A Florida plastic surgeon accused of killing his wife after performing several medical procedures on her at his clinic has been charged in her slaying.
Dr. Benjamin Jacob Brown, 41, was arrested Monday for second-degree felony homicide in connection with the death of his spouse, Hillary Ellington Brown, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.
Brown has not yet entered a plea to the charge.
Hillary died in November 2023, a week after she was admitted to the hospital for cardiac arrest.
The mom of three was at Restore Plastic Surgery in Gulf Breeze, Florida, for a scar revision, arm liposuction, lip injections, and ear adjustment procedures, according to state health department investigation records.
Prior to the operations, she administered her own "handful" of undocumented, "multi-colored pills," which included Valium, investigators discovered. Hillary also prepared her own IV solution, despite not being a licensed medical professional.
Prior to the procedure, Hillary displayed symptoms of lidocaine toxicity. Lidocaine is an anesthetic that causes temporary numbness.
As Brown proceeded to work on Hillary, she began seizing and went into cardiac arrest, authorities determined. Brown allegedly told a medical assistant to hold off from calling 911 for 20 minutes. Medical assistants told investigators they could not locate an AED or the appropriate equipment to administer oxygen.
Hillary never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at the hospital a week later.
In their 30-page order, health officials found Brown allegedly committed medical malpractice and ordered the restriction of his medical license.
Hillary's father, Marty Ellington, said Brown's "ego and arrogance" led to his daughter's death.
"My family lives in a sea of tears for eternity due to the actions of one careless individual," Ellington said, according to the Pensacola News Journal. "His ego and arrogance overshadowed the need for help, prolonging oxygen deprivation to her brain and ultimately causing her death. Ben Brown took the mother from my grandchildren, my only daughter and our brightest star. Hillary gave the ultimate sacrifice so Ben Brown cannot hurt anyone else. Maybe in prison, he will get the attention he deserves."
Hillary left behind three children.
