Missouri Mom of 3 Dies After Illegal Silicone Butt Injection

A Texas woman has been charged with the death of a woman from Missouri who died after receiving an illegal silicone injection from the suspect.

A judge set bond for Lisa Fernandez, 47, at $40,000, according to KTRK, but jail records show her bond is $100,000.

Fernandez is charged with manslaughter in the death of Marja McClendon, 38, who came from St Louis on April 24, 2018 for two rounds silicone butt injections. A witness told police the first injection left McClendon feeling sick, but she decided to return for the second round when Fernandez refused to give her a refund.

The next day, Fernandez had to stop the procedure several times because McClendon was experiencing significant pain, court documents say. By the time she left, McClendon was short of breath and coughing up blood. She was admitted to a local emergency room but left before she was fully evaluated and returned to Missouri, where she was soon admitted to another hospital.

McClendon died on April 30, 2018. Court documents say an autopsy determined the cause of death was complications from a silicone pulmonary embolism. Houston Police launched a homicide investigation.

Fernandez was arrested for driving without a license earlier this month and was later charged with manslaughter.

She allegedly admitted to injecting McClendon’s silicone and that she is not licensed to perform the procedure, KHOU said. She also reportedly said she knew the risks of conducting the procedure incorrectly.

McClendon’s family said she was a loving mother of three children. Her sister, Deshonna Arnold, is now raising two of them, KTRK reported.

“I’ve been the mom, the auntie, and all of the above. It’s been really hard,” said Arnold, who also said that trip wasn’t the first time her sister had gone to Houston for an injection.

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[Featured image: Lisa Fernandez/Harris County Sheriff’s Office]