“The Depraved Heart Murder”: 48 Hours Reports on Sarah Harris Homicide May 10 2025

This Saturday, May 10, 2025, 48 Hours airs an encore presentation of “The Depraved Heart Murder” at 9:00 PM ET/PT on CBS. Correspondent Nikki Battiste reports on the mysterious death of Sarah Harris and the investigation that led authorities to charge her boyfriend, Dr. James Ryan, a respected oral surgeon, with second-degree depraved-heart murder. The case unfolded with startling discoveries, raising troubling questions about control, trust, and medical ethics.

A Promising Life Cut Short

On the morning of January 26, 2022, 25-year-old Sarah Harris was found unresponsive on the floor of the Maryland home she shared with Dr. James Ryan. First responders arrived to find a chaotic scene, with medical paraphernalia strewn throughout the house. Ryan told police it was likely an overdose, explaining that Sarah had previously struggled with drug use and mental health issues. Authorities initially accepted his account, but Sarah’s family was not convinced.

Sarah’s mother, Tina Harris, and her sister Rachel arrived at the home soon after. Tina immediately confronted Ryan, suspecting he had played a role in her daughter’s death. Investigators found syringes, tourniquets, and drug vials near Sarah’s body, as well as drugs inside her purse. The medical examiner later reported the presence of ketamine, propofol, and diazepam in Sarah’s system—powerful anesthetics and sedatives rarely found outside medical settings.

The Troubled Relationship Behind Closed Doors

Sarah met Dr. Ryan in 2020 when he performed her wisdom tooth extraction. He later offered her a job as a surgical assistant. At 47, Ryan was more than twice Sarah’s age, but their professional relationship soon turned romantic. Tina Harris recalled initially feeling impressed by Ryan’s generosity and accomplishments, noting how he showered Sarah with gifts, including a leased car and luxurious trips.

However, beneath the surface, Sarah’s family began noticing troubling signs. Sarah’s health declined over the months she lived with Ryan, and she became withdrawn and visibly thinner. During family visits, Tina and Rachel witnessed evidence of drug use inside the home. Sarah appeared gaunt, bruised, and disoriented. Despite their pleas for her to leave, Sarah stayed with Ryan, who continued to provide her access to potent drugs.

Rachel Harris took it upon herself to document what she witnessed. She photographed the medical supplies and drug vials scattered around the house, suspecting that Ryan was enabling, if not directly causing, her sister’s substance abuse. Her efforts would later become critical in the pursuit of justice.

Building a Case with Uncovered Evidence

After Sarah’s death was initially ruled undetermined, Rachel Harris meticulously combed through Sarah’s laptop and iCloud account, unlocking a trove of text messages between her sister and Ryan. The texts painted a chilling picture: Ryan supplying Sarah with prescription sedatives and anesthetics, even administering injections himself.

Detective Ian Iacoviello, a veteran officer with pharmaceutical investigation experience, reviewed the evidence Rachel compiled in a binder. He described the text messages as a timeline showing Sarah’s slow decline, likening it to “watching a murder in slow motion.” The messages included requests from Sarah for ketamine and propofol, and acknowledgments from Ryan promising to bring drugs home. One particularly damning message revealed Ryan telling Sarah he had given her ketamine while she slept.

This body of evidence persuaded investigators to reopen the case. On March 22, 2022, Dr. James Ryan was arrested and charged with depraved-heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, and drug distribution offenses. Prosecutors alleged that Ryan recklessly endangered Sarah’s life by providing and administering dangerous drugs outside a clinical setting without safeguards.

The Trial and Verdict

Dr. Ryan’s trial began in August 2023. Prosecutors presented the text messages, photos, and expert testimony to argue that Ryan’s actions met the legal standard for depraved-heart murder—acting with extreme recklessness and disregard for human life. They described Ryan as a man who blurred the boundaries of professional ethics, enabling Sarah’s addiction while controlling her access to drugs.

The defense countered by highlighting Sarah’s struggles with mental illness, suggesting she was complicit in seeking the drugs and had lost the will to live. They argued Ryan’s intentions were to help Sarah, not harm her, and that he was unaware of the fatal risk. Ryan declined to testify in his own defense.

After nearly two weeks of testimony, the jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning a guilty verdict on all charges. On August 25, 2023, Dr. James Ryan was convicted of second-degree depraved-heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, and drug distribution. In a powerful statement, the judge sentenced him to 45 years in prison—well above the recommended guidelines.

A Family’s Fight for Justice

For Tina and Rachel Harris, the conviction marked the end of a painful chapter, but not the end of their grief. At Ryan’s sentencing, both women spoke passionately about Sarah’s life, describing her as bright, loving, and full of potential. Rachel called Ryan “a predator” and urged the court to impose a sentence that reflected the gravity of his actions.

In the aftermath of the trial, prosecutors and Sarah’s family expressed hope that the case would send a message about accountability, especially for medical professionals who misuse their authority. Maryland’s State’s Attorney John McCarthy advocated for stronger laws to prosecute drug distribution cases that result in death, inspired by the challenges faced in securing Ryan’s conviction.

As 48 Hours revisits this haunting case, the broadcast sheds light on the unique legal and emotional complexities surrounding Sarah Harris’s death. It also honors the persistence of a family that turned heartbreak into a quest for answers—and ultimately, justice.