Houston’s viral Brick Lady: What really caused her face to swell?

It’s the top question KPRC 2 News is getting after Roda Osman was found guilty in the viral brick scheme: What actually happened to cause her face to swell?

Osman got the internet’s attention in 2023 after she claimed a man threw a brick at her face outside a west Houston bar when she wouldn’t give him her phone number.

The video got millions of views. Osman garnered sympathy and raised more than $42,000 through a GoFundMe.

Earlier this week, a Harris County jury found her guilty of theft for deceptively raising that money after evidence showed the brick-throw didn’t actually happen.

She’s now serving 90 days in jail before 10 years of probation, which includes a condition of not using social media.

The viral video showed Osman with what appeared to be an incredibly swollen cheek.

During her trial, surveillance video played showed the jury Osman and the man she falsely accused of throwing the brick get out of a car. Osman hits him first, then he hit her back and water appeared to gush out of a plastic water bottle.

Prosecutors said the lead detective’s theory is that Osman then fell to the ground, and while intoxicated, appeared to hit her face on the car door frame. What certainly happened couldn’t be seen on the surveillance video.

There was no testimony during the trial that her face got injected with saline or another substance, as many have speculated online.

Medical records shared during the trial revealed she was diagnosed with an edema at the hospital.

The money raised through GoFundMe ended up getting spent, prosecutors said, on trips, spas, and rideshares, according to bank records.

While she portrayed the money raised would help cover medical costs, prosecutors said her bills were actually covered by Medicaid.

After being convicted on Wednesday, Osman filed notice with the court that she intends to appeal the conviction. She was determined to be indigent and the court appointed her an appellate attorney.

Her trial attorney has not responded to requests for comment.

Jail records show Osman won’t be released until near the end of January unless she posts an appeal bond, which was set Friday at $40,000.