A New York Police Department (NYPD) detective died in Colombia after undergoing cosmetic surgery, prompting her family to request an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Alicia Stone, a 40-year-old Dominican national and mother of three, was found dead in her hotel room in Cali a week after undergoing a Brazilian butt lift and liposuction.
The officer, who had served for thirteen years in the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, was rushed to Fundación Valle del Lili Hospital, where her death was confirmed shortly after her arrival, according to a report from Diario Libre. Colombian authorities cited an “unspecified cardiac arrest” as the cause of death.
Stone underwent the procedures on October 16, 2025, and was following a recovery regimen that included anticoagulants and painkillers. Her husband, Michael Stone, expressed doubts about the circumstances of her death and requested an autopsy and an independent investigation.
“The doctor who called me from Colombia said my wife had just passed away. He had no information to provide when I asked… Something doesn’t add up,” the widower stated, adding that his wife had communicated to family members that she felt well the day before the tragedy.
A fundraising campaign established to support her family described Stone as “a loving mother of three and a dedicated public servant who devoted her life to protecting and serving others.” The campaign expressed sorrow over her loss and highlighted the impact she had on those who knew her.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Brazilian butt lift is a procedure that transfers fat from other parts of the body to enhance the volume of the buttocks. While considered common, experts warn that it can carry serious risks, including potentially fatal fat embolism.
Following Stone’s death, Colombian authorities notified the National Police and the U.S. Department of State. Her husband, also an NYPD detective, traveled to Cali to stay informed about the investigation and called for a thorough inquiry into the incident.
In a related case, a Colombian woman died after undergoing an illegal cosmetic procedure in the U.S. María Paz Peñaloza, a 31-year-old resident of New York, passed away following surgery performed in a clandestine clinic in Astoria on March 28.
The procedure was conducted by Felipe Hoyos Foronda, a Colombian citizen without a medical license in the U.S. During the intervention, Peñaloza received an injection of lidocaine, which caused a cardiac arrest. She was rushed to Mount Sinai Queens Hospital, where she was declared brain dead and remained on life support until April 11, when her death was confirmed.
Peñaloza’s family, originally from Villavicencio (Meta), reported that she had emigrated to the U.S. in 2021 with her husband and two young children. The family’s economic situation was challenging, and the young mother was balancing care for her baby, who required specialized medical attention, with efforts to obtain permanent residency.
In the weeks leading up to her death, her older son had traveled to Colombia to stay with grandparents while she remained home with the younger child. Peñaloza’s mother, Gladys Cabrera, told El Tiempo that she was unaware of her daughter’s plans to undergo surgery. According to her account, Peñaloza left home that day under the pretense of meeting a friend, and the family only learned of the incident after receiving news from the hospital.
Hoyos Foronda was apprehended at John F. Kennedy International Airport while allegedly attempting to leave the country. Although he claimed to be a licensed physician in Colombia, he did not present valid documentation to practice in the U.S., according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.