Brickell doctor sexually assaulted sedated patient and there is video, cops say
A Miami cosmetic physician is behind bars after a patient said she was sexually assaulted by him after he instructed her to inhale nitro, police say.
On October 29, 2025, a 29-year-old woman went to see Dr. Ronald F. Demeo, 63, at his clinic at 2801 SW Third Ave. in the West Brickell neighborhood, according to Demeo’s arrest report.
All was normal when the woman arrived for her cosmetic procedure, having drank the the typical glass of complimentary wine offered by staff as she waited for Demeo to enter the procedure room, she told police.
The woman said she remembers inhaling nitro, “a sedative to alleviate pain,” and Demeo telling her to keep inhaling, and he would see her soon, according to police.
“Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an anesthetic agent used in dental operating rooms,” according to the CDC and is at times used for cosmetic procedures.
Drinking alcohol while on nitrous oxide is not recommended and could be dangerous, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
The woman remembers continuing to inhale the nitro, seeing Demeo close the blinds and then feeling as if someone was pushing her down in what “she thinks was an office” before opening her eyes and seeing Demeo over her, according to his arrest affidavit.
The woman said Demeo then sexually assaulted her. She said she did not have the strength to speak or fight back and just closed her eyes wanting the assault to end.
“The victim stated she felt impaired, having no control of her body,” detectives wrote in the arrest affidavit.
The woman said she remembers looking for her pants before leaving the clinic.
A few days later, the woman found a video on her phone of Demeo sexually assaulting her. A detective who watched the video described it as “nonconsensual acts,” per the affidavit.
Demeo was taken into custody on Wednesday at his clinic and invoked his right to remain silent.
He is charged with three counts of sexual battery on a physically helpless victim. He appeared in bond court on Thursday afternoon before Judge Mindy Glazer, who agreed to release him without bond and to put him on house arrest with a GPS monitor He is only allowed out to go to court appearances, to meet with his attorneys or to go to doctor appointments, said Glazer.
He was also ordered to stay away from the accuser and not to practice medicine.
Who is Dr. Demeo?
Demeo has built a career spanning decades in both interventional pain management and cosmetic medicine, according to his professional biography and clinic websites.
Demeo operates two clinics: Meridian Spine and Meridian Cosmetics on the third floor of a medical-office building at 2801 SW Third Ave. According to his website, Meridian Spine focuses on treating chronic pain and spinal conditions, while Meridian Cosmetic offers aesthetic and anti-aging procedures.
According to the Florida Department of Health, Demeo has been a licensed medical doctor since 1989 and graduated with a medical degree from the University of South Florida that same year. He’s also licensed in Texas, per the DOH.
He has had a certification in anesthesiology since 1994, according to the American Board of Anesthesiology and a certification in pain medicine, according to the American Board of Pain Medicine.
He did residencies at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in anesthesiology from 1990-1993 and pathology from 1989-1990, according to the DOH.
Demeo claims to have staff privileges at Coral Gables Hospital, Florida Palm Springs General Hospital and Parkway Regional Medical Center, according to the DOH.
This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 2:55 PM.