Joao Batista Cunha De Araujo, a Brazilian national facing 14 charges in Miami-Dade County, including theft, fraud, and practicing medicine without a license, has allegedly disappeared days before his trial was scheduled to start. Araujo, who was dubbed "Dr. Frankenstein" by critics, was arrested after an undercover detective posed as a patient seeking chin liposuction and received a quote for the procedure.
Authorities confirmed that Araujo had surrendered his passport and was under house arrest with an ankle monitor while awaiting trial. On Saturday, Aug. 1, three days before his trial was to commence, the ankle monitor reportedly generated a tamper alert. Responding officers were unable to locate Araujo or the device at his last known residence. His house arrest was subsequently revoked, and a judge issued a new arrest warrant and authorized extradition.
Miami-Dade authorities have deferred questions about Araujo's whereabouts to the U.S. Marshals and the Brazilian government. According to the New York Post, citing sources close to the case, Araujo is believed to have fled to his native Brazil, raising questions about how he managed to leave the country after surrendering his passport.
Araujo's attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, stated that his client had pleaded not guilty and that he was prepared to vigorously defend against the allegations. "For reasons unknown to me, he has chosen to make himself unavailable to continue fighting for his innocence," Eiglarsh said. "If he ever reappears, I will continue to fight zealously on his behalf."
Araujo's wife and co-defendant, Amanda Soares Felizardo Ungaro, 41, who faced seven charges in connection with the case, was deported earlier this year. A video posted to her Instagram story on Wednesday morning appears to show a man resembling Araujo sitting with her at a restaurant. It remains unclear when or where the video was filmed.
Previously, Araujo had requested court permission to return to Brazil while awaiting trial, a request that Miami-Dade Judge Tanya Brinkley denied due to concerns he might not return to Florida.
The Florida Department of Health confirmed that neither Araujo nor Ungaro held medical licenses in the state. Court documents indicate that at least one patient suffered injuries from a botched procedure. One victim, identified as "AJ," told police she paid $15,000, later reduced to $7,000, for lip and jaw fillers administered by Araujo. She reported that 17 bottles were injected in a single sitting, resulting in hardened lumps in her lips, jaw, and cheekbone, requiring further treatment from a licensed plastic surgeon.