Dentist accused of giving 4‑year‑old lethal doses of sedatives during routine procedure, police say

A Fort Worth dentist is behind bars, accused of administering a lethal dose of sedatives that killed a 4yearold girl during a routine procedure, authorities said.

Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, was arrested outside her dental office on Wednesday, according to newly released arrest records. She is now facing a felony charge of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury.

Investigators say Hemphill gave 4yearold Aithana Arriaga an oral liquid solution of Meperidine - also known as Demerol - along with two additional sedatives and nitrous oxide.

According to the arrest warrant, the April 1 appointment began as a routine tonguetie procedure at Cuddle Kids Dental Care, the Sycamore School Road clinic owned by Hemphill. Investigators say Aithana was given multiple sedatives before she went into distress.

Investigators say Hemphill was the only one who administered the drugs to Arriaga.

Detectives say Hemphill began chest compressions when the child became unresponsive. A second dentist, who had been on lunch break, stepped in and continued CPR until medics arrived.

The medical examiner told investigators that "the amount of meperidine found in Arriaga's system would have been high for an adult and that the medication was given to her twice (doubledosed)."

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner ruled Arriaga's death as meperidine toxicity.

According to the arrest warrant, doctors told investigators a normal adult range for meperidine is 200 to 500 nanograms per milliliter. Testing showed Arriaga's level was 793 nanograms per milliliter.

Arriaga's parents were not able to speak on camera, but on a GoFundMe page, they described their daughter as "filled with life and kindness," saying her presence "always lit up a room and brought so much joy to everyone around her."

Hemphill has been licensed as a dentist in Texas since 2017. The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners has been asked whether it has opened its own investigation and whether Hemphill has any prior disciplinary history.

The-CNN-Wire & 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.