced her to drink the remaining alcohol from the bottle.
After that, prosecutors claim the adults continued with normal life while China’s condition became worse. Police later arrived at the home and found the child unresponsive. She was pronounced dead within two hours of being forced to drink the whiskey.
Officials said China’s blood alcohol content was .680, which is more than eight times the legal limit for adult drivers in Louisiana.
Mother Accused of Failing to Help
China’s mother, Kadjah Record, is also accused of being present during the incident. Police say she watched what happened but did not step in to protect her daughter.
Investigators also claimed that Kadjah later gave inconsistent statements about the incident. Her role in the case will be examined separately when she appears in court.
Defense Calls It a Tragic Accident
Roxanne Record’s defence attorney, Caitlin Fowlkes, argued that the state will not be able to prove first-degree murder because prosecutors must show specific intent.
Fowlkes said China’s death was heartbreaking, but claimed that tragedy is not the same as murder. She argued that an accident should not automatically be treated as intentional killing.
The defence also pointed to differences in witness statements, especially from the child’s siblings. According to Fowlkes, no two witnesses gave the same version of what happened. She also said Roxanne tried to save China by performing CPR while speaking with 911 and argued that her behaviour after the incident showed trauma, not guilt.
Alleged Admission and Family’s Painful Confession
Police said Roxanne Record later admitted that she “went too far” and said she wanted to take full responsibility for what happened.
After China’s death, family members also spoke about a longer history of abuse in the household. China’s aunt, Ebony Record, said relatives had known about troubling behaviour but did not report it. She admitted that the family failed China.
Ebony also claimed fear kept people silent for years. Her words added another painful layer to the case, showing that the warning signs may have been present long before China died.
China Record’s death is a heartbreaking case that has raised serious questions about abuse, silence, and responsibility inside a family home. Prosecutors say the 4-year-old was treated cruelly for a long time and was finally punished in a way that ended her life.
The defence argues that the death was a tragic accident and not intentional murder. As the trial continues, the court will decide whether Roxanne Record is guilty of first-degree murder.
But no matter what happens legally, this case remains a painful reminder that children depend on adults for safety, love, and protection, and when that trust is broken, the result can be devastating.
