Woman charged with murder after fatal silicone injection
SALISBURY, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Police in Salisbury have filed a second-degree murder charge against a woman who allegedly gave illegal silicone injections to a Fayetteville man who was transitioning to female.
Investigators said 19-year-old Eugene Jones II, who was going by the name Symone Marie Jones, traveled to Salisbury and received the injections from 42-year-old Kavonceya Iman Cornelius at Cornelius' home.
During the investigation, it was found that Cornelius had been conducting medical procedures with non-medical grade silicone.
As ABC11 reported in January, Jones' family said he began the transition to womanhood a year ago beginning with breast implants done by a licensed doctor in Miami.
Soon after returning from Salisbury, Jones was hospitalized and died on Jan. 12.
""If he wanted to identify with being a female, I supported him." said Jones' mother, Sandra Harmon. "I discouraged him from going to off-market people."
According to a search warrant, officers seized syringes, cell phones and computers in the investigation.
Salisbury Police were later notified that an out-of-state victim who received similar injections is now experiencing health problems. That victim told police she had gotten silicone injections from Cornelius 15 times, paying between $500 and $1,200 each time.
Now, Harmon, is a heartbroken mother, struggling to come to terms with the death of a child.
"It's just like someone takes a knife and just cuts your heart, you know," Harmon said. "It's like ripping your heart apart, that's what it feels like."
Cornelius is being held in the Rowan County jail without bond. It's not known if she has an attorney, but she is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
