Cindyana Santangelo death: Woman charged in fatal silicone injection of 'Married With Children' actress
Jurors are deciding the fate of a Riverside County woman accused of injecting silicone into a Malibu woman's buttocks during a procedure that resulted in the victim's death.
Libby Adame is charged with murder in the death of Cindyana Santangelo, an actress who appeared on "Married ... With Children" and "ER."
It's not the first time Adame has faced similar accusations. In 2024, she was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, alongside her daughter, for illegally injecting silicone into the body of Karissa Rajpaul. Rajpaul died after developing an embolism.
Adame, and her daughter, Alicia Galaz, were sentenced to prison, but a judge subsequently ordered their release after determining they had already completed their sentences with credit for time they spent under electronic monitoring. In that case, jurors acquitted the two of the more serious charge of murder.
On Tuesday, Adame's attorney described her in court as the unluckiest person in the world.
"She did not do it," Adame's attorney said.
In closing arguments, prosecutors pointed to negligence and malice, saying she injected Santangelo's buttocks with silicone in March of this year, ultimately leading to her death from silicone embolism.
"What she does is for the second time in her life, while someone is laying on the ground dying, she thinks of herself, and she thinks of getting away and of hiding," one prosecutor said.
The defense said there were holes in the timeline presented.
"Where was the time for Ms. Adame to do a two-hour procedure?" Adame's attorney argued.
The defense argued Adame was there for a consultation and suggested the procedure was done before Adame was there.
Among other evidence, the prosecution pointed to messages between the defendant and Santangelo discussing their upcoming appointment.
The jury is now set to deliberate and return to court Wednesday.
Santangelo's husband, Frank, described her as beautiful inside and out and said she saved lives through their drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
