MARIA Cruz’s family issued a missing persons report when she suddenly disappeared.
The perpetrator was Dean Faiello, a hair removal specialist masquerading as a doctor.
Where is Dean Faiello now?
On December 8, 2006, Dean Faiello was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the death of late investment banker Maria Cruz.
Faiello carried out the duration of his prison stint at Attica Correctional Facility in New York.
He only served 17 years of his 20-year jail sentence and was released on parole in early 2022.
In the wake of his freedom from incarceration, Faiello sat down for an interview with David Scott on ABC’s 20/20.
What happened with Faiello and Maria Cruz?
On April 13, 2003, Maria Cruz attended her appointment with Faiello.
The finance professional sought treatment for Black Hairy Tongue Syndrome.
Maria and a number of others believed Faiello to be a doctor and plastic surgeon.
However, he was already facing charges for three counts of practicing medicine without a license.
That Sunday, Maria experienced convulsions when the fake doctor injected her with lidocaine.
As a result of the procedure going awry and the phony practitioner not seeking emergency aid for the woman, Maria succumbed to the complications and died.
After she passed away, Faiello packed Maria’s body into a large suitcase and took her body to his home in Newark, New Jersey.
At his residence, he buried her under the cement in his garage.
On February 18, 2004, Maria’s body was recovered by police from Faiello’s home.
When local authorities discovered the woman’s body, Faiello already fled to Costa Rica.
On February 26, 2004, he was arrested in Costa Rica and jailed for a year.
In May 2005, the country extradited him back to the US where he was charged with the second-degree murder of Maria.
Ultimately, he entered a plea deal and plead guilty to first-degree assault in order to be granted the above-mentioned sentence.
How can I watch Faiello’s episode of 20/20?
On December 9, 2022, Faiello sits down with anchor David Scott for an episode of ABC’s 20/20 titled Doctor Deceit.
That Friday at 9pm EST, Doctor Deceit relives Faiello’s crimes, Maria Cruz’s death, and his eventual capture in Costa Rica.
In snippets from the broadcast, the former prisoner tells Scott: “There’s no logic to it. There’s no justification.
“I knew it was wrong and, deep down inside, I was afraid that something was going to go wrong.
“I can’t give you a logical explanation, because there is no explanation.”
He added: “Not a day passes that I do not think of Maria or think of her family and why I acted like such a coward.
“I hope that I’m no longer the person who took such a risk with Maria’s life.”
For those that miss the special’s initial Friday night airing, there are streaming options available.
When the episode’s cable premiere concludes, audiences can head on over to watch the special by streaming it on Hulu.