Mother and daughter charged with murder in illegal botched butt lift
- Victor Nwoko
- Feb 20, 2024
- 2 min read
Graphic images from a botched butt-lift operation were presented in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday as the murder trial of a mother and daughter commenced. Libby Adame, 53, and her daughter Alicia Galaz are accused of murder in connection with the death of their client, 26-year-old Karissa Rajpaul, in October 2019.
Prosecutors asserted in their opening statements on Tuesday that Adame and Galaz injected 'toxic' substances into their clients during unprofessional procedures in the Lynwood, California area. They claimed these actions led Rajpaul, an aspiring porn star, to suffer a fatal heart attack during her third surgery with the defendants in a hotel room.
Allegedly operating without proper medical training or certification, the mother-daughter duo, along with two other women, purportedly offered cut-price buttocks augmentation procedures in hotel suites and homes, disregarding safety protocols.
The defense attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, countered in his opening statement that Adame received training in Mexico and was licensed there. He argued that the substances labeled 'toxic' were commonplace in Mexico and defended the defendants against the murder charges, stating there was no intent to kill.
The fatal procedure leading to their arrest occurred on October 15, 2019, during Rajpaul's third surgery. Rajpaul, who had moved from South Africa to California for her career, succumbed to acute cardiopulmonary dysfunction on the operating table. Adame and Galaz purportedly fled the scene, leaving Rajpaul to be rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Deputy District Attorney Lee Cernok emphasized the clandestine nature of the operation, highlighting that it was conducted by individuals without medical licenses.
Detective Bob Dinlocker, involved in the investigation, revealed that the chemicals used in the illegal procedures were not intended for human use and could cause severe health issues. He stated that Adame and Galaz operated with little regard for safety standards and often left the scene if complications arose.
The defendants allegedly attracted clients by offering significantly lower prices compared to licensed practitioners. Rajpaul paid $3,500 to $4,000 for her procedure, considerably less than the $10,000 to $15,000 typical for board-certified butt lifts.
Despite their dangers, Brazilian butt lifts have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with a 77 percent increase in procedures from 2015 to 2019 in the United States.
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