Holly Hill, Elgin Oklahoma Teacher, Dies After Two-Year Battle Following Chemical Burn Incident at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill

Authorities in Oklahoma are investigating the death of 30-year-old Holly Hill, an Elgin Public Schools teacher, whose family says her passing stems from a tragic Valentine’s Day 2023 incident at a local restaurant where she was served a drink laced with cleaning solution instead of a margarita.

According to Hill’s mother, Kelly Hunter, Holly was on a date with her husband at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill when she ordered a second margarita. Instead, she was reportedly served a beverage containing an industrial cleaning chemical.

Holly Hill, Elgin Oklahoma Teacher, Dies After Two-Year Battle Following Chemical Burn Incident at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill

“Her mouth was on fire, and she knew something wasn’t right,” Hunter wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “She immediately ran to the bathroom, vomiting and trying to rinse her mouth with water.”

Hill suffered severe chemical burns to her esophagus, beginning a two-year medical battle that included dozens of surgeries, hospitalizations, and painful recoveries, according to News9. Her condition had recently shown signs of improvement — but just days later, severe complications developed, and she passed away on October 24, 2025.

Her cousin, Jaclyn Brinkley, described Holly’s death as a result of “the negligence of a restaurant.” Earlier this year, the family reached a confidential settlement in a civil case, but they are now seeking criminal accountability.

Comanche County District Attorney Kyle Cabelka confirmed he has contacted the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) to investigate the case as a “suspicious death.”

Elgin Public Schools Superintendent Nate Meraz expressed heartbreak in a statement:

“Holly was a dedicated teacher, Elgin alumna, and beloved mother and wife. We lift her family up in prayer.”

Hill leaves behind her husband, children, and a grieving family. The restaurant has not publicly commented on her death as of this writing.