Jury Acquits Transgender Woman of Back-Alley Silicone Injections

The 41-year-old transgender woman arrested for back-alley silicone injections was acquitted Tuesday in Flagler County Court. After an hour, a jury found her not guilty of practicing without a health care license.

Donnie Hendrix, who New Times profiled last year, was convicted of the same crime in 2003. She and her then-boyfriend threw "pumping parties," in Miami-Dade and Broward, which are detailed in the feature story "If Looks Could Kill." Back then, a 53-year-old Miami secretary named Vera Lawrence died at one of the parties.

After the story ran, two undercover female detectives arrived at Hendrix's Palm Coast home in July 2009. They claimed Hendrix offered to inject them -- once again -- with silicone for $500 to $600. She had a tray of syringes on her bed as she spoke to the officers, according to prosecutors.

During the trial, prosecutors presented syringes and a red thermos full of clear liquid as evidence. But it wasn't enough to convince a jury.

On her way out of the courtroom, Hendrix told reporters at the Daytona Beach News Journal: "Glad it's over."

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Natalie O'Neill
Contact: Natalie O'Neill

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