A tragic end to a wellness trend
What started as a search for anti-aging benefits turned into a nightmare this summer. Elizabeth Baron, 27, of the Bronx, went to the Bereshit Lifestyle Center on July 19 hoping for a NAD+ treatment—a molecule hyped by celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber for its supposed youth-preserving powers. Instead, the session ended in a tragedy that the NYPD officially classified as a homicide.
The charges escalate
Luis Rojas Cabrera, 55, who ran the unlicensed Bronx spa, was originally hit with charges of reckless endangerment and unauthorized practice of a profession shortly after the incident. But after the city’s medical examiner ruled Baron’s death a homicide in late September, the legal stakes skyrocketed. On Tuesday, NYPD announced that Rojas Cabrera is now facing a charge of depraved indifference murder.
According to court documents, Baron went into cardiac arrest immediately after Rojas Cabrera injected her, allegedly pushing air into her system. At the time, Rojas Cabrera reportedly told an officer, “I made a very big mistake.”
The aftermath
Rojas Cabrera previously claimed that any air found in the patient’s heart was the result of prolonged CPR, rather than his injection, and suggested underlying health issues were to blame. However, the medical examiner’s report found no evidence of underlying conditions and explicitly pinned the death on a cardiac air embolism. Previously, the case didn't qualify for bail, allowing the operator to remain free, but the plot thickens now that he is facing a murder charge.
Why it matters
The case serves as a massive red flag regarding the "wellness" industry. NAD+ IVs require a prescription from a licensed medical professional, yet many people are still flocking to unlicensed "natural medicine" centers for these trendy treatments. This situation is a heartbreaking reminder that DIY or unlicensed healthcare can have fatal consequences—no cap.
