Texas teenage beauty queen's death cased by caffeine energy drink, lawsuit claims

A wrongful death lawsuit has filed claiming that the unexpected death of a teenage beauty queen in Texas was the result of "unreasonable dangerous" amounts of caffeine in energy drinks. 

According to the lawsuit, which was filed by the family of Larissa Rodriguez, the 17-year-old suffered a "fatal cardiac event" on Oct. 20, 2025, after consuming at least one 12-ounce can of Alani Nu, an energy drink. 

Officials concluded that Rodriguez had died from cardiomyopathy, which was caused by excessive caffeine consumption, The New York Post reported Thursdau. 

The lawsuit was filed in Hidalgo County District Court. Rodriguez won the Miss Texas Onion Fest in 2024, and in 2022, she was crowned the inaugural Junior Miss Weslaco. 

“As a result of the wrongful conduct, Larissa Rodriguez suffered physical pain and mental anguish, pain, and torment prior to her death,” the lawsuit states.