Dr. James Michael Ryan (YouTube screenshot) and Sarah Harris (Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office)
A 50-year-old dentist and oral surgeon in Maryland will spend more than four decades behind bars for killing his 25-year-old girlfriend who fatally overdosed on addictive anesthesia medications administered through an at-home IV station the doctor had set up for her in the rental house they shared. State Circuit Court Judge Cheryl A. McCally on Wednesday ordered James Michael Ryan to serve a sentence of 45 years in a state correctional facility, authorities announced.
As previously reported by Law&Crime, a Montgomery County jury in August deliberated for less than three hours before finding Ryan guilty of one count of second-degree depraved heart murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Sarah Harris. He was also convicted on charges of possession with the intent to distribute midazolam and distribution of ketamine and diazepam.
Ryan had been facing a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison before Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, however, the state sentencing guidelines had been calculated at between 10 to 25 years, the Washington Post reported. McCally reportedly said she decided to far exceed those guidelines due to Ryan’s significant contribution to Harris’ death — providing her with the drugs stolen from his practice — as well as his exploitation of a position of power over the former beauty queen who began working for him for several years before her death. Prosecutors said that he “often administered” the drugs to Harris himself.
During the sentencing hearing, McCally reportedly recounted “the march to Sarah’s death,” emphasizing text messages showed Ryan on at least one occasion administered ketamine to Harris while she was asleep.
According to court documents, Ryan said he went to bed at 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2020. He said the alleged victim was “okay when he went to bed,” However, when he went back downstairs on Jan. 26, 2022, he told police he found her “unresponsive on the couch with used hypodermic needles and various vials of controlled dangerous substances bottles nearby,” the court paperwork indicates.
Despite lifesaving measures from Montgomery County Fire Rescue, Harris died there, the press release stated.
Ryan was first arrested and charged in Harris’ death in March 2022.
Ryan and Harris first met when she visited his office for a medical procedure in the fall of 2020. During the procedure, Harris shared that she had experience working in a dental office. Ryan later contacted Harris about a job at his office. Harris accepted the offer and began working for him as a surgical technician.
In January 2021, Harris and Ryan began dating, with Harris spending “significant time” at Ryan’s home, authorities said. The two began living together permanently in the summer of 2021. Despite outspoken concerns from her family members, Harris’ relationship with Ryan continued up until her death from overdosing.
Authorities said an autopsy determined that her cause of death was ketamine and diazepam intoxication. Various vials of the drugs, hypodermic needles, syringes, and tourniquets were also found in the home.
According to text messages obtained by authorities, Harris asked Ryan to provide her with drugs from his medical practice. Ryan then told Harris how to use the drugs he provided. The two also discussed ways to make the effects of the drugs more potent and how to help Harris recover from the effects as quickly as possible.
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