Texas Teen Died Due to ‘Enlarged Heart’ Caused by ‘Large Amounts of Caffeine’ from Energy Drink, Attorney Claims: Reports

YOU NEED TO KNOW

• The family of Texas teenager Larissa Nicole Rodriguez filed a wrongful death lawsuit against energy drink distributors Alani Nu on Wednesday, April 8, according to multiple reports.

• They claimed the teenager started drinking energy drinks after seeing social media posts advertising the drink’s health benefits and increased energy.

• Rodriguez’s family lawyer reportedly said that the medical examiner determined that the teenager’s cause of death was due to “an enlarged heart due to stress and high amounts of caffeine.”

The family of a Texas teenager has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against distributors of an energy drink company.

Benny Agosto Jr., the lawyer representing the family of Larissa Nicole Rodriguez, who died at the age of 17 in October 2025, said in a statement: press conference On Wednesday, April 8, he said his family filed a lawsuit in Hidalgo County District Court against Alani Nu, the distributor of energy drink Glazer’s Beer and Beverage.

Agosto, Glazer’s Beer and Beverage and Alani Nu did not immediately respond to PEOPLE to provide additional comment on the lawsuit.

During the press conference, Agosto reportedly claimed that the Hidalgo County Coroner determined Larissa’s cause of death was due to “an enlarged heart due to stress and large amounts of caffeine.”

PEOPLE submitted a request to the Hidalgo County Medical Examiner’s Open Government office for additional information but did not immediately receive a response.

Agosto reportedly said he started drinking Alani Nu energy drinks (at least one a day) in the year leading up to Larissa’s death because of social media posts advertising the drink’s health benefits and energy boost, according to NBC News and Fox 8.

Speaking to the local press, Agosto said, “The medical doctor did not say in his report that he died because he drank caffeine that day.” fox 8. “It’s caused by constant caffeine consumption.”

Agosto also reportedly said: NBC NewsIt was stated that Alani Nu energy drinks “have inadequate warnings regarding the serious heart risks posed by this product.”

Even though there was a label on the cans stating that the drinks were not recommended for children, the lawsuit, which seeks $1 million in damages, alleges that the drinks were marketed and distributed by Glazer’s Beer and Beverage without considering the serious heart risks that excessive caffeine use can cause, according to NBC News, Fox 8 and Fox 8. San Antonio Express News.

“There’s no warning, there’s nothing that says, ‘Hey, if you drink this, you’re going to overwork your heart,'” Jennifer Rodriguez, Larissa Rodriguez’s mother, said, according to Fox 8.

Agosto said the medical examiner’s report showed Larissa had no drugs or alcohol in her system at the time of her death and there was no family history of heart problems.

The family’s lawyer described Larissa at the press conference as an “active” teenager who was “full of life” and played tennis and was a cheerleader, and said she had a “bright future” after being accepted to “nearly 20 universities.”

“[She was] sending acceptance letters and emails to parents [go] “He went to college and his life was cut short,” Agosto said.

Although Alani Nu is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, Celsius Inc., which owns the beverage company, said in a statement to NBC News that it was “saddened by this loss and our thoughts are with the family.”

“We take product safety seriously and believe consumers should have clear information about what they are drinking,” Celsius Inc. said in a statement to the outlet. “The box of Alani Nu energy drinks states that it contains 200 mg of caffeine, and the label states that the product is not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women or breastfeeding women.”

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“Our products comply with applicable federal labeling requirements, and it is our policy not to market or sample to persons under 18 years of age in accordance with these label warnings,” they added.

Agosto stated that other defendants may be added in the future and that the case was filed so that this situation does not affect other families.

“Ultimately, what they want is for this not to happen to one child. If they can save one life, that’s what they want. If they can change the industry to provide better protection and warnings for children, that’s what they want,” Agosto said.

Read the original article People