Oral Surgeon Sentenced to 45 Years for Supplying Addictive Anesthesia Solutions to Girlfriend Resulting in Depraved-Heart Murder
Jan 16, 02:00 AM
James Ryan, a 50-year-old oral surgeon and former owner of
Evolution Oral Surgery in Germantown, Maryland, has been sentenced to 45 years
in prison for supplying his girlfriend, Sarah Harris, with addictive anesthesia
solutions that ultimately led to her death. The sentencing far exceeds state
recommendations for the case of depraved-heart murder.
Circuit Court Judge Cheryl A. McCally, who presided over the case, showed little mercy as she delivered the sentence. Harris, who was only 25 years old and weighed a mere 83 pounds at the time of her death, succumbed to a lethal combination of ketamine, propofol, and diazepam intoxication. Prosecutors argued that Ryan played a significant role in Harris's death, as he continuously provided her with stolen drugs from his
practice, even as her health deteriorated. Despite a calculated sentencing
guideline of 10 to 25 years, Judge McCally emphasized the exploitation of trust
and the gravity of Ryan's actions, leading her to impose the 45-year sentence.
Tina Harris, Sarah's grieving mother, expressed satisfaction
with the verdict. In an emotional statement in court, she clutched a lock of
Sarah's braided hair and a satchel of her ashes, proclaiming, "This is all
I have left of my baby. This is all I have left because you took her."
The text messages showed that it was February 2021 when Ryan first introduced her
to ketamine, a drug often used for surgery sedation, which he said would help
her anxiety. “I can give you an injection,” he wrote. “The anxiety will be completely gone in 6 seconds.” The couple’s conversations expanded to other drugs and supplies, including IV poles, saline bags, gauze, tape, and 20-gauge needles.
“Can you get more Versed and ketamine,” Harris wrote on Aug. 27, 2021. “And also IV
catheter.”
The texts were often written while Harris was at their home and Ryan was at his
office. At one point, as noted by McCally on Wednesday, Ryan wrote to Harris
that he had given her some more ketamine while she slept.
The judge also referenced a 10-second video, apparently taken by Ryan, of the two
of them sitting next to each other. Harris had an arm up in the air as if it
was floating that he would make such a video and keep it made an impression on
the judge.
“The fact that that seemed appropriate in your world is gut-wrenching,” she said.
On the morning of January 26, 2022, Ryan discovered Harris unresponsive in their Clarksburg home and called 911. Despite efforts to revive her, paramedics pronounced Harris dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed the cause of death as drug intoxication. Prosecutors sought a 55-year sentence, arguing that Ryan was
aware of the deadly consequences of his actions. Ryan's defense maintained that
he acted out of love to alleviate Harris's pain but made the wrong decisions.
They emphasized his struggles with drug abuse and mental health.
Judge McCally, however, condemned Ryan's dangerous actions,
pointing to text messages and a video recording where Harris appeared to be
high.
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Evolution Oral Surgery in Germantown, Maryland, has been sentenced to 45 years
in prison for supplying his girlfriend, Sarah Harris, with addictive anesthesia
solutions that ultimately led to her death. The sentencing far exceeds state
recommendations for the case of depraved-heart murder.
Circuit Court Judge Cheryl A. McCally, who presided over the case, showed little mercy as she delivered the sentence. Harris, who was only 25 years old and weighed a mere 83 pounds at the time of her death, succumbed to a lethal combination of ketamine, propofol, and diazepam intoxication. Prosecutors argued that Ryan played a significant role in Harris's death, as he continuously provided her with stolen drugs from his
practice, even as her health deteriorated. Despite a calculated sentencing
guideline of 10 to 25 years, Judge McCally emphasized the exploitation of trust
and the gravity of Ryan's actions, leading her to impose the 45-year sentence.
Tina Harris, Sarah's grieving mother, expressed satisfaction
with the verdict. In an emotional statement in court, she clutched a lock of
Sarah's braided hair and a satchel of her ashes, proclaiming, "This is all
I have left of my baby. This is all I have left because you took her."
The text messages showed that it was February 2021 when Ryan first introduced her
to ketamine, a drug often used for surgery sedation, which he said would help
her anxiety. “I can give you an injection,” he wrote. “The anxiety will be completely gone in 6 seconds.” The couple’s conversations expanded to other drugs and supplies, including IV poles, saline bags, gauze, tape, and 20-gauge needles.
“Can you get more Versed and ketamine,” Harris wrote on Aug. 27, 2021. “And also IV
catheter.”
The texts were often written while Harris was at their home and Ryan was at his
office. At one point, as noted by McCally on Wednesday, Ryan wrote to Harris
that he had given her some more ketamine while she slept.
The judge also referenced a 10-second video, apparently taken by Ryan, of the two
of them sitting next to each other. Harris had an arm up in the air as if it
was floating that he would make such a video and keep it made an impression on
the judge.
“The fact that that seemed appropriate in your world is gut-wrenching,” she said.
On the morning of January 26, 2022, Ryan discovered Harris unresponsive in their Clarksburg home and called 911. Despite efforts to revive her, paramedics pronounced Harris dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed the cause of death as drug intoxication. Prosecutors sought a 55-year sentence, arguing that Ryan was
aware of the deadly consequences of his actions. Ryan's defense maintained that
he acted out of love to alleviate Harris's pain but made the wrong decisions.
They emphasized his struggles with drug abuse and mental health.
Judge McCally, however, condemned Ryan's dangerous actions,
pointing to text messages and a video recording where Harris appeared to be
high.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com