Fort Worth dentist arrested after 4-year-old girl died following dental procedure

Police say investigators determined the dentist performing the procedure was responsible and arrested her on a charge of injury to a child, causing serious bodily injury.

A Fort Worth dentist has been arrested more than three months after a 4-year-old girl died following a dental procedure, according to the Fort Worth Police Department.

Police arrested Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, on Tuesday after obtaining a warrant charging her with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony.

According to police, Fort Worth firefighters responded on April 1 to a medical call at Cuddle Kids Dental Care in the 5300 block of Sycamore School Road.

Investigators said the child's mother brought her to the office that morning for a frenectomy, or tongue-tie procedure.

Police said the girl became unresponsive after the procedure and was taken by the Fort Worth Fire Department to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

An arrest warrant affidavit alleges the Tarrant County Medical Examiner determined the child died from meperidine (Demerol) toxicity and reported a concentration of 793 nanograms per milliliter in her system. The affidavit states the medical examiner ruled the manner of death an accident.

According to the affidavit, investigators alleged Hemphill administered meperidine along with other sedating medications before the procedure. The affidavit also alleges that medical experts consulted during the investigation concluded there were failures in the child's monitoring and emergency response after she became unresponsive.

The Fort Worth Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the case. Police said investigators determined an offense had occurred and identified the doctor who performed the procedure as the person responsible, leading to Hemphill's arrest.

Authorities said Hemphill was taken into custody at about 3:42 p.m. Tuesday.

NBC 5 reached out to the dentist's practice, and we are waiting to hear back.