California Woman Found Guilty in Death of ‘Married… With Children’ Actress
A California woman was convicted yesterday of second-degree murder and practicing medicine without a license in connection with the death of actress Cindyana Santangelo, highlighting the dangers of unregulated cosmetic procedures.
Libby Adame, 55, was found guilty in the death of Santangelo, 58, who died on March 24 after receiving a silicone injection at her Malibu home. Prosecutors stated that an embolism from the injection caused the actress’s death after she was rushed to a Ventura County hospital. Adame, known as “the butt lady” or “La Tia,” was also convicted of a special enhancement for causing great bodily injury, which could add additional prison time to her sentence.
Defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan argued that Adame was acting as a consultant for doctors performing procedures in Tijuana, Mexico, and did not administer the injection. He claimed investigators prematurely focused on Adame without a thorough investigation. However, prosecutors presented evidence linking Adame to a previous fatal case, the 2019 death of Karissa Rajpaul, for which Adame had previously received a prison sentence but was released on probation. You can learn more about the risks of cosmetic surgery from the Food and Drug Administration.
Santangelo’s husband, Frank Santangelo, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Adame, stating his wife was “killed in the prime of her life.” Following the verdict, he told ABC 7 that he felt justice had been served. Santangelo began her career in entertainment with a role in Young MC’s “Bust a Move” music video in 1989 and later appeared in television shows like “Married… With Children,” “CSI: Miami,” and “ER.” Her full filmography can be found on IMDb.
Adame, who has been in custody since May 12, is scheduled for sentencing on November 5. Second-degree murder in California carries a minimum sentence of 15 years, and practicing medicine without a license can result in up to three years in prison.
