Charges Filed in Silicone-Injection Death of Transgender Woman

HEALTH-PIC
Katya De La Riva and suspect Liborio De La Luz Ramos / Courtesy De Colores
Katya De La Riva and suspect Liborio De La Luz Ramos / Courtesy De Colores

By Joanna Meza

A suspect in the death of a transgender Santa Ana woman was charged with voluntary manslaughter. Liborio De La Luz Ramos was arrested Feb. 5 as the primary suspect in the death of Katya De La Riva.

De La Riva died in January after being injected with industrial-grade silicone not meant for medical use, police said.

She checked into Kaiser Hospital after attending a so-called “silicone party” in Orange County and died three weeks later.

Hospital officials contacted police after determining that an unlicensed individual performed a medical procedure on De La Riva.

“He is not a doctor,” Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

Ramos is currently being held on $500,000 bail.

Ramos is accused of injecting a second victim, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

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