School party with alcohol: Mother arrested for bringing Jell-O shots to school party in Texas
Teresa Isabel Bernal was charged with injuring a minor after handing out shots of alcoholic Jell-O at a Christmas party at her son's school in Texas. Fifteen students were injured.
Teresa Isabel Bernal, 33, was arrested in Tyler, Texas, after being accused of bringing alcoholic beverages to a Christmas party at Jones Elementary School. According to court documents, fifteen students consumed the Jell-O shots, and most experienced symptoms such as stomachaches and headaches. At least one student vomited and another fainted after drinking several of the drinks.
Bernal acquired the Jell-O shots through an informal business found on Facebook. They were placed on a table next to other food shared by students during the celebration in the school cafeteria. Authorities stated that tests confirmed the presence of ethanol in the drinks.
Bernal claims to be unaware that the products contained alcohol
During questioning, Bernal claimed that she was unaware that the drinks contained alcohol, although she admitted that they had a "different taste." The affidavit indicates that the business's Facebook page had a clear notice about the use of Smirnoff vodka in the products, leading the investigating officer to conclude that it was unlikely that the mother was unaware of what she was bringing to school.
A teacher reported that other teachers also tried the shots and suspected their contents. Immediately after confirming the symptoms in the students, school staff sent the affected students to the health room. The party took place just before winter break, and interviews with the teachers were conducted after the return to school in January.
The incident took place at Jones Elementary School's Christmas party, where alcoholic Jell-O was served among the appetizers. Photo: Georgetown University Alumni.
Legal consequences and school district response
Bernal was booked into the Smith County Jail and released the same day after posting $75,000 bail. It has not yet been confirmed whether she has legal representation. The Tyler Independent School District confirmed her arrest and issued a statement stressing that Bernal is no longer permitted to return to campus.
The district explained that a parent volunteer brought homemade Jell-O to the party, and it was only later discovered that it contained alcohol. “We take this matter very seriously and remain committed to the safety and well-being of our students,” school officials stated, assuring that they acted immediately to contain the situation and notify the families involved.