Emily Willis remains under round-the-clock care after suffering a cardiac arrest at a California rehabilitation clinic that left her with irreversible brain damage, according to her family and court filings. The former adult film performer, whose real name is Litzy Lara Banuelos, is unable to communicate beyond grunts and moans and relies on feeding and breathing equipment.
Willis, who was 27 at the time, had entered Summit Malibu in January 2024 for a 21-day detox programme costing $45,500. Her family said she had been seeking help for ketamine and alcohol addiction and was optimistic about her treatment.
But nine days after admission, she was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. The complaint filed by her mother, Yesenia Cooper, alleges that paramedics had to work for almost an hour before detecting a pulse.
Willis fell into a coma and took nearly three weeks to regain consciousness. Doctors later said the brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen was irreversible, leaving it unclear how much she understands despite her eyes being open.
Claims against Summit Malibu
The civil complaint alleges that Willis experienced night terrors, a severe urinary tract infection and extreme dehydration while at the facility. It also claims her weight fell from 111lb to 83lb and that she was not assessed by a nutritionist or dietitian during her stay.
Medical notes described in the complaint allegedly recorded withdrawal symptoms on her first day. Three days later, she was said to be “dishevelled, frail, disoriented”, with difficulty walking, while a later entry reportedly described her as anxious, distressed, barely eating and suffering aches, tremors, spasms and weakness.
The family alleges that staff continued to assure them Willis was well. The complaint accuses Summit Malibu of admitting her “merely for profits” and failing to provide the care required for her physical and mental symptoms.
Summit Malibu denies the allegations. Its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, does not admit liability or wrongdoing.
A $3 million settlement was reached in July. After legal fees and other obligations, around $1.25 million was placed in a trust for Willis’s continuing care.
Her lawyer acknowledged in court filings that the case “was no slam dunk” and that no one knows precisely what happened before she stopped breathing.
Willis’s younger brother, Michael Cooper, said the uncertainty had been particularly difficult because the cardiac arrest happened while she was in the care of medical professionals. “That’s what is so frustrating is that this didn’t happen to her at home or anything. It happened under the care of medical professionals who were acting under California law as her legal guardians,” he said.
Family caring for Emily Willis in Mexico
Willis has since been moved to Mexico, where relatives are helping care for her at a family member’s home. Her mother plans to buy a house there, saying nursing care is more affordable and that she has greater support from extended family.
Yesenia Cooper believes her daughter may remain aware of her condition. She said Willis sometimes screams and kicks out in frustration, and hopes to take her to Spain for experimental treatments that might help her move and eat without assistance.
“They do things there that aren’t available here. Maybe she can become more independent,” she said.
Michael Cooper said he worried that his mother could become exhausted by the demands of caring for his sister. More than $120,000 has also been raised for Willis’s care.
He said online trolls, including some of Willis’s former classmates, had mocked her since her condition deteriorated. “It’s heartless because she can’t defend herself,” he said. “Maybe some people can’t comprehend this kind of pain.”
Before entering rehabilitation, Willis had built a successful career in the adult film industry, earning recognition from Penthouse and appearing alongside Bella Thorne in the 2023 science-fiction film Divinity.
Her brother said she had considered leaving the industry, attending college to study psychology or going to acting school. He recalled her as independent and generous, saying she had even offered to pay for his college education.
Willis left home at 17 and moved to Los Angeles. In the year before her admission to Summit Malibu, legal records stated that she had been taking five to six grams of ketamine a day.
Michael said the siblings had remained close, speaking several times a week and taking trips together. He described their relationship by saying: “It was me and her against the world. That was something we’d always say.”
He said one small gesture continued to give him hope. “Sometimes I’ll blow her a kiss and she’ll sort of pucker her lips like she’s blowing one back,” he said. “It’s a struggle for her, and it doesn’t always happen. But it has me thinking she’s in there.”
