Woman charged with manslaughter in Harlem buttocks injection death

HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) -- A Queens woman arrested on manslaughter charges in the silicone buttocks injection death of a 31-year-old woman in Manhattan appeared in court Friday.

Police say 44-year-old Allison Spence also faces charges of unauthorized practice of a profession in the July death of Latesha Bynum, of Harlem.

Authorities say the 31-year-old Bynum died after receiving the injection at an apartment building on 21st Street in Gramercy Park on July 15. She complained of dizziness and chest pains to officers responding to the 911 call before slipping into a coma.

According to Medical Examiner, Bynum died from complications of systemic embolization of silicone injections for cosmetic augmentation of the buttocks.

"They murdered my daughter," the victim's mother, Bertie Bynum, said outside of court.

Prosecutors say Spence was part of a cash-only business and had no medical training of any kind, but her lawyer argued the complaint didn't allege Spence actually administered the silicon injection and that she only set up appointments via text message.

Bail was set at $1 million.

The investigation ongoing, and more arrests are expected as police continue to look for the second suspect -- the so-called "doctor" of the illicit practice.