Two years after a Valentine’s Day dinner turned into a medical nightmare, an Oklahoma mother of three and beloved teacher has died from complications linked to a cocktail tainted with industrial cleaner.

Her Mouth Was On Fire

Holly Hill, 30, was out celebrating with her husband at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill in Elgin in February 2023 when, according to her family, she took a sip of her margarita and immediately felt searing pain. “Her mouth was on fire, and she knew something wasn’t right,” her mother, Kelly Hunter, told News 9. Hill bolted to the bathroom to rinse her mouth and began vomiting. Within hours, doctors determined that the drink contained a powerful cleaning chemical that had burned a hole through her esophagus.

Hill Never Recovered

Hill’s family said she never truly recovered. For the next two and a half years, she endured a series of painful surgeries and procedures, including tube feeding and repeated attempts to repair the internal damage. In late October, doctors performed another procedure and reported slight improvement — the hole in her esophagus was smaller and less inflamed. Days later, she died from complications related to the injury.

Police Are Investigating The Source of the Poison

Hill’s death has prompted a new investigation by the Elgin Police Department and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Acting Police Chief Ralph Parsons confirmed that the agencies will conduct an inquiry into how the cleaner ended up in Hill’s drink. “The State Bureau of Investigation will initiate an initial inquiry into this matter and will be assisted by the Elgin Police Department,” Parsons said Monday.

Hill’s Family Reached A Confidential Settlement With The Restaurant

The restaurant has not publicly commented since Hill’s death, but in a 2023 social media post, Hacienda Las Margaritas wrote, “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 and her family had previously reached a confidential settlement with the restaurant after filing a lawsuit over her injuries. Despite the legal resolution, Hill’s life was defined by ongoing medical treatment and physical pain.

The Elgin Community Loved Hill

Her obituary described her as “a beloved third-grade teacher at Elgin Public Schools” who “faced a long and difficult medical journey with courage and grace.” Her mother said in a Facebook post last week , “She was teaching, she was raising three kids, and she was still fighting… She wanted to live.” Elgin Public Schools Superintendent Nate Meraz called her death “unimaginable.” “Holly was a dedicated teacher, Elgin alumni, and beloved mother and wife,” Meraz said in a statement.

Hill Won’t Be Forgotten

Hundreds gathered Tuesday at the Elgin Schools Performing Arts Center to honor her life. Friends and students remembered her for her warmth, humor, and compassion — the kind of teacher who stayed late to help struggling readers and always greeted her class with a smile. For her family, the hope now is that investigators can provide answers — not just about what happened that night, but why such a mistake could ever happen at all.