Manslaughter defendant Ryan Doyle’s alleged role in two heroin overdoses – one fatal – detailed in court

SPRINGFIELD — Ryan Doyle, 28, of Hampden, on Wednesday denied a manslaughter charge in Hampden Superior Court.

Doyle is charged with involuntary manslaughter for the July 5 overdose death of Alex LaFleur in Tolland.

Doyle was also indicted for distribution of heroin and distribution of fentanyl July 4 in Monson. Other indictments charge distribution of heroin and distribution of fentanyl July 5 in Hampden.

Defense lawyer Edward B. Fogarty urged Judge Daniel M. Wrenn to release his client on personal recognizance, saying there is “no reason whatsoever to think this young man will fail to appear” in court. Fogarty said Doyle is a lifelong resident of Hampden and his father, who was in the courtroom with the defendant, is a physician in that town.

Wrenn adopted the request of Assistant District Attorney Kerry A. Beattie and set bail at $5,000. Doyle, who had not been held prior to the arraignment, was handcuffed and taken into custody. Bail was posted for Doyle soon after the arraignment.

Beattie said the July 4 drug charge is from an incident in Monson when a man’s friend called emergency personnel about a suspected overdose, Narcan was administered and the man’s life was saved.

Ryan Doyle of Hampden indicted, accused of supplying drugs used in Tolland overdose death

Information from cellphones led police to Doyle. The man who had overdosed — by then in inpatient treatment — picked Doyle out from a police photo array as the man from whom he had purchased heroin, Beattie said.

The manslaughter charge relates to LaFleur, who died in the middle of the night, Beattie said. The medical examiner said his death was from fentanyl and opiates.

LaFleur and a friend had purchased heroin from Doyle at his Hampden home, she said. LaFleur came out of the house and they used one bag. The friend dropped LaFleur at home and was the last person to see LaFleur alive, Beattie said.

She said when the crimes occurred Doyle was on probation in a past drug case, but by the time he was charged the probation had ended.

Fentanyl has been a major factor in overdoses nationwide. Often people using heroin don’t know it has been combined with the powerful, synthetic opioid.