Fugitive Accused in 2009 Silicone Injection Death Captured After 17 Years

A woman sought for 17 years in connection with a fatal illegal silicone injection has been arrested after an attempt to renew a driver's license obtained under a false identity inadvertently led authorities to her. Tamaira Angell Smith, 52, faces a felony murder charge in the death of Eyanna Moore, 29, of Loganville, Georgia.

Smith was extradited from Texas to Georgia and is being held in the Gwinnett County Jail. Authorities allege that on May 30, 2009, Smith injected silicone into Moore's left buttock in a hotel room near Stone Mountain. Moore died the following day.

According to Moore's maternal aunt, Yolanda Hammond, Moore had researched providers before the procedure. Smith and another individual presented themselves as sisters, one a doctor and Smith a physician assistant. Hammond stated that the website and reviews appeared legitimate, but it was later discovered that the credentials used belonged to actual cosmetic professionals and were not those of the individuals providing the service.

Hammond recounted that shortly after the procedure, Smith called Moore's husband, David, instructing him to bring yogurt and Gatorade. Upon arrival, he found Moore in distress and called 911. Smith later contacted Moore's husband again to inquire about her condition, and upon learning of her death, hung up the phone. Hammond stated that Smith was never heard from again.

In June 2009, Gwinnett police issued an arrest warrant for Smith, initially charging her with practicing medicine without a license. A felony murder warrant followed months later, by which time Smith had already fled.

Driver's License Renewal Leads to Capture

Smith had reportedly obtained a South Carolina driver's license in November 2018 using a stolen identity, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). In July of this year, Smith contacted the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles for assistance when an alert prevented her from renewing the license online.

SLED assigned an identity fraud investigation to Special Agent Shawn Ludwig in August. Facial recognition technology helped Ludwig identify Smith and uncover the outstanding murder warrant. SLED Director of Public Information Renée Wunderlich noted that Ludwig and Senior Special Agent Bridgette Lott collaborated on the case, identifying another alias Smith used in McKinney, Texas. They provided her vehicle information to local police.

McKinney police located Smith's vehicle and arrested her in August. Hammond expressed surprise at the circumstances of Smith's capture, questioning the decision to seek help under an alias after 17 years on the run.

A bond hearing for Smith is scheduled for October 22 at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. Efforts to reach her attorney were unsuccessful.

Family Seeks Justice

Moore's death left her four children without their mother. Hammond hopes that Moore's case will raise awareness about the dangers of illegal silicone injections and prevent similar tragedies.

"Make sure you do your due diligence vetting these people. Make sure that you check the credentials," Hammond advised. "No alteration of your body is worth you losing your life."