What Happened to Litzy Lara Banuelos (Emily Willis)?

Emily Willis, born Litzy Lara Banuelos in 1999, rose to prominence as an American adult film actress, earning accolades such as Penthouse Pet of the Month in 2019 and multiple AVN Awards in 2021. After a successful career in adult entertainment, she transitioned to mainstream acting, appearing in the film 'Divinity' in 2022 and Slipknot's 'Hive Mind' music video in 2023.

In January 2024, Banuelos, then 25, sought treatment for ketamine addiction, reportedly consuming five to six grams daily, and checked into Summit Malibu, a rehabilitation facility. Her health allegedly deteriorated rapidly during her stay, with symptoms including chills, tremors, and disorientation. On February 4, 2024, she was found unconscious at the facility after suffering a cardiac arrest. Paramedics performed CPR for an extended period, between 30 to 40 minutes, before her pulse was restored. This prolonged lack of oxygen to her brain resulted in severe and irreversible anoxic brain damage, leaving her in a vegetative coma.

Her family confirmed in March 2024 that she was in a vegetative coma and fighting for her life, refuting initial reports of an overdose. By summer 2024, she was out of the vegetative coma but remained severely disabled, unable to move or speak, though she could track objects with her eyes. In December 2024, her mother, Yesenia Lara Cooper, filed a lawsuit against Summit Malibu and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, alleging 'abuse of a dependent adult, professional negligence, negligence and fraudulent business practices.' The lawsuit claimed the facility failed to provide appropriate care and address her deteriorating condition.

Summit Malibu, in its defense, denied wrongdoing, arguing that Banuelos repeatedly refused medical advice, declined prescribed medications, and rejected recommendations to go to an urgent care center or hospital, stating staff lacked legal authority to force her to seek outside medical treatment. Despite these counter-arguments, her attorney, James A. Morris Jr., maintained that the facility should have recognized her critical condition and transferred her to a hospital sooner.

As of July 2026, Banuelos, now 27, remains profoundly incapacitated. Her attorney confirmed she is still bedridden due to neurological injuries, unable to speak, but can make some sounds and move her body somewhat. The possibility of 'locked-in syndrome,' a condition where a person is conscious but unable to communicate or move physically, has been raised by her attorney, though no official diagnosis has been confirmed. On July 17, 2026, a Los Angeles judge approved a $3 million settlement on Banuelos's behalf, resolving the lawsuit against Summit Malibu. Judicial approval was required due to her inability to manage her own affairs. She continues to receive full-time care from her mother in Utah.