Emmalyn Nguyen was only 18 years old when she went into a coma following breast enhancement surgery in August 2019.
The doctor and nurse involved in the operation have been charged in connection with her death.
According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Dr. Geoffrey Kim faces charges of first-degree aggravated assault and criminally negligent homicide in Emmalyn Nguyen’s death.
Rex Meeker, a nurse anesthetist, is also accused of manslaughter.
“We opened this criminal case in August 2019. The investigation has taken more than two years to complete and involved dozens of interviews and search warrants,” Travis Stewart, captain of investigations for the Sheriff’s Office, in a statement. “Our hope is that this will be the beginning of bringing justice and a sense of closure to Emmalyn’s family.”
Kim turned himself into authorities on Wednesday and was released on bond, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Meeker has not yet been apprehended.
“We are glad we are finally getting justice for Emmalyn. Even though it will never bring our daughter back, at least this will help others from getting hurt and prevent ruining other families’ lives,” the family said in a statement released by their attorney. “We still haven’t been able to get closure from Emmalyn’s death. Hopefully bringing criminal charges will bring out the truth about what happened and will bring justice for Emmalyn.”
Emmalyn died in nursing home 14 months after going into a coma in October 2020.
Meeker, who had previously been accused of accidentally killing a previous patient under similar circumstances, was accused of administering too much anesthesia.
