Manslaughter Charge Filed in Probe of Illegal Clinic

Prosecutors filed involuntary manslaughter charges against the alleged operator of a back-room medical clinic in Tustin where an 18-month-old girl received a drug injection hours before dying.

The action marks the first criminal charges filed in the case of Selene Segura Rios, whose February death raised awareness about the problem of underground clinics and prompted county officials to form a task force to help educate the public about the health risks.

An arrest warrant was issued for Laura Escalante, 37, who police say ran and prescribed medicine out of a clinic located in the back of a strip-mall gift shop. Escalante is believed to have fled to Mexico, and authorities fear that any extradition attempt would take years. Escalante allegedly supervised another worker who injected Selene with an unidentified drug.

In April, the Orange County coroner’s office ruled that the toddler died of acute dehydration and that the death was not directly related to the treatment she received in Escalante’s clinic.

The autopsy report, a copy of which was obtained by The Times, states that the girl had a painkiller in her system that was banned in the United States two decades ago because of its sometimes fatal side-effects. The report doesn’t indicate whether the drug, dipyrone, was administered at the clinic.

But police contend that Escalante is responsible because she falsely told customers that she was a qualified medical practitioner--a fact that allegedly prevented Selene’s parents from seeking legitimate treatment.

“We believe that she would not have died if the family had sought appropriate medical attention, which the family thought they were doing,” said Tustin Police Lt. Michael Shanahan. “She identified herself as ‘Dr. Laura.’ People went to her believing she was a qualified doctor.”

Escalante--who faces three felony charges including child endangerment and unauthorized practice of medicine--could receive up to 10 years if convicted.

Selene’s mother, Maria Lucia Rios, expressed support for the charges. “I believe she has some responsibility,” Rios, 27, said.

According to authorities, Rios and her husband, Alberto Ramirez Segura, took their young daughter to Escalante’s clinic Feb. 22. The girl was vomiting and suffering from diarrhea.

The clinic was owned by Oscar King, Escalante’s brother. The family has had several run-ins with authorities over the dispensing of illegally imported pharmaceutical drugs. King could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

When the couple returned home, they noticed the girl’s condition was not improving. They took her to Anaheim Memorial Medical Center, where she died.