Woman dies after getting anti-aging injection by unlicensed doctor

A young New York woman died after she was injected with an anti-aging serum by an unlicensed doctor, according to police. 

Elizabeth Baron, 27, went into cardiac arrest on Sunday after Luis Rojas Cabrera, 55, hooked her up to an IV full of NAD+ - a popular treatment that celebrities like Kendall Jenner use to slow down aging - at the Bereshit Lifestyle Center in the Bronx, the NYPD said. 

Cabrera, who is listed as the founder and owner of the holistic medical center, allegedly told police that Baron 'immediately' went unconscious after he inserted the IV into her right hand, a criminal complaint obtained by the Gothamist read. 

He then called 911 and confessed to officers that he does not have a license to practice medicine in New York, the complaint stated. 

'I am a doctor in the Dominican Republic. I have a PA license in Puerto Rico. I am not a licensed doctor in New York. My application is pending. I only have an esthetician license,' he told authorities, per the complaint. 

Medical responders transported Baron to NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to the charging document. 

Cabrera also told police that he 'made a very big mistake' and begged to call his family 'because I have a feeling I will not be home for a while,' the complaint said. 

He has been charged with reckless endangerment and unauthorized practice of a profession, according to a court docket reviewed by the Daily Mail. 

Cabrera appeared in court for his arraignment hearing on Monday evening, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges. 

A judge released him without bail because prosecutors are waiting on autopsy results. They cannot charge him with Baron's death until those come in, the New York Post reported. 

During his appearance, New York Assistant District Attorney Ethan Reisbaum told the court a prescription from a medical professional is required to administer NAD+, and that he had no authority to do so because he is not licensed in the Big Apple, the publication said. 

This is also not his first run-in with the law, as he was arrested on November 6 at Newark Airport in New Jersey after returning from the Dominican Republic with a metal baton in his luggage, Reisbaum revealed, per the Post. 

Just days after that, Cabrera was handcuffed again at the same airport after coming into the US from the Dominican Republic with more than 30 tablets, 10 syringes of lidocaine, and nearly 200 files of prescription drugs, the DA said. 

According to a biography on Bereshit Lifestyle Center's website, Cabrera claims to have performed over 6,000 surgeries, including thyroid, abdominal, bariatric, oncology, and neck procedures. 

'I am currently an active surgeon and Naturopath in the Dominican Republic and an alternative and holistic medicine practitioner in the United States,' it continued.

Baron has been remembered as a 'beautiful daughter, sister, and friend whose kindness, warmth, and vibrant spirit touched so many lives,' according to a GoFundMe fundraiser. 

Paula Schaap, a neighbor of Baron's, told the Post that the 'beautiful young woman' worked in Upper Manhattan. 

'I'm so shocked. She seemed very healthy, caring about her health in the sense of going to the gym regularly, and looking beautiful,' Schaap recalled to the outlet. 

She added: 'The last time I saw her was within the week. And she was beautifully dressed.' 

Meanwhile, Cabrera's son, Luis Rojas Cabrera Jr., stood behind his father and said he was caught off guard by the allegations against him. 

'He’s a good man, a good father and a good doctor - that’s why I’m so shocked about this,' the younger Cabrera said through tears on Monday night. 

Cabrera is scheduled to return to court on September 9, his court docket stated. 

The medical examiner's office is probing her death, and Baron's autopsy is pending, the donation page stated. 

The Daily Mail approached Baron's family, Cabrera, and the Bronx DA's office for comment. 

NAD+, also known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a vital coenzyme that is found in all living cells and is responsible for repairing DNA and powering a person's metabolism, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

As the body ages, NAD levels naturally decline, leaving room for fatigue, muscle weakness, obesity, diabetes, heart issues, and cognitive issues, among others, the medical center said. 

Other than Jenner, more celebrities have taken part in the anti-aging trend, including her sister Kylie, Hailey Bieber, Jennifer Aniston, Joe Rogan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian, and more.