CINDYANA SANTANGELO’s tragic death on March 24 has just led to a landmark verdict in California. Libby Adame, 55, was found guilty on Thursday of second‑degree murder and of practicing medicine without a license after she performed a silicone injection that caused the actress to die from an embolism.
Adame, who earned the nickname “the butt lady,” had already faced legal trouble over a 2019 incident that killed 26‑year‑old Karissa Rajpaul. She received a four‑year, four‑month sentence in 2024 but was released in early 2025 after time in custody and electronic monitoring. Her daughter, Alicia Galaz, was also tried but acquitted of the more serious murder charge.
During the sentencing hearing, defense lawyer J. Michael Flanagan argued that Adame was only at Cindyana’s Malibu home to act as a consultant for doctors practicing legal butt‑injections in Tijuana. He said his client had no time to perform the procedure and slammed investigators for a rushed verdict.
The court found that the silicone injection caused an embolism that led to the actress’s death, striking a negative note on the safety of DIY body‑enhancement procedures. Under California law, the second‑degree murder conviction carries a minimum of 15 years in prison, and the additional charge of practicing medicine without a license can add up to three years. Adame was also convicted of causing great bodily injury, which may extend her sentence by an extra three to six years.
Her husband, Frank Santangelo, who is already suing Adame for wrongful death, said he feels justice has been served. He described the loss as one that “killed her in the prime of her life in her own home.”
Adame’s legal team has said they will appeal the murder conviction. Her sentencing hearing is now scheduled for November 5.
Cindyana Santangelo, best known for her role as Sierra Madre on Married… With Children and appearances on CSI: Miami and ER, began her career in 1989 after a cameo in Young MC’s “Bust a Move.” She made her film debut in The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990) and appeared in Hollywood Homicide (2003) alongside Harrison Ford.
The case has sparked renewed national debate over the risks of unlicensed cosmetic procedures and the legal responsibilities of those who perform them.
Source: New York Post
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