Maryland

Woman Accused in Fatal Silicone Butt Injection Case Returns to US to Stand Trial

Detectives say Donna Francis fled to London right after the victim's death in May 2015

What to Know

  • Detectives say Donna Francis administered silicone injections in the basement of a home in Queens, New York
  • In 2015, Francis allegedly gave an illegal silicone butt injection to a Maryland woman, who then died
  • Francis allegedly fled to London, where she fought extradition for several years. She has returned to the US to stand trial

The family of a Maryland woman who died after receiving illegal silicone injections will finally get a shot at justice more than four years after the crime.

The News4 I-Team has learned the fake medical professional who detectives say administered the injections into Kelly Mayhew's backside has returned to the United States.

Donna Francis is charged with criminally negligent homicide and unauthorized practice of a profession. Her attorney, Kevin O’Donnell, entered a not guilty plea on her behalf Friday.

In an interview with News4, O’Donnell said his client is “cloaked with the presumption of innocence like anyone else charged with a crime." He said if they head to trial, prosecutors “better be ready for a fight.”

Detectives say Francis fled to London right after Mayhew's death in May 2015 and has been fighting extradition for several years to avoid standing trial.

Francis landed at JFK airport in New York Thursday afternoon.

Detectives say Mayhew's mother accompanied her on the trip from Maryland to a basement apartment in Queens which Francis had turned into a makeshift office.

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Liquid silicone is not approved for cosmetic use anywhere on the body. Detectives say Mayhew began experiencing distress during the injections and Francis fled. Mayhew, who worked as a producer for BET, died after the silicone traveled through her bloodstream.

The I-Team tracked Francis down outside a London courthouse in 2017. She and her attorney both declined to comment about the case.

Francis fought extradition citing poor prison conditions in the United States and by arguing it would be detrimental for her mental health.

A British judge ultimately ruled against her after prosecutors agreed to limit her possible sentence to one year if convicted.

Detectives told the I-Team they were frustrated by the repeated delays in getting Francis back to the U.S.

Francis' next court date is scheduled for late September. 

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