Woman dies during basement butt injection in Queens

FAR ROCKAWAY (WABC) -- A woman from Maryland died while getting silicon injections for a butt lift in Queens, and police say the person who was performing the procedure ran away from the scene.

Police responded to a 911 call of an unconscious person at a home on Dickens Street in Far Rockaway just before 7 p.m. Saturday, and there, they found 34-year-old Kelly Mayhew unresponsive.

She was rushed to St. John's Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.

Mayhew's autopsy was conducted Sunday, the day after her death. Resulting are still pending.

Authorities say Mayhew and her mother drove to the Far Rockaway house to get silicone injections for a butt lift. During the procedure, which was being performed in the basement, Mayhew began to have difficulty breathing.

Her mother started performing CPR and asked someone to call 911, but instead, the person performing the procedure fled the scene, driving off in a gray SUV. Detectives are looking to talk to her.

EMS attempted to revive Mayhew, but they were unsuccessful.

Police and the medical examiner's office are investigating what lead to the death. They are also looking into the person's background.

Detectives are testing the materials recovered in the needles, which are believed to have contained silicone.

Mayhew's mother told police it was at least her daughter's fifth cosmetic surgery.

Mayhew was a freelancer at BET Networks and worked at their DC office. A spokesman released the following statement:

"We are saddened by the death of our colleague and friend, Kelly Mayhew. Our hearts go out to her family, and we extend our deepest sympathies for their loss."

The NYPD said the individual who administered the injection is not believed by investigators to be a legitimate doctor or medical professional.

She is suspected of administering illegal silicone injections in a makeshift medical room in the rented basement.