A 30-year-old Oklahoma teacher and mother of three has died two years after drinking a poisoned margarita that left a hole in her esophagus.
Holly Hill was on a Valentine’s Day date with her husband, Branden, at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill in Elgin in February 2023 when she was accidentally served a drink laced with degreaser, a heavy-duty industrial cleaner used to remove grease and oil.
Moments after taking a sip, Hill told her husband that her mouth was “on fire” and ran to the bathroom to rinse her mouth and vomit, according to her mother, Kelly Hunter.
“She immediately jumped up and ran to the bathroom, started throwing up, started rinsing her mouth out with water,” Hunter told News 9. “She knew something wasn’t right.”
The incident left Hill with severe internal injuries, including a hole in her esophagus. She later reached a confidential settlement with the restaurant but continued to suffer from ongoing complications.
Days before her death, Hill underwent a medical procedure in which doctors found the hole in her esophagus “wasn’t healed,” though it was less inflamed. Her mother shared on social media that doctors were optimistic, but Hill tragically died a few days later from related complications.
Following her death, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) launched an inquiry into the case, assisted by the Elgin Police Department. Acting Police Chief Ralph Parsons confirmed the investigation began earlier this week.
The restaurant previously issued a public apology in May 2023, stating:
“We are very sorry for what happened … during these 10 years we have never had a situation like this, a situation that should not have occurred in the first place.”
Hill, remembered as a beloved third-grade teacher at Elgin Public Schools, continued to teach and care for her family throughout her long medical battle. Her obituary described her as a woman of “courage, faith, and quiet strength that inspired everyone around her.”
“Her perseverance and love were nothing short of remarkable,” the tribute read.
In a post from October 2024, Hill shared,
“Today was my 30th procedure on my esophagus. It’s been 1 year and 7½ months since I took one swallow of what I thought was my margarita. To say it’s changed my life is an understatement.”
A GoFundMe page has been created to support Hill’s family, while friends, colleagues, and former students have flooded social media with heartfelt tributes to the teacher “gone too soon.”
“This is still so very heartbreaking. I went by today to pay my respects. Absolutely crushing,” one mourner wrote.
“RIP Holly,” another added.
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