DeepSummary
The transcript describes a 48 Hours episode about the death of Lisa Buchanan, a model and actress who died of an oxycodone overdose in 2005. Her boyfriend, Dr. Chris Koulis, a plastic surgeon, was charged with her murder, as evidence showed he had been injecting her with a mixture of crushed oxycodone pills for their sexual encounters that weekend.
At the trial, prosecutors argued that Koulis knowingly and repeatedly injected the fatal doses of oxycodone into Buchanan, while the defense claimed she was a drug addict who injected herself. The sex tape from that weekend showing Buchanan's deteriorating condition was a key piece of evidence. Ultimately, Koulis was convicted of criminally negligent homicide but acquitted of murder charges.
Though Koulis received a maximum two-year sentence, he never served time as his conviction was dropped after his death in 2012 from a drug overdose. Buchanan's family believes Koulis was responsible for her death and felt the verdict didn't achieve full justice, though the case raised questions about Koulis' role as both her boyfriend and physician feeding her addiction.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Dr. Chris Koulis, a plastic surgeon, was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in the 2005 oxycodone overdose death of his girlfriend Lisa Buchanan.
- Evidence showed Koulis had been injecting Buchanan with crushed oxycodone pills for sexual gratification over that July 4th weekend before she died.
- A graphic sex tape from that weekend showing Buchanan's deteriorating condition was key evidence, though Koulis avoided murder convictions.
- Though sentenced to 2 years in prison, Koulis never served time as his conviction was dropped after his own overdose death in 2012.
- Buchanan's family felt justice was not fully served as Koulis escaped harsher punishment despite his role in feeding her addiction.
- The case raised ethical questions about Koulis exploiting his role as both Buchanan's boyfriend and physician to enable her drug abuse.
- Koulis claimed Buchanan willingly injected herself as a drug addict, while prosecutors said he controlled her through drugs for sexual purposes.
- Witness testimony described instances where Koulis appeared to force-inject Buchanan against her will and disregard health concerns.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I think he really liked the way that she reacted and responded when she was under the influence of drugs.“ by Unknown
- “There was times where he chased her around the room to get her a shot when she didn't want one, and that he called her a hypochondriac because she was complaining about the infections of sores and stuff, and he shot her up some more.“ by Bobbie Pate
- “In fact, the doctor repeatedly had sex with Lisa even though she had complained of shoulder and chest pain that weekend, symptoms that coolest concedes could have signaled a heart attack.“ by Unknown
- “I was really upset, almost more upset than the night when I found out, like, she passed away. What was hardest was hearing the same cries from Jesse that I had to hear the night her mom died.“ by Jesse (Buchanan's daughter)
Entities
Company
Product
Person
Episode Information
48 Hours
CBS News
7/4/24
On Fourth of July weekend in 2005, police arrived at the Franklin, Tenn., apartment of Lesa Buchanan and were surprised by what they found: a cache of prescription drugs and sex toys. Lesa's boyfriend, Dr. Christ Koulis, told police they had spent most of the weekend in her bedroom having sex. Koulis, a plastic surgeon, had called 911 when she stopped breathing, and said he performed CPR, but that there was no pulse. At her apartment, detectives discovered used syringes with traces of oxycodone, a powerful narcotic available only from a prescribing physician. “48 Hours" correspondent Troy Roberts reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 8/21/2010. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays, and stream on demand on Paramount+.
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