Former Texas Elections Administrator Accused Of Spiking Energy Drink with Colon Cleanse, Sentenced 18 Months

Texas authorities say former Texas elections administrator spiked an energy drink with colon cleanse and gave it to her employees.

Denise Hernandez formerly worked for Smith County and has pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing bodily injury. She was arrested on June 1 after employees reported the incident, according to CBS19.

Employees supervised by Hernandez allege that on April 27, 2021, Hernandez offered them a cup of pink liquid that she claimed was a Spark energy drink.

Apparently, each employee said they’d had the Spark drink before and drank the liquid, the arrest affidavit detailed. After offering the drink, Hernandez left, and when she returned, she asked the employees if they’d finished their drinks before beginning to taunt them, Yahoo News reported.

“(Hernandez) then placed a canister of colon cleanse on the counter and started making fun of them for drinking the colon cleanse … and singing ‘You just drank colon cleanser’ in a childish manner,” the affidavit stated.

Colon cleanses are typically used to prep for colonoscopies to empty bowels but “can sometimes be harmful” if used in other instances, the Mayo Clinic informed.

The employees began to feel pains due to the cleanse and became were concerned about it due to prior medical conditions.

“The act caused the pre-existing conditions of each victim to be amplified and caused them pain,” investigators said in the affidavit.

One employee who drank the colon cleanses admitted that she was “afraid to say anything because (Hernandez) was a bully and she did not want to lose her job.”

And another who drank the cleanse said the former boss would frequently made fun of them and would “poke her breast,” according to the affidavit.

Hernandez was sentenced to 18 months probation and 80 hours of community service. Reports say she no longer works with the county as an elections administrator.