A heartbreaking incident at Stratford High School in Texas ended tragically when a student with severe autism, Sebastian Romo, choked on a rubber glove and later died. The parents of Sebastian filed a lawsuit against the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) and a staff member, alleging gross negligence in caring for their son. The case was settled in May 2026.
Details of the Choking Incident
Sebastian Romo, who had severe autism and Williams-Beuren Deletion Syndrome, required close supervision due to his limited self-help skills. Court documents state he had a history of swallowing objects, including tissue paper and a binder clip, which had previously landed him in the hospital.
On the day of the incident, Sebastian allegedly picked up a rubber glove in the classroom, placed it in his mouth, and later began choking in the school gymnasium after lunch.
Negligence Alleged by Parents
The lawsuit claims that Sebastian’s aides and SBISD staff failed to supervise him properly. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Sebastian in distress—stumbling, falling, crawling on his knees, and hitting his head—while staff members, including a speech-language pathology assistant from Soliant Health, were “preoccupied with their cellphones” and did not intervene.
Despite Sebastian showing clear signs of choking and turning blue, no one attempted CPR or the Heimlich maneuver to save him. The obstruction in his airway was later identified as a piece of a purple medical glove from the classroom.
Unsafe Environment and Previous Warnings
Sebastian’s parents highlighted that the classroom contained potentially ingestible items like rubber gloves and that he was often left unsupervised in a makeshift caged area. They claimed the school had received repeated warnings about Sebastian’s risk of swallowing objects but failed to take proper safety measures or establish clear procedures for the disposal of gloves.
The complaint accused SBISD of creating an unsafe environment due to a “custom and practice of leaving safety concerns to individuals” instead of implementing formal policies.
Settlement and School District Response
The lawsuit, filed in February 2025, was settled on May 19, 2026. The district stated it “denies wrongdoing in this tragic incident,” and noted that most claims were dismissed by the court. The terms of the settlement were not publicly released.
