A Germantown, Maryland, dentist has been charged with second-degree murder after Montgomery County police said he repeatedly provided drugs to his girlfriend, who died of an overdose on Jan. 26.
Dr. James Ryan, 49, an oral surgeon who had a practice on Observation Drive, was arrested Tuesday morning in connection with the death of Sarah Harris, 25, a former patient who later became his girlfriend.
Police were called to the home Harris shared with Ryan at 13900 Godwit St. in Clarksburg, Maryland, where they found Harris dead. An autopsy later revealed she had ketamine and diazepam in her system.
Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones said investigators on the scene found various bottles of propofol, midazolam, ketamine and diazepam, all controlled substances.
“Numerous hypodermic needles, syringes and tourniquets were discovered nearby as well,” Jones said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
“These bottles are not the type of medication that would normally be dispensed from a pharmacy and are usually reserved for clinical medical settings.”
Investigators obtained text messages and other communications between Ryan and Harris that show Harris asking for different types of drugs from his practice, Ryan saying he’d get them for her and instructing her on how to take them.
“Dr. Ryan also provided instructions on how she could make the effects of some of the drugs more potent,” Jones said. “Additionally, he mentions bringing home and/or providing saline, fluids, needles, IV poles to aid in the administration of drugs or in the recovery from the effects.”
Jones said the messages even revealed that Ryan gave Harris ketamine while she was asleep.
They also suggest that Harris may have previously overdosed on Dec. 21.
Police said Harris, who had previous experience working in dental offices, visited Ryan in the fall of 2020 for a medical procedure. A few weeks later, Ryan hired her to work as a surgical technician in his office, and the two began dating in early 2021, with Harris moving into Ryan’s home that summer.
Jones said Harris’ family members began to notice a decline in her health in that time.
“On two different occasions, Harris was discovered at their residence surrounded by empty medicine bottles, similar to what was discovered at the death scene — used syringes and bloodied clothing,” Jones said.
Jones said investigators have not ruled out that there could be other people Ryan provided illegal drugs to. They also have not determined yet if Ryan took illegal drugs himself.
Ryan is in custody now awaiting a bond review, which could happen Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. If convicted of second-degree murder and related drug charges, Ryan could face a total of 78 years in prison.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Anna Gawel joined WTOP in 2020 and works in both the radio and digital departments. Anna Gawel has spent much of her career as the managing editor of The Washington Diplomat, which has been the flagship publication of D.C.’s diplomatic community for over 25 years.
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