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Riverside County Woman Found Guilty of Murder in Injection Case

A woman from Riverside County has been convicted of second-degree murder following the death of a Malibu client after receiving silicone injections. On October 9, 2024, a jury in downtown Los Angeles found Libby Adame, 55, guilty of the murder charge related to the death of Cindyana Santangelo, 59. The incident occurred on March 24, 2023, when Santangelo succumbed to complications linked to the injections administered by Adame.
The jury deliberated for just over a day before reaching their verdict, which also included a count of practicing medicine without certification. Following the conviction, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta ordered Adame to be held without bail, pending sentencing scheduled for November 5, 2024. She faces a potential prison term of 15 years to life.
Outside the courtroom, Frank Santangelo, the victim’s husband, expressed relief, stating that his wife “received the justice she deserved.” In contrast, Adame’s defense attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, claimed that his client was not present when Santangelo received the injections, labeling the trial’s outcome a “travesty.” Adame plans to appeal the verdict.
This conviction follows a previous case in which Adame was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March 2024, alongside her daughter, Alicia Galaz. They were acquitted of murder charges in connection with the death of Karissa Rajpaul, 26, who died after receiving similar injections in a Sherman Oaks home on October 15, 2019. Adame was sentenced to four years and four months in prison for that case.
In the latest trial, Deputy District Attorney Lee Cernok reminded jurors that the judge in Adame’s previous trial had warned her she could face murder charges if another death occurred due to her actions. Cernok asserted that Adame was aware of the risks involved, stating, “Did she know better? The answer is a resounding yes.”
Cindyana Santangelo was taken to a hospital in Ventura County after experiencing severe complications, with authorities later determining her cause of death was an embolism due to a silicone injection. The prosecution emphasized this fact in their arguments.
Adame’s defense maintained that she was not responsible for Santangelo’s death, arguing that the puncture marks on the victim’s body were not consistent with her work. Adame testified that she arrived at Santangelo’s home to find the woman already bandaged and in distress. She claimed Santangelo had previously visited a “salon in Malibu” for injections.
Frank Santangelo testified that his wife had been breathing normally before the consultation. He recalled that she sought a “butt enhancement” to correct lumps in her buttocks from hormone treatment. He described a distressing scene as Santangelo struggled to breathe and bled from her buttocks soon after the procedure.
The case has drawn attention to the dangers associated with unlicensed cosmetic procedures and the legal ramifications for those who perform them. Adame remains incarcerated as she awaits sentencing, a situation that underscores the ongoing issue of safety and regulation in the cosmetic enhancement industry.
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