A Brazilian national accused of performing plastic surgeries without a license in Miami has allegedly vanished days before he was set to go on trial for more than a dozen charges connected to theft, fraud and practicing medicine without credentials, according to authorities.
Joao Batista Cunha De Araujo, 57, dubbed "Dr. Frankenstein" by critics, faces 14 charges, 13 of them felonies, in Miami-Dade County, according to an arrest warrant reviewed by Fox News Digital. He was arrested after a pair of anonymous tips led authorities to conduct a sting at his office — an undercover detective went in for a consultation on chin liposuction and was allegedly given a quote for the procedure.
Miami-Dade authorities confirmed to Fox News Digital that Araujo surrendered his passport after a court order and was put on an ankle monitor while awaiting trial. Then he disappeared.
Local authorities deferred questions about his whereabouts to the U.S. Marshals and the Brazilian government, neither of which could immediately be reached for comment.
According to court documents, Araujo's ankle monitor "generated a tamper alert" on Saturday, Aug. 1 — three days before the scheduled beginning of his trial.
Two officers responded to his last known location in a high-rise on the Bay Harbor Islands, just north of Miami Beach. They were unable to locate Araujo or the ankle monitor, and his house arrest was revoked and a Miami judge issued a new arrest warrant and authorized full extradition.
Araujo's attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, told Fox News Digital he was still looking at discovery in the case and that the trial date likely would have been pushed back.
"My client previously entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, and I was prepared to vigorously challenge the allegations brought by the prosecution," he said. "For reasons unknown to me, he has chosen to make himself unavailable to continue fighting for his innocence. If he ever reappears, I will continue to fight zealously on his behalf."
According to a botched procedure, according to court documents.
A victim identified in court documents as "AJ" told police that she visited Araujo for some lip and jaw filler and was injected with 17 bottles in a single sitting.
The filler hardened, leaving lumps in her lips, jaw and cheekbone.
She initially paid $15,000, according to the complaint, but the price was reduced to $7,000.
She went on to seek help from a licensed plastic surgeon.