The death of a 27-year-old Bronx woman following an “anti-aging” treatment at an unlicensed wellness clinic has been officially ruled a homicide by New York City’s Medical Examiner. Elizabeth Baron died from a cardiac air embolism after receiving an injection of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) on July 19 at the Bereshit Lifestyle Center located on Riverdale Avenue near West 232nd Street.
According to authorities, Baron experienced immediate medical distress after Luis Rojas Cabrera, the clinic’s founder, administered the injection into her right hand. Cabrera then called emergency services, and Baron was transported to New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where she was pronounced dead despite medical efforts to save her.
Cabrera, 55, who is licensed to practice medicine in the Dominican Republic but not in the United States, was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and the unauthorized practice of a profession. He was released without bail following his arraignment and ordered to surrender his passport. The Bronx District Attorney’s office has indicated the investigation is ongoing and has not ruled out the possibility of upgrading charges. Cabrera is scheduled to return to court on October 8.
A spokesperson for District Attorney Darcel Clark encouraged anyone who believes they may have been harmed by Cabrera to come forward. Meanwhile, Cabrera’s attorney, Donald Vogelman, emphasized that the medical examiner’s ruling of homicide does not necessarily imply criminal intent. “Homicide” in legal terms denotes the taking of a life, which may occur accidentally. Vogelman maintained that if the death is classified as a homicide, it was “clearly an accident,” and he expressed confidence that his client would be exonerated in court.
Bereshit Lifestyle Center’s website continues to promote Cabrera as “an active surgeon and Naturopath in the Dominican Republic and an alternative and holistic medicine practitioner in the United States.” Prior to the incident, Cabrera had been arrested twice in November at Newark Liberty International Airport for possession of a metal baton and prescription medications, including lidocaine, but both cases were downgraded and later dismissed.
NAD+ injections are marketed as anti-aging treatments and have gained popularity through celebrity endorsements, but their scientific support remains limited. While some animal studies have shown that NAD+ supplementation can enhance vitality in mice, there is little conclusive evidence demonstrating similar benefits in humans. The risks associated with administering such treatments, particularly by unlicensed individuals, highlight ongoing concerns in the wellness and alternative medicine sectors.