4-year-old girl hospitalized with very high levels of ethanol in her system, over 3 times the legal limit for an adult, after her teacher gave her a drink that later made her nauseous; teacher charged
Alabama – In a shocking incident in Alabama, a 4-year-old girl was hospitalized after her 56-year-old teacher, identified as T. Walker, gave her a drink that left the girl fighting for her life with dangerously high levels of ethanol in her system. The teacher now faces a charge of aggravated child abuse.
The case came to light on April 28 when the parents of the 4-year-old girl, M. Singleton and A. Singleton, received a sudden call from the nurse’s office at the elementary school their daughter attended. Their daughter had fallen seriously ill just moments before the school day ended. According to the mother, the little girl was “slobbering at the mouth, she was heavy, and the teacher handed her to me saying we probably needed to take her to the ER.”
Alarmed, the parents immediately transported their daughter to a hospital. Upon examination, doctors discovered the 4-year-old’s blood alcohol concentration was a shocking 0.29 — more than three and a half times the legal limit for an adult. The child was admitted to the intensive care unit, where she remained for two and a half days. She has since been released and is recovering at home, but the emotional toll on her and her family has been profound. Toxicology reports confirmed the presence of an extremely high level of ethanol in the child’s system. The severity of her symptoms and the blood alcohol concentration level prompted authorities to launch a formal investigation.
The sheriff’s office took over the investigation from police on May 6. Detectives conducted interviews with the child, her family, school staff, and medical professionals. During her conversation with detectives, the young girl reportedly stated that her teacher gave her a drink that made her nauseous. Walker, who is listed as a special education teacher on the school’s website, became the focus of the investigation. On May 21, the sheriff’s office formally arrested Walker and charged her with aggravated child abuse. According to jail records, Walker remained in custody without bond ahead of her Friday court appearance.
The county’s public school system issued a brief statement following the arrest, acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations and confirming that Walker was placed on administrative leave when the first complaint was received. “We have been cooperating with law enforcement on the investigation, and we will continue working with them,” said R. Philips, Director of Communication for the public school system While the details of what was allegedly given to the child have not been made public, the nature of the charges and the toxicology findings have sparked outrage and concern among parents and community members. The school district has not yet addressed how the incident went unnoticed until the child was physically ill or what measures may be implemented moving forward to ensure student safety.
The Singletons have not released further statements but have expressed deep gratitude to medical staff who cared for their daughter and the community members who have offered support during this distressing time. Their daughter is still recovering physically and emotionally, and will not be returning to school for the remainder of the academic year. Walker’s bond hearing will determine the next steps in her legal case. If convicted of aggravated child abuse, she could face significant prison time under Alabama law. The sheriff’s office continues to seek information related to the case and has encouraged anyone with knowledge to come forward. This case remains under active investigation, and authorities are working to understand how such a shocking and avoidable event could have happened under the supervision of an experienced educator.
