Maryland Dentist Sentenced to Over 40 Years for Killing Girlfriend with Ketamine IVs, Administered Drugs While She Slept 

A dentist and oral surgeon from Montgomery County, Maryland, was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Wednesday for the death of his 25-year-old girlfriend. 

James Michael Ryan, 50, was convicted of one count of second-degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Sarah Harris. 

Investigators discovered that Harris had died from an overdose of ketamine and diazepam, both addictive anesthesia medicines. Ryan reportedly provided her the drugs through an at-home IV station that he set up for her in the rental home they shared, per reporting from Law&Crime. 

Ryan was also convicted on charges of possession with the intent to distribute midazolam and distribution of ketamine and diazepam. 

During his sentencing, it was revealed through text messages that Ryan administered drugs to his late girlfriend while she was asleep at least once. 

According to court documents, Ryan said he went to bed at 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2022, and alleged that the victim was “okay when he went to bed,” however when he went back downstairs early the next day, he told police he found Harris “unresponsive on the couch with used hypodermic needles and various vials of controlled dangerous substances bottles nearby.” 

The Montgomery County Fire Rescue attempted to perform life-saving measures on Harris but were unsuccessful. Ryan was first arrested for Harris’s death in March 2022, per the outlet. 

According to prosecutors, Ryan and Harris’s relationship began when she first visited his office for a medical procedure in the fall of 2020. Harris then shared that she had experience working in a dental office, and Ryan later contacted her about a job in his office. Harris shortly began working at Ryan’s office as a surgical technician. 

In January 2021, the two reportedly started dating, with Harris spending “significant time” at Ryan’s home, per authorities. They began permanently living together that summer, even though her family was concerned about their relationship. 

According to text messages obtained by authorities, Harris asked Ryan to provide her with drugs from his dental practice, and he told her how to use the provided drugs. The couple also talked about how to make the effects of the drugs more potent and how to help Harris recover from the side effects quickly. 

An autopsy determined that Harris’s cause of death was ketamine and diazepam intoxication. Several vials, hypodermic needles, syringes, and tourniquets were found in the home.