A medical spa doctor who had been accused of sexually abusing and sedating three of his patients in Naples, Florida was found dead on Tuesday.
Police say Dr. Eric Salata was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. The medical examiner’s office confirmed the death was a suicide.
A third woman had accused Dr. Salata of sexually abusing her, after the spa doctor had been detained two days earlier for allegedly sexually assaulting two other victims. Police said that the third victim had charged the doctor with sexual battery. According to the Naples police records, two further occurrences that occurred at the Pura Vida Medical Spa on 5th Avenue South are listed separately.
The two victims, 51 and 72 years old, reportedly underwent cosmetic treatments in October and November of this year, according to the police report. According to the investigation, laughing gas was used to sedate both women. The third victim’s accusation specifics are unknown.
On October 24, the 51-year-old victim came forward and said she had been given laughing gas and alprazolam (Xanax) before the treatment. She claims that Dr. Salata forcefully shook her and grabbed her genitalia before offering her tequila “to ease the agony.”
The 72-year-old woman claims in the police complaint that Dr. Salata provided her laughing gas to ease the discomfort from the operation.
Indicted on two charges of sexual battery on a “physically vulnerable” individual, Dr. Salata was taken into custody on Monday. He appeared in front of a judge for the first time on Tuesday before posting $200,000 bail. According to the doctor’s defense counsel and a Fox 4 record review, he had no criminal history.
Dr. Salata committed suicide sometime after posting bail on Tuesday.
