Tina Harris recalled the occasions in the course of testimony past 7 days in a demo in Montgomery County, Md., that turns on a complex question jurors will try to solution in the times and possibly months forward.
Was Sarah Harris, who a few months following her mother’s go to died of a drug overdose, murdered? Or was her death in 2022 not felony, but the outcome of a suicide or accident?
The scenario centers on James Ryan, Sarah Harris’s boyfriend, who is accused of killing her by introducing her to medical-quality prescription drugs from his oral medical procedures observe and environment up an IV drip method in their property. Prosecutors argue that even if Ryan didn’t produce the fatal dose himself, he should really be found responsible of “depraved heart” murder by building ailments in his dwelling that he understood were being fatal.
The 50-12 months-aged seems to have swiped bottles of ketamine, propofol and midazolam from his observe. In the demo that started off Wednesday, prosecutors assert Ryan continued to supply the prescription drugs to Harris for months even as she spiraled into worsening addiction and overall health. Prosecutors performed a law enforcement human body-digital camera recording of Ryan talking to officers the early morning of Jan. 26, 2022, when Sarah Harris, 25 at the time, was identified useless in their dwelling home. Ryan can be listened to on the online video putting accountability on his girlfriend.
Immediately after Ryan’s arrest was designed community previous 12 months, a great deal interest targeted on the dentist.
“Can you notify us about Sarah? What was she like?” Assistant State’s Attorney Kimberly Cissel commenced in questioning Tina Harris.
“Sarah was a bright star,” she explained. “Sarah was entire of lifestyle. She was formidable. She was gifted. She was wise as a whip.”
1 of four youngsters, Sarah Harris received A’s and B’s in faculty as she struggled with mental well being troubles in her mid-teens. She graduated from Quince Orchard Superior School in the Gaithersburg spot, her mother mentioned, and attained a scholarship to Montgomery College or university.
Sarah also participated in natural beauty contests for Pass up Maryland and Overlook Maryland Petite, which she won in 2020, her mother informed jurors. That very same year Sarah Harris took a job at Ryan’s dental apply, Evolution Oral Medical procedures, in Germantown. The two started courting and Sarah sooner or later moved in with Ryan.
“We welcomed him into the loved ones,” Tina Harris testified, adding that she and Ryan communicated day