Watch CBS News

''Black Madam'' Held For Trial, Accused of Injuring Woman With Butt-Enhancing Silicone

By John Ostapkovich

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A 42-year-old transgendered woman with no medical license has been held for trial for administering a silicone butt-enhancing injection that put its recipient in a hospital's intensive care unit.

Padge Windslowe, known as the "Black Madam," is the same person-of-interest in the silicone-injection death of a British tourist (see related story) but has not been charged in that incident because the investigation is still underway.

In today's case, Windslowe is accused of aggravated assault, deceptive business practices, and other crimes in connection with a "butt pumping party" three months ago that left a 23-year-old exotic dancer with silicone embolism syndrome.

"She still has silicone in her lungs," says Philadelphia prosecutor Bridget Kirn.  "She'll continue to have silicone in her lungs, and the best hope that we have is that it stays there and she is able to have some quality of life.  But as the doctor testified, it's precarious and we don't know."

The defense contends that the particular charges do not fit what happened, and sharply challenged the Commonwealth's desire to videotape the victim's testimony, as if she were likely to die before trial.

Windslowe's lawyers say studies of silicone contamination show that deaths occur very quickly after exposure but that, after months, life goes on for those who don't die.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.