By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today
Federal authorities have indicted two Cedar City residents in connection with the death of a local woman who overdosed on fentanyl earlier this year.
Kimberly Dawn Hare, 33, and John Parry, 39, were initially charged with manslaughter by the Iron County Attorney’s Office after they were accused of selling fentanyl to a woman that resulted in her death.
According to court records filed in 5th District Court, the incident occurred on April 20, 2024, when the victim was found unresponsive in a room at the Ramada Inn. When first responders arrived they determined she had suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the incident, an investigation was launched by the Iron, Garfield, and Beaver Counties Narcotics Task Force.
Court records show that Hare and Parry had been under surveillance prior to the incident, as they were suspected of distributing fentanyl in the Cedar City area.
The investigation led to their arrest in May, when they were charged with manslaughter under Utah state law.The case was recently escalated to the federal level.
According to the federal indictment filed on August 13, 2024, Hare and Parry are charged with a class A felony for distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death.
Class A felonies are among the most serious and include crimes such as first-degree murder, kidnapping, and certain drug offenses that result in death.
The penalties can include life imprisonment or even the death penalty, depending on the circumstances and specific charge.
Both Hare and Parry pleaded not guilty to the federal charges during their arraignment.
Prosecutors are requesting that Hare and Parry be turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) for detention, citing concerns about their potential flight risk and the severity of the charges. If granted the co-defendants will remain in the Iron County Jail but their status will be changed to federal inmates.
The prosecution has also requested that they be held without bail, citing the severity of the charges and concerns that the defendants might flee.
A detention hearing has been scheduled for August 26, 2024, where the court will decide whether they should remain in custody until their trial.