Woman found guilty of murdering actress Cindyana Santangelo with defective buttock enhancement injections.
A California woman, known colloquially as “the butt lady,” has been convicted of second-degree murder following the death of actress Cindyana Santangelo, renowned for her roles in “Married with Children,” “ER,” and “CSI: Miami.” Libby Adame was found guilty on Thursday of both second-degree murder and practicing medicine without a license in association with Santangelo’s passing earlier this year, as reported by Media News Source.
Cindyana Santangelo was discovered unresponsive at her Malibu residence on March 24, 2025. Emergency responders transported her to a nearby hospital in Ventura County, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the age of 58. The investigation revealed that Santangelo had received silicone buttock injections from Adame on the same day, which led to a fatal silicone embolism, according to prosecutors.
Citing a troubling history, prosecutors highlighted that Adame was already on probation for a prior involuntary manslaughter charge stemming from another case involving buttock injections. In 2019, Adame had administered fatal injections to 26-year-old Karissa Rajpaul, although she and her daughter faced acquittal from murder charges in that instance. In 2024, Adame was sentenced to four years and four months in prison but was released less than a year later due to time served, including periods spent in custody and electronic monitoring. Despite her release, evidence indicates Adame continued to perform unauthorized procedures in California.
The trial included poignant testimonies, notably from Santangelo’s husband, Frank Santangelo, who expressed deep sorrow and anger regarding his wife’s untimely death. He described his wife as having been “killed in the prime of her life” due to Adame’s illegal actions, asserting that her death was preventable and that Adame fled when Santangelo began to convulse after the injections.
Prosecutors argued that Adame was fully aware of the risks associated with such procedures and had a pattern of disregarding safety even prior to the deaths of both Rajpaul and Santangelo. Meanwhile, Adame’s defense attorney claimed that she was merely present as a consultant, representing licensed medical professionals in Tijuana, Mexico, who are legally authorized to perform cosmetic procedures.
As this case underscores the significant dangers associated with unlicensed medical practices, the outcome provides a stark reminder of the serious consequences that can arise from seeking cosmetic enhancements from unauthorized individuals.
