Amber Johnson now faces multiple charges, including murder, criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter and several more counts
Credit: Jenifer Cleveland/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- Jenifer Cleveland died of cardiac arrest in July 2023 after allegedly receiving an improperly administered IV infusion at Luxe Medspa in Wortham, Texas
- The medspa owner, Amber Johnson, lacked medical training and the facility did not employ healthcare providers or have emergency equipment, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE
- Jenifer’s death inspired “Jenifer’s Law,” regulating elective IV therapy facilities, signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in 2025
A Texas woman died of cardiac arrest after she allegedly received IV therapy "too quickly."
Jenifer Cleveland died on July 10, 2023. Her death occurred on the same day she visited Amber Johnson's Luxe Medspa in Wortham, Texas, where she allegedly received an IV infusion with multiple vitamins and electrolytes in an unsafe manner, according to the indictments obtained by PEOPLE.
Johnson turned herself in and was booked at the Freestone County Jail on Tuesday, April 28, according to jail records obtained by PEOPLE. She faces several charges, including felony murder, criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, practicing medicine without a license and nine counts of delivery of a dangerous drug, a Freestone County Jail spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE. She was released on a $69,000 bond on April 28.
The 47-year-old overdosed on potassium chloride allegedly provided by Johnson. She was administered 1,000 mL of an “IV cocktail" that included total parenteral nutrition (TPN) electrolytes, which are typically administered via intravenous feeding to provide patients with necessary nutrients.
Additionally, TPN electrolytes require a slow infusion rate of 83 to 125 mL per hour over a 24-hour period to avoid any adverse effects, according to Ameri Pharma.
Credit: Jenifer Cleveland/Facebook
If not properly administered and monitored, an unsafe amount of potassium can enter the body, leading to cardiac arrhythmia, kidney dysfunction, muscle weakness or spasms, metabolic disturbances, or death, per Ameri Pharma.
Jenifer's infusion began around 11:04 a.m. on July 10, 2023, and 27 minutes later, at 11:31 a.m., she lost consciousness, collapsed, and had no pulse, Johnson's attorney, David E. Moore, said, KWTX reports. Jenifer was taken to the local hospital, admitted with cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead minutes later.
The Texas Medical Board then investigated her death. After the months-long investigation, the board found that the patient died of cardiac arrest "due to the improper administration" of the IV therapy, according to Texas Medical Board's August 2024 order to suspend the license of Johnson's suspected medical supervisor, Dr. Michael Gallagher.
Per the indictment, Johnson lacked medical licensure. However, she decided to run a medspa in the spring of 2023 in spite of Texas state laws that prohibit non-physicians from being the majority owner of medical practices.
Johnson then worked with Dr. Michael Gallagher, who allegedly failed "to adequately supervise" Johnson, permitted her to use his medical license to obtain TPN Electrolytes, or failed to monitor the TPN Electrolytes Johnson obtained and administered, according to Gallagher's indictment obtained by PEOPLE.
An arrest warrant for Gallagher was executed on Wednesday, April 29, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE. He was arrested on charges of felony murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, nine counts of delivery/offer delivery of a dangerous drug and 13 counts of practicing medicine in violation of subtitle, a Freestone County Jail spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE. He was released on a $96,500 bond on April 29.
Following Jenifer's death, her husband, Brian Cleveland, filed a civil lawsuit against Luxe Medspa after her death. He also worked with Rep. Angelia Orr and Dr. Kelly Green to get "Jenifer's Law" passed, which was signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025. The law introduces comprehensive regulations for nontraditional healthcare facilities administering elective IV therapy.
Before the bill was passed, Brian told KCEN that his late wife was filled with love. "She loved life. She loved her people. Like I said, one word. Love."
"She just wanted to love, that's basically the best way I can describe her," Brian said in April 2025. "Naming the legislation after Jenifer is maybe her way of giving back… Continue to help even though she's not physically still here with us, that she's always gonna be right here in the heart."
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PEOPLE reached out to Johnson's attorney, David E. Moore, for comment.
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