After visiting the business where she purchased the Jell-O shots, the officer learned the shots she bought were advertised as having Smirnoff, documents read.
TYLER, Texas — An East Texas mother was arrested Tuesday after an investigation found she brought Jell-O shots to a school Christmas party, where several students got sick.
Teresa Isabel Bernal, 33, was charged with injury to a child and booked into the Smith County Jail on a $75,000 bond. She was released the same day.
According to an arrest affidavit, an administrator told the Tyler ISD Police Department that she believed a parent brought Jell-O shots to a class Christmas party on Dec. 20 at an elementary campus.
When asked about the Jell-O shots, Bernal said she admitted that the Jell-O tasted different and she claimed she didn’t know the shots had alcohol in them. The Jell-O was for fifth graders, the affidavit said.
Bernal said she learned the Jell-O shots had alcohol in them after some of the students ate them. Out of the 15 students, nearly all of them reported having stomach aches or headaches, according to the document.
Students told police they vomited, passed out and became dizzy. Those who drank the Jell-O shots had to be taken to the school nurse. Teachers tried to the shots and thought they contained alcohol, the affidavit explained.
Teachers told police they thought it was strange that Bernal brought Jell-O shots, but they trusted her to not bring anything harmful to the party as she was involved parent who attended many events, according to the document.
After visiting the at-home business where Bernal purchased the Jell-O shots, the officer learned the shots Bernal bought were advertised as having Smirnoff, which is a vodka. Vodka generally contains at least 40% alcohol.
The officer said there’s no way Bernal could’ve missed the fact that the shots had alcohol in them, the affidavit said. After testing, results showed the Jell-O shots did have ethanol in them.