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Miranda Michelle Sanow, 26, of St. Paul has been charged with third-degree murder by selling a controlled substance and third-degree sale of fentanyl in relation to the November 2022 death of Justin Rops, of Pipestone.
A criminal complaint filed April 2 did not include his name, but Rops’ mother, Tish Kalla, confirmed that he was the victim referenced in the complaint.
According to the complaint, deputies with the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a Pipestone residence on a report of an unresponsive person who was not breathing. When they arrived, officers observed Rops seated in a chair bent over at the waist with his face resting on an ottoman. They did not find a pulse and Rops was cool to the touch, according to the complaint. Medical personnel responded to the home and pronounced him deceased and he was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Center.
An autopsy revealed that Rop’s blood tested positive for fentanyl and norfentanyl and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the final diagnosis of death was “fentanyl toxicity,” according to the complaint.
Investigators interviewed witnesses and reviewed digital forensics, including payment transactions and cell phone data. The investigation revealed that Sanow sold Rops the fentanyl that caused his death, according to the complaint. In interviews with law enforcement on Oct. 26, 2023 and Jan. 4, 2024, Sanow admitted that she sold him the fentanyl that caused his death on Nov. 16, 2022 and that she purchased the fentanyl from another individual.
The third-degree murder charge is punishable by up to 25 years imprisonment and a $40,000 fine, and the third-degree sale of fentanyl charge is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
