Fentanyl dealer sentenced for man’s fatal overdose at Tigard motel in 2024

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A fentanyl dealer was sentenced to more than two years in prison on Wednesday after his involvement in a man’s overdose death at a Tigard motel last year.

Last week, Timothy Ryan Donovan pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in connection with the death of Ryan Hackett.

On September 12, 2024, Tigard police discovered Hackett in a room on the ground floor of a motel in the 11400 block of Southwest Pacific Highway (99W). He was taken to a hospital where he later died, authorities said. Donovan was arrested and initially faced a manslaughter indictment.

“Investigators determined the victim checked into the room the prior day. He was recovering from a separate drug overdose at the time. They reviewed surveillance footage and found that the defendant entered the room with the victim the morning of his death and left the room approximately 15 minutes later,” the Washington County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.

Donovan admitted to police that he gave Hackett fentanyl, prosecutors said.

According to court documents, Donovan tried to warn Hackett that the fentanyl was “very strong stuff.” However, Hackett took the drugs and then quickly went unconscious.

“Donovan told investigators that he administered one dose of Narcan to the victim, gathered his drugs and paraphernalia, and left the motel. He failed to contact 911 and made a brief comment to a friend about the overdose before he left the scene,” the DA’s office said.

Washington County authorities said this case is an opportunity to remind the public that an Oregon law (ORS 475.898) states that those seeking medical treatment for themselves or others experiencing an overdose will not be subject to criminal prosecution.

Donovan was sentenced to 29 months in prison for criminally negligent homicide. He will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to carry out his sentence.