Man arrested in silicone injection death of OC transgender woman
SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A 44-year-old Santa Ana man was arrested in the death of a transgender woman who died after getting unregulated silicone injections at a house party.
Liborio De La Luz Ramos faces charges of voluntary manslaughter and was booked into Santa Ana Jail Friday in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Katya De La Riva, 40, attended a "silicone party" sometime in December where she allegedly received silicone injections to enhance her buttocks from Ramos.
Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department said Ramos has no medical background to perform such procedures.
"At this point, there is no indication that he has a medical background. He is not a doctor. Obviously, as we've heard from many doctors talking about this story, plastic surgeons would not provide these types of injections into a person's buttocks,"Bertagna said.
In January, Riva admitted herself into Kaiser Hospital in Irvine because of a respiratory problem. She died 20 days later of an embolism related to the injections.
On Jan. 28, the Orange County Coroner's Office notified the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Section of a Riva's death, stating her death was suspicious.
The investigation is ongoing and authorities believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Santa Ana police at (714) 245-8390.
