Luis Rojas Cabrera Hit With Upgraded Murder Charge, NY Post Reports
An unlicensed Bronx spa operator faces an upgraded murder charge after the city’s medical examiner ruled that a 27-year-old patient died from a cardiac air embolism during a trendy anti-aging injection over the summer, the New York Post reported on Tuesday.
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Key Clinical Takeaways:
- Elizabeth Baron, 27, died on July 19 after receiving an intravenous NAD+ treatment administered by 55-year-old Luis Rojas Cabrera at the Bereshit Lifestyle Center in Riverdale.
- The city’s medical examiner concluded the death was a homicide caused by a cardiac air embolism, prompting prosecutors to upgrade initial charges to depraved indifference murder.
- Rojas Cabrera previously faced charges of reckless endangerment and unauthorized practice of a profession, remaining free on lack of bail-eligibility until the autopsy results led to the new indictment.
The Fatal Injection at Bereshit Lifestyle Center
Elizabeth Baron went into cardiac arrest immediately after Rojas Cabrera injected her with NAD+ at his wellness facility on July 19. Court documents allege that the operator admitted culpability directly to responding law enforcement officers at the scene, stating, I made a very big mistake.
The Bereshit Lifestyle Center marketed natural medicine and wellness products designed to simplify healthy living. Assistant District Attorney Ethan Reisbaum stated during the initial July arraignment that administering intravenous NAD+ requires a prescription from a medical professional. Rojas Cabrera pleaded not guilty to the original charges of reckless endangerment and the unauthorized practice of a profession.
Conflicting Claims Regarding the Autopsy Findings
Because the initial charges were not bail-eligible, Rojas Cabrera remained free while prosecutors awaited the definitive autopsy report. When contacted by the New York Post last month, the operator disputed the medical findings, arguing that air discovered in the patient’s heart chambers resulted from manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation rather than the intravenous line.
When I investigated with other doctors, they told me it was a possibility,
Rojas Cabrera told the New York Post, claiming that prolonged CPR can produce air in the heart chambers. He further suggested that underlying health conditions could have contributed to the death.
However, the official medical examiner’s report contradicted those assertions, concluding explicitly that Baron died from a cardiac air embolism without noting any pre-existing medical conditions.
The Celebrity-Fueled NAD+ Trend
The molecule at the center of the fatal incident has gained widespread popularity in wellness circles, driven in part by celebrity endorsements. Prominent models Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber previously publicized their use of the treatment, helping fuel a broader consumer craze over intravenous anti-aging therapies.
State prosecutors pursued the upgraded charge of depraved indifference murder following the conclusion of the medical examiner’s review in late September, shifting the legal proceedings significantly as the case moves forward in Bronx courts.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.