By Tracie Sullivan
As of May 8th at 1:30 p.m., Cedar City Police have stated that the information in the probable cause statement indicating the victim’s pregnancy was inaccurate and was not pregnant at the time of her death.
Authorities arrested a Cedar City couple Saturday in connection with the death of a woman who overdosed from fentanyl approximately two weeks ago.
The Narcotics Task Force for Iron, Garfield and Beaver counties arrested Kimberly Dawn Hare, 33, and her husband John Parry, 39, Saturday following the death of a woman.
Both Hare and Parry were charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony, distribution of a controlled substance, a first-degree felony, three counts of child endangerment and possession of a controlled substance, all third-degree felonies.
Court records filed in 5th District Court, charging Hare and Parry with responsibility for the death, show that Cedar City police responded to a call at the Ramada Inn on April 20, reporting a cardiac arrest.
Officers noted that Narcan, a medication used to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses, had already been administered at the scene prior to their arrival. Fentanyl paraphernalia was also reportedly present in the room.
Paramedics’ efforts to revive the woman were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Early witness statements obtained by authorities allegedly pointed to an older green Chrysler van spotted at the hotel just shortly before the incident. Subsequent surveillance footage confirmed the initial reports. Multiple sources also implicated Hare as the alleged supplier involved in the incident, court records state.
Additionally, officers report that confidential informants provided firsthand accounts of drug use in Hare and Parry’s residence in the presence of their three-year-old child. They described visiting the home and witnessing the couple allegedly smoking fentanyl in the living room while the child was present. Sources claimed they also saw Hare and Parry blow fentanyl smoke directly in the child’s face.
Following this information, authorities tracked the movements of the couple’s vehicle using GPS, leading to a stop by Cedar City police on May 1. During this stop, fentanyl paraphernalia was allegedly discovered.
At the time of the stop Hare consented to allow officers to review messages on her phone. Among these, were communications on Facebook messenger allegedly related to drug transactions with known drug users and distributors.
On May 4th, agents executed a search warrant at the couple’s residence. During the search, agents reportedly found tinfoil with fentanyl residue on the floor of the front room allegedly near a child’s toys and in a trash can.
Additionally, agents discovered straws and a torch, consistent with smoking fentanyl. It was noted that two other children under the age of 15 lived at the residence and had access to these items, the affidavit states
Following the search, Hare was arrested and taken into custody. During questioning, she purportedly confessed to supplying the fentanyl to the victim at the Ramada Inn. She denied involvement in arranging the deal however, claiming she delivered the drugs for her husband, whom she said had orchestrated the transaction.