BATON ROUGE, LA — A heartbreaking and high-stakes murder trial is underway at the East Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse this week. Roxanne Record, 57, is facing first-degree murder charges in the 2022 death of her 4-year-old granddaughter, China Record, in what prosecutors describe as a “pattern of cruelty” that culminated in a lethal forced “punishment.”
The details emerging from the courtroom have shocked the Wallis Street neighborhood and the wider Baton Rouge community, as prosecutors lay out the harrowing final moments of the young girl’s life.
A ‘Lethal Punishment’ for a Single Sip
The prosecution’s opening statements painted a grim picture of the Record household. According to Assistant District Attorney Dana Cummings, the fatal incident in April 2022 was sparked when China allegedly took a single sip from a bottle of whiskey left on a kitchen counter.
As punishment, prosecutors allege that Roxanne Record forced the child to her knees and made her drink the remainder of the 750ml bottle of Canadian Mist whiskey. The child’s mother, Kadjah Record, allegedly stood by and watched the forced consumption without intervening.
Medical Evidence: 8 Times the Legal Limit
When first responders arrived at the family’s home on Wallis Street, they found the 4-year-old unresponsive. The medical evidence presented to the jury is staggering:
- Blood Alcohol Content (BAC): China’s BAC was found to be 0.680%.
- Adult Comparison: This is more than eight times the legal limit for an adult driver (0.08%).
- Lethality: Experts note that a BAC at this level is almost always fatal, even for a grown man, let alone a small child.
Prosecutors argue that while the child lay dying, Roxanne Record “just went on with daily life,” showing no regard for the toddler’s suffering.
The Defense: ‘A Tragedy, Not Murder’
Defense attorney Caitlin Fowlkes is fighting back against the first-degree murder charge, which requires the state to prove “specific intent” to kill. Fowlkes argued to the jury that while China’s death is a “tragedy that nobody should have to endure,” it was an accident rather than an intentional act of murder.
The defense claims that Roxanne Record attempted to perform CPR on the child once she realized something was wrong, arguing that these life-saving efforts contradict the state’s claim of intent to kill.
What’s Next in the Trial?
If convicted of first-degree murder, Roxanne Record faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The child’s mother, Kadjah Record, is also facing murder charges and is scheduled for a separate trial later this summer.
The trial is expected to continue throughout the week with testimony from medical examiners and investigators who processed the scene at the Wallis Street home.
Baton Rouge, we want to hear from you. This case has raised serious questions about child welfare and the “intent” behind disciplinary actions. Do you believe the evidence supports a first-degree murder conviction?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and follow this page for live updates from the courthouse.
