A parent has been arrested and charged after allegedly bringing alcoholic Jell-O shots to a Christmas party at Jones Elementary in Tyler in December 2024.
According to an affidavit, the assistant principal notified a Tyler ISD Police Department officer on Dec. 20, 2024, about suspected alcoholic treats at a 5th-grade class Christmas party. Teresa Isabel Bernal, 33, of Tyler, was identified as the parent who brought the Jell-O.
Bernal reportedly told the officer she purchased the Jell-O from a home-based sweets shop for her daughter’s party and claimed she didn't know they contained alcohol until after some children consumed them. The Jell-O, in blue, red, and green cups with toppings, allegedly caused stomach aches and headaches in nearly all the students who ate them, with some reporting vomiting or feeling like they "passed out."
The 5th-grade teacher stated that Bernal brought the treats in bakery-style boxes with logos. Students were allowed to take the Jell-O freely during the party. Two teachers who tried the Jell-O suspected it contained alcohol. The teacher then spoke with Bernal, who also questioned if the treats had alcohol.
Further investigation revealed the "Christmas Jell-O-Shots" were advertised online by the sweets shop with "Smirnoff" listed. Text messages from Bernal to the shop owner on the day of the party inquired about alcohol content after the children had already eaten some. Lab testing later confirmed the presence of alcohol in the Jell-O.
Bernal was arrested on April 21, 2025, and booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of reckless bodily injury to a child, with a $75,000 bond. She was released after posting bail the same day.
