Authorities say Tina Sodhi died from severe dehydration after receiving psychedelic drugs and spending time in a sauna.
MIAMI BEACH, FL — A doctor has been charged with manslaughter more than a year after a 51-year-old woman died during a drug-assisted ceremony at a holistic wellness retreat in Miami Beach, according to court records and an arrest warrant.
Samuel Lee, 44, faces a second-degree felony manslaughter charge in the Feb. 10, 2025, death of Tina Sodhi. Investigators allege Lee administered or helped administer several controlled substances during a treatment called the “Heart Protocol” at Sabia Wellness House, a residence on Flamingo Way. Lee has pleaded not guilty, and the charge remains an allegation that must be proven in court.
Police and fire rescue crews were called to the property after Sodhi was found unresponsive in a rooftop sauna. Lee was performing CPR when officers arrived, according to the arrest warrant, but rescue efforts were unsuccessful. Sodhi was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner determined that Sodhi died from extreme dehydration associated with a combination of MDMA, ketamine, prolonged heat exposure and a cleansing regimen she completed before the ceremony, according to court records. Local reports said her sodium level fell to a dangerously low level. Authorities also said the ceremony involved DMT, another psychedelic substance.
Investigators said Lee described himself as a licensed physician and an elder of the Eternal Life Tribe. He told police the ceremony was a religious sacrament and was not being conducted under his medical license, according to the warrant. Lee is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has publicly described his work as holistic and spiritually focused.
Messages and emails recovered from Sodhi’s phone showed that she paid $2,000 to participate in the retreat, investigators said. Records indicate the program was described as a three-day experience intended to help participants connect with their “higher selves.” Sodhi signed a waiver stating that her participation was voluntary and that she understood the potential risks of psychedelic substances.
Before arriving, Sodhi was instructed to complete a gastrointestinal or parasite cleanse. Messages reviewed by investigators suggested the cleanse could lead to a deeper ceremony. Lee also sent Sodhi information describing the planned use of supplements, doses of what he called “heart medicine” and an injection of ketamine, according to the warrant.
The documents said the treatment was promoted as providing relief from depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidal thoughts, stress and past trauma. An independent physician consulted by Miami Beach police concluded that Lee’s conduct represented an extreme and unjustifiable departure from accepted clinical and safety practices, according to court records.
An attorney representing Sabia Wellness House said the center’s owner was not charged and called Sodhi’s death a tragic accident. The attorney said the retreat continues to support properly conducted alternative therapies while stressing that practitioners must follow strict safety standards. Sodhi’s family declined interview requests and asked for privacy.
Records show the Texas Medical Board temporarily suspended Lee’s medical license after Sodhi’s death, finding that his continued practice posed a threat to public welfare. His Florida license is listed as expired and delinquent. Lee’s attorneys have entered a not-guilty plea, and the criminal case remains pending.
Author note: Last updated July 15, 2026.