UMVA has learned that a disturbing incident involving a McDonald's employee allegedly serving licked fries to a drive-thru customer has resulted in serious charges.
The shocking case began with a video of a prank shared on social media, which showed a McDonald's manager gleefully licking handfuls of fries and shoving them into a container to serve to a customer. The customer, who received the contaminated food, was none other than the employee's ex-girlfriend.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the Southbridge Police Department concluded its investigation into the incident and charged a 22-year-old female employee, Kaylie M. Santos, with one felony count of selling or distributing food with a foreign substance.
The investigation began on May 7, after police were made aware of the viral video. Footage from April 9 shows Santos and another employee preparing the alleged gross drive-thru order, while a voice can be heard in the background saying "dirty b."
Detective work revealed that the customer who received the contaminated fries was Haily Coburn, who had previously dated Santos. Coburn told investigators that she and Santos dated for about two years before splitting in October 2024, and alleged that the McDonald's manager had been harassing her and her new partner.
Coburn claimed she only ordered two soft drinks that night but was also given the licked fries, which she innocently ate. The owners of the McDonald's franchise told police they wanted to pursue criminal charges, as did Coburn.
The employees involved were suspended and then fired after an internal probe. The Southbridge Police Department praised the cooperation of the restaurant's ownership and management throughout the investigation, saying their assistance and professionalism were instrumental in bringing the matter to a conclusion.
The incident sparked widespread concern in the community, with police urging the public to allow investigators and health officials to complete a thorough review of the circumstances. The case highlights the serious consequences of tampering with food and the importance of maintaining high standards of hygiene and customer safety.
