Monday, November 4, 2024

Santa Rosa Man Sentenced to Prison for Providing Fentanyl to Petaluma Woman Causing Her Death

The following is a press issued by the Sonoma County District Attorney:


[Stock photo by Matt LaFever]

Defendant Chase Kirby, 28 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Laura Passaglia to serve the maximum term of four years in local prison. This sentence came after Mr. Kirby pled “no contest” earlier this month to a felony charge of committing involuntary manslaughter after providing fentanyl to a female acquaintance on September 6, 2021, resulting in her overdose and death.

District Attorney Rodriguez noted, “Fentanyl continues to kill users and devastate their families and loved ones. Simply put, if you provide illegal narcotics to another person resulting in her death or injury, you will be prosecuted.”

The charge resulted from a 911 call placed by the victim’s family when they discovered the victim, Ruby Torrens, and Kirby both unconscious in an RV that was parked on the family’s property. Both Ruby and Mr. Kirby had overdosed on drugs. It was later determined that

Ruby had overdosed on fentanyl while Kirby had overdosed on methamphetamine. Ruby was declared dead at the scene. Mr. Kirby was transported to Petaluma Valley Hospital in critical condition, and later recovered from the overdose. After further investigation, detectives with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department learned that Mr. Kirby had agreed to obtain fentanyl for Ruby in exchange for a place to stay the night. An autopsy concluded the cause of death to be acute fentanyl intoxication. She had just celebrated her 23rd birthday.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Thomas Gotshall. Sonoma County Sheriff’s Detective Daniel Negri headed the investigation.

- Advertisement -

2 COMMENTS

  1. Condolences to Ruby’s family. ?

    ??Please DON’T do drugs.
    If you’re already addicted to Fentanyl get help from the local Suboxone clinic.

    ?? Prayer works too. Ask Jesus Christ to help you. He can set you free. When you search for Him with all your heart you WILL find Him.

  2. District Attorney Rodriguez noted, “Fentanyl continues to kill users and devastate their families and loved ones. Simply put, if you provide illegal narcotics to another person resulting in her death or injury, you will be prosecuted.”

    Sounds like Kirby was homeless and addicted.

    Why not go after Kirby’s connection and charge them with all the murders their drug sales and distribution of the death drug cause? This makes me angry. The people selling fentanyl for profit KNOW that it’s killing people. Bust THEM. Get THEM off the street.

    I know 6 people who have died from fentynal overdose in the recent years.Young to middle aged people. One just last week.Not even one of their deaths made the paper or even an online obituary. They’re just gone.

    Fentanyl is DEADLY. Stop ingesting it! Please! If you can’t stop for yourself please do it for those who love you.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

MendoFever Staff
MendoFever Staff
Editor's Note: Whenever an article's byline reads "MendoFever Staff", the contents of that article were not composed by any of our reporters. Types of writing that will be attributed to "MendoFever Staff" include press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds, obituaries— essentially writing that is not produced by a reporter.

Today's News

-Advertisement-

News from the Week

Discover more from MendoFever – Mendocino County News

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading