Inset: Holly Hill (KOTV). Background: Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill in Elgin, Oklahoma (Google Maps).
Law enforcement authorities in Oklahoma are investigating the death of a 30-year-old middle school teacher who allegedly died after ordering a margarita at a local Mexican restaurant and being served an industrial-strength chemical cleaner.
According to a news release from the Elgin Police Department, its investigators have been in “daily contact” with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) regarding the investigation into the death of Holly Hill, who passed away last week.
“The OSBI will initiate an initial inquiry into this matter and will be assisted by the Elgin Police Department,” police said in a news release regarding the investigation. “The OSBI will be the lead agency in this matter. Holly”s family has been notified, and we ask the community to be patient and respectful to the family.”
Hill’s death came after years of medical issues that allegedly began when she and her husband went on a Valentine’s Day date to Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill in 2023. The restaurant is about 70 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
Hill’s mother, Kelly Hunter, spoke with Tulsa CBS affiliate KOTV about what allegedly happened to her daughter.
“Her mouth was on fire, and she knew something wasn’t right,” Hunter told the station. “She immediately jumped up and ran to the bathroom, started throwing up, started rinsing her mouth out with water.”
The report states that the restaurant served Hill industrial-strength degreaser in her margarita. Following the incident, she was reportedly forced to make several trips to the emergency room for medical treatment due to severe chemical burns suffered throughout her esophagus.
In the years since she allegedly ingested the chemical substance, Hill reportedly underwent dozens of surgical procedures. Her most recent surgery took place on Oct. 17, just days before her death.
“As they were trying to get her ready to transport her, they lost her pulse,” her mother told KOTV.
It was not immediately clear why authorities had only just begun investigating Hill’s death.
Hill filed a civil lawsuit against the restaurant in August 2023. The case was dismissed with prejudice earlier this year after Hill and the establishment reached a confidential settlement, her personal injury attorney told KOTV.
While the restaurant has never directly addressed the situation with Hill, it did appear to allude to the situation in a 2023 Facebook post apologizing to the Elgin community.
“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 post said. “We have never walked away from responsibility and will continue to support [Hill and her family] in any way possible while our insurance company is on the case. We have always tried to give back to the community and will continue to do so.”
Hill had been a teacher at Elgin Middle School since 2019. Elgin Public Schools Superintendent Nate Meraz posted about her death on Friday.
“This morning I received the unimaginable call that Holly had passed away unexpectedly,” Meraz wrote. “Holly was a dedicated teacher, Elgin Alumni, and beloved mother and wife. She was an Owl through and through and we lift her family up in prayer tonight.”
