Former oral surgeon James Ryan, 50, of Clarksburg has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for the fatal overdose of his girlfriend, 25-year-old Sarah Harris.
Ryan was previously found guilty of second-degree depraved heart murder and involuntary manslaughter for Harris’ overdose death. He was also convicted of possession with intent to distribute midazolam, as well as distribution of ketamine and diazepam, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office (MCSAO).
Harris fatally overdosed in Jan. 2022. At the time Ryan was charged in 2022, police said he was giving her controlled substances including propofol, ketamine, diasepam and midazolam. Her cause of death was determined to be ketamine, propofol and diazepam intoxication, per MCSAO.
“They were all in her system at the time of her death. They were all supplied by Dr. Ryan,” said Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy during a news conference with Harris’ family members following the sentencing.
Harris was Ryan’s former patient. She started working at his practice in Germantown before the two started dating around Jan. 2021. They lived at Ryan’s home at the time of her death.
