A doctor has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a New York woman who died in February 2025 after participating in a $2,000 wellness ceremony in Miami. Samuel Lee, 44, was arraigned on Tuesday on charges related to the death of Tina Sodhi.
Sodhi was found dead at Sabia Wellness House after receiving a treatment that included a combination of ketamine, MDMA, and DMT. Emergency responders arrived at the wellness center on February 10, 2025, and found Lee attempting to administer CPR to Sodhi, who was discovered in a sauna. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lee, who is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, described himself as a holistic, integrative psychiatrist. He told officers at the scene that he was a licensed doctor and an 'elder' of the Eternal Life Tribe, and that the ceremony, referred to as a 'heart protocol' treatment, was not performed under his medical license but as a 'sacrament of the church.'
Investigators discovered communications on Sodhi's phone, including photos and videos from Lee about the ceremony, and a receipt for the $2,000 payment. Days before her death, Lee had reportedly sent Sodhi a video explaining that the ketamine treatments had a 'ceremonial aspect' and a 'clarogenic' rather than hallucinogenic impact, aiming to bring clarity. The warrant also indicated Lee detailed the use of GABA supplements to relax the brain and three doses of 'heart medicine' to increase serotonin and dopamine production and 'open the heart.' An intramuscular injection of ketamine was to be administered once the 'heart medicine' effects peaked.
Lee claimed that a four to six-hour session could provide relief from depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, addiction, and stress-related past traumas. Sodhi had also been instructed to complete a gastrointestinal/parasite cleanse prior to the ceremony, with the advice that a 'clean gut' could lead to a 'deeper ceremony.' Sodhi had signed a waiver acknowledging the voluntary nature of her participation and the potential risks associated with 'plant-based and Western psychedelic formulations.'
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner determined that the combination of drugs, the parasite cleanser, and the use of the sauna resulted in extreme dehydration, which caused her death.
Lee's medical license was temporarily suspended by the Texas Medical Board following Sodhi's death. His medical license in Florida is expired and delinquent. A representative for Sabia Wellness House stated that the event was a 'tragic accident' and expressed belief in the efficacy of alternative therapies.
Sodhi was remembered by friends and family as a dedicated daughter, sister, and aunt, as well as a founder of Art of Breath, a yoga teacher, and a finance professional. She was described as a 'radiant light' who lived with intention and purpose, volunteering and pursuing spirituality. She was also known for her generosity, kindness, and desire to help others find peace.