Dean Faiello

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Dean Faiello was the main suspect in the murder of Maria Cruz, a Filipino immigrant who worked as a financial analyst in New York City. It was suspected that she was the victim of a botched medical operation by the unlicensed Faiello. Additionally, her body was found in his New Jersey home. Faiello is gay and was sharing his home with his life partner, who discovered the body. He had been previously arrested for forging prescriptions, practicing medicine without a license, and using prescription drugs without a prescription. He was arrested in Costa Rica and fought extradition back the the United States. He was eventually extradited and plead not guilty in criminal court to second degree murder charges. If convicted he would have faced 25 years to life in prison.

He has since made a plea deal pleading guilty to first degree assault in exchange for a 20 year prison sentence. Faiello told prosecutors that Maria Cruz came to his illegal Chelsea clinic to have hair removed from her tongue. He said she suffered a seizure after he injected lidocaine into her tongue. When Cruz fell unconscious, Faiello called a real doctor who told him to get her immediately to an emergency room. But Faiello, who was being investigated for practicing medicine without a license, ignored the advice. Faiello took Cruz's body to his carriage house in Newark, buried her under the garage, then fled to Costa Rica.

[edit] Press Coverage

The story has has been heavily covered in both New York and New Jersey area press, as well as in the Philippines. The story was featured in GQ Magazine and is the subject of a future book by Diane Fanning ([1]).