Michael Patrick Gallagher, who worked as the medical director for Luxe Medspa in Wortham, Texas, has been charged with murder after client Jenifer Cleveland died while allegedly receiving an “IV cocktail” from the medspa’s owner, Amber Johnson.
Gallagher was arrested and charged with a single count of murder, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, as well as multiple counts claiming he delivered the drug that killed Clevland, according to KWTX.
The warrant for his arrest was executed on April 29 and Gallagher was booked into the Freestone County Jail that same day. After he was booked, he was given a bond of $96,500.
It is not currently clear if Gallagher has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following his arrest. The Freestone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Us Weekly that both Gallagher and Johnson turned themselves in.
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Gallagher was arrested one day after Johnson was charged with murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, multiple counts of delivery of a dangerous drug, practicing medicine without a license and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence in connection to Cleveland’s murder.
As Us previously reported, Johnson turned herself in and she was booked at the Freestone County Jail on April 28. She then posted a $69,000 bond and was released that same day.
Cleveland overdosed on potassium chloride July 10, 2023, after Johnson allegedly administered 1,000 mL of an “IV cocktail,” which included total parenteral nutrition (TPN) electrolytes.
TPN electrolytes are typically administered through intravenous feeding and are intended to provide patients with necessary nutrients, according to Ameri Pharma. The electrolytes must be slowly infused at a rate of 83 to 125 mL per hour over a 24-hour period to avoid any adverse effects.
An unsafe amount of potassium may enter the body if TPN electrolytes are not properly administered and monitored, which could lead the patient to potentially suffer cardiac arrhythmia, kidney dysfunction, muscle weakness or spasms, metabolic disturbances or death.
Johnson’s former attorney, David E. Moore, previously said Cleveland’s infusion began around 11:04 a.m. on July 10, 2023. She lost consciousness less than 30 minutes later and collapsed, according to KWTX. Cleveland was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead after she suffered a cardiac arrest.
A months-long investigation was launched into Cleveland’s death, and the Texas Medical Board determined that she suffered a cardiac arrest “due to the improper administration” of the IV therapy. The Texas Medical Board ordered that Gallagher’s license be suspended in August 2024 due to his role as the medical supervisor of the medspa at the time of the incident.
The indictment also stated that Johnson, who lacked medical licensure, still ran a medspa in 2023 despite Texas state laws that prohibit non-physicians from being the majority owner of medical practices, according to People.
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Additionally, the medical board claimed Gallagher failed to properly supervise an unlicensed individual while she performed intravenous treatments. The board added that they believed Gallagher presented “a continuing threat to the public welfare,” per KWTX.
The report also claimed that the medspa lacked protocols for IV therapy, alleging that Gallagher was more than 100 miles away at the time IV therapy was being administered to patients.
