The tragic and heartbreaking death of 4-year-old China Record on April 21, 2022, shocked the world. China’s death wasn’t the result of a rare disease or an accident, but rather a brutal and unimaginable punishment.
Allegedly forced to drink a lethal amount of alcohol by her grandmother, Roxanne Record, and left helpless by her mother, Kadjah Record, China’s death has left her extended family grappling with guilt and horror.
The Horrific Incident
According to court documents obtained by Fox News, China had reportedly been subjected to long-term abuse, which escalated into a fatal act of cruelty. On the day of her death, China drank from a bottle of Canadian Mist whiskey that had been left on the counter.
It is unclear why she chose this particular bottle, but prosecutors claim that her grandmother, Roxanne, became enraged by the child’s action and forced her to finish 1.6 pints of the 80-proof liquor.
The effects of the alcohol were devastating. China became unresponsive, and when paramedics arrived at the family’s home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, they found the child lifeless.
An autopsy later revealed that her blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.68—more than eight times the legal limit for an adult. In a somber statement to the court, Assistant District Attorney Dana Cummings described the tragic situation: “She… just went on with daily life while she died.”
A Family’s Guilt
The tragic loss of China has left her extended family devastated. Ebony Record, the sister of Kadjah and daughter of Roxanne Record, expressed deep regret for not intervening earlier to protect the little girl. She told KAKE, “I should take blame too. I know what type of person my mom is. I know how my mom felt about China.”
Ebony revealed that she and her sister, Kadjah, had also endured physical, emotional, and verbal abuse at the hands of Roxanne Record when they were children. This ongoing pattern of abuse, which extended to China, created a culture of fear that kept them from reaching out for help or contacting the authorities. “We were never going to tell.
Now it’s sad that it took a body for people to know what’s going on over here,” Ebony admitted. “I’m 30 years old, and it took for my niece to die for me to speak out against my own mother.”
Now, with China’s life taken, Ebony is determined to ensure that Roxanne Record never harms another person. She made it clear that her mother would never be allowed to hurt anyone again. “She’s not getting out. She’s going to pay for what she did because you took beyond too far,” Ebony said.
The Fate of the Alleged Abusers
As the family seeks justice for China, the legal process continues to unfold. Roxanne Record faces first-degree murder charges. If convicted, she could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Kadjah Record, China’s mother, also faces murder charges for allegedly failing to intervene and protect her daughter. She is expected to stand trial later in 2026.
Ebony Record, reflecting on the devastating impact of her mother’s actions, said, “My sister already gave 28 years and a baby. Why should she have to give the rest of her life?” Her words underscore the emotional weight of China’s death and the toll that decades of alleged abuse have taken on the family.
Seeking Justice for China
China’s death is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating consequences of abuse and neglect. As the legal process moves forward, her family’s struggle to make sense of her tragic loss continues. The case has sparked public outrage, and there is hope that China’s death will finally bring justice for a little girl who suffered in silence for too long.
Roxanne Record’s daughter, Ebony, has made it clear that the world will be a safer place with her mother behind bars. If convicted, Roxanne Record’s incarceration would ensure that she can no longer harm anyone else. Meanwhile, China’s family continues to fight for the justice and peace that the young girl was denied in her short life.
