A beloved third-grade teacher and mother of three, Holly Hill, has died two years after a tragic Valentine’s Day incident in which she was served a cocktail containing industrial cleaner at a Mexican restaurant in Oklahoma.
Hill, 30, was enjoying a date with her husband at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill in Elgin on February 14, 2023, when she took a sip of her margarita and instantly cried out that her mouth was “on fire,” her mother, Kelly Hunter, recalled.
“She immediately jumped up and ran to the bathroom, started throwing up, started rinsing her mouth out with water,” Hunter said.
Health Complications and Lawsuit
The tainted drink caused devastating injuries, leaving a hole in Hill’s esophagus. Her family confirmed she passed away last Thursday due to complications from the incident.
Over the past two and a half years, Hill endured a long and painful medical journey, all while continuing to teach and care for her children, according to her obituary. Just days before her death, doctors noted the hole in her esophagus had not fully healed, though it showed some improvement.
Hill had previously reached a confidential settlement with the restaurant after filing a lawsuit over her injuries.
In May 2023, the restaurant issued a public apology, stating:
“We are very sorry for what happened and we feel deeply since the moment it occurred because during these 10 years we have never had a situation like this, a situation that should not have occurred in the first place.
The manager in charge at the time, Miguel Esparza, has always tried to stay in contact with her and her family. We have never walked away from responsibility and will continue to support them in any way possible while our insurance company handles the case. We again want to apologize to her, her family, and the Elgin community.”
State Investigation Initiated
Following Hill’s death, the Elgin Police Department and the Comanche County District Attorney’s Office contacted the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).
Acting Police Chief Ralph Parsons announced that state investigators “will initiate an initial inquiry into this matter and will be assisted by the Elgin Police Department.”
Hill was a respected and much-loved educator at Elgin Public Schools. Superintendent Nate Meraz called the loss “unimaginable,” describing Hill as a “dedicated teacher, Elgin alumni, and beloved mother and wife.”
A funeral service was held Tuesday morning at the Elgin Schools Performing Arts Center, where family, friends, and colleagues gathered to honor her memory.
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