Dentist Faces Charges After Death of 4-Year-Old Hispanic Girl Following Dental Treatment
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
A dentist from Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with serious bodily injury to a minor who died in the hospital on April 1, 2026, after receiving dental treatment. She was released after posting bail. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner determined that the girl, identified as Aithana Rodriguez Arriaga, 4, died from meperidine (Demerol) intoxication, reporting a concentration of 793 nanograms per milliliter in her system. The document states that the medical examiner ruled the death accidental. Investigators reported that Hemphill administered meperidine, along with other sedative medications, prior to the procedure. The document also notes that medical experts consulted during the investigation concluded there were failures in monitoring the girl and in the emergency response after she stopped responding to stimuli. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this medication is used to treat acute to moderate pain, as it is essentially a narcotic (opioid analgesic) and can cause severe respiratory problems and life-threatening risks if abused. Telemundo 39 attempted to reach out to Dr. Hemphill's attorney for comments but has not received a response. Incident Chronicle: The Fort Worth Police Department reported that on April 1, 2026, firefighters responded to a medical emergency at a dental office (Cuddle Kids Dental Care) located in the 5300 block of Sycamore School Road. Upon arrival, they found a four-year-old girl unresponsive to stimuli. The mother had taken the girl to the office that same morning for a dental procedure. After the procedure, the girl showed no signs of response to the present staff. The Fort Worth Fire Department transported the girl to a local hospital, where her death was confirmed. The Child Abuse Crimes Unit (CACU) initiated an investigation into the case and determined that a crime had been committed, and the doctor who performed the procedure on the victim would face charges. On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect, Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, 48. She was arrested on the charge of injury to a minor resulting in serious bodily injury.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
