CEDAR CITY — Two people have been arrested on manslaughter and drug distribution charges in connection with the suspected fentanyl overdose death of a 31-year-old woman at a Cedar City hotel in April.

John Parry, 39, was booked into Iron County Jail shortly before midnight on Friday, while Kimberly Dawn Hare, 33, was booked on Saturday morning. Each faces a single count of manslaughter, a second degree felony, along with multiple other felony counts related to drug possession, drug distribution and child endangerment.

According to the probable cause statements filed in support of their arrests, Parry and Hare, who are married, are accused of providing the fentanyl that allegedly led to the death of a 31-year-old woman at the hotel on April 20.

Police officers who responded to the hotel that afternoon found the woman, who was 21 weeks pregnant, unresponsive and not breathing on the floor of a room, with alleged evidence of drug use nearby, including two blue pills resembling fentanyl and a pen with burn residue.

“Agents with the drug task force began investigating due to the fact it was a fentanyl overdose that killed her,” one of the affidavits states. “Agents were able to get witnesses and confidential informants to provide information in the case.”

During the investigation, information and evidence were gathered using various sources, including witnesses, surveillance video, a GPS tracker and a confidential informant.

After receiving information that Parry was in Salt Lake City picking up some fentanyl on Friday, officers were able to stop the vehicle shortly after it entered Iron County that evening.

According to the probable cause statement filed in connection with the traffic stop, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper pulled over Parry at approximately 8:15 p.m. on southbound Interstate 15 for not wearing his seat belt and for not signaling properly when making a lane change.

After questioning Parry further and finding that he did not have a valid driver license, the UHP trooper requested a K-9 officer respond to the scene and do a free air sniff of the vehicle, which resulted in a positive indication for the presence of narcotics. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 18 blue M-30 pills believed to be fentanyl or counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, along with a baggie containing methamphetamine and a pipe with methamphetamine residue.

Parry was then booked into jail a few hours later.

The next morning, officers executed a search warrant at Parry and Hare’s residence. 

“During the search, agents located tinfoil on the front room floor and in a trash can on the floor,” the affidavit states, noting that the tinfoil had residue consistent with fentanyl and was located in close proximity to the toys belonging to their 3-year-old child. Two other children under the age of 15 also live at that same residence and had access or exposure to the drugs and paraphernalia, the affidavit adds.

As of Monday afternoon, Parry and Hare continue to be held without bail as they await their initial court appearances. Both defendants reportedly have extensive criminal histories, including previous drug-related convictions. 

Because of those prior convictions, the current charges have been enhanced, the affidavits state. 

Although possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance with intent to distribute is typically a second-degree felony, it has been charged as a first-degree felony in each of these cases.

This report is based on statements from court documents and law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Coincidentally, Tuesday has been designated as National Fentanyl Awareness Day, designed to raise awareness and educate the public about the lethal dangers of fentanyl. To see the 90-second public service announcement issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, click click here.

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