Woman convicted in butt injection murder case

DALLAS - A Dallas County jury convicted a woman of murder Tuesday for injecting another woman with industrial silicone.

A Dallas woman was found guilty of murder for giving a woman illegal butt injections that led to her death.

Denise "Wee-Wee" Ross wept in court on Tuesday when the verdict was read. Then the jury began hearing testimony in the punishment phase, including more witnesses who say they were Ross’ victims.

The illegal cosmetic procedure killed 34-year-old Wykesha Reid two years ago.

On the murder charge alone, Ross could face anywhere from 5 to 99 years or life in prison. Supporters present for Ross were visibly upset over the verdict.

Reid’s family has not made any formal statements but indicated they are pleased with the murder conviction. Reid died during a procedure in 2015. Her family and friends immediately left the courtroom but made it clear they are relieved.

The punishment phase began Tuesday afternoon. The state's first witness was a woman who told the jury she got butt injections from Ross in 2010 and became terribly ill the day afterward and visited three different emergency rooms. She said she thought she was going to die.

Per the judge's instructions, FOX 4 is not showing the woman's face for concern of her privacy and safety.

“They didn't really know what to do,” she recalled. “I got some antibiotics, and they basically sent me home. But immediately from there, I went to Parkland from there. It was still completely hard.”

The woman says she still suffers periodic pain.

Prosecutors told the jury during the initial trial they learned what Ross did to cause Reid's death, and for the punishment phase they'd learn just who she is and why she should be punished severely.

Ross's defense attorney has continued to remind jurors that all of the women who went to Ross for injections did so of their own free will, and their plea is for leniency.