Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Ryan Marcuse
File # S220010030
Details:
On January 1st, 2022, about 12:28 PM, personnel from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to a call of an unresponsive male adult in the 69000 block of State Hwy 111., city of Rancho Mirage. Upon deputies’ arrival, it was determined a 22-year-old male was deceased. The case was immediately assumed by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Unit (ODIN) as it was determined the decedent, Travis O’Brien (22), was a victim of a Fentanyl Poisoning. The investigation continued and a suspect, Riley Hagar (25), from the city of Cathedral City, was identified as being the suspect responsible for selling the Fentanyl that killed O’Brien
On August 31st, 2022, ODIN personnel located Hagar in the city of Rancho Mirage and took him into custody. Additionally, at the time Hagar was taken into custody he was in possession of a large quantity of narcotics and was currently out on bail for an unrelated charge. Hagar was later booked into the Jon Benoit Detention Center for Murder.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Hollingsworth at 951-955-1700. As a reminder, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department wants to remind citizens of the dangers of illicit narcotics many which may contain Fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times stronger than morphine and can cause death or serious bodily harm.
For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.
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