A 24-year-old former JP Morgan employee was found dead at the mansion of a cocktail tycoon, sparking a mystery about the circumstances of her death.
On New Year’s Day, Julia Phan passed away at the .5 million residence of Ran Duan, the 38-year-old successful proprietor of multiple bars and restaurants in the Boston region.
The Maine native, who had recently quit her job as an analyst, had attended a concert the previous night with Duan and other friends, according to police.
Phan’s friends were later told that she had been asked to leave the venue because she was too intoxicated – which they noted did not sound like Phan, who was not the type to drink in excess or do drugs.
After Phan was allegedly kicked out of the venue, Duan drove her to his Burlington home, where security cameras caught him lifting a slumped Phan from the passenger seat and carrying her to his front door, according to the Boston Globe.
Security footage also reportedly shows Phan making ‘quiet guttural noises’ as Duan carries her inside the home.
Nine hours later, Duan made a frantic call to 911, reporting that Phan was unresponsive.
‘We went to a concert last night, and one of my friends got really drunk,’ a breathless Duan said. ‘I need an ambulance right now. I put her down on the couch last night, took her shoes off. She passed out on the couch. I just woke up. I came down here.’
Julia Phan, 24, was found dead in January at the home of a prominent Boston bar owner
Ran Duan, 38, is the high-flying owner of several bars and restaurants in the Boston area
Duan was allegedly seen on security footage lifting a slumped Phan from the passenger seat and carrying her to his front door. Pictured: His home in Burlington
When asked for Phan’s age, Duan replied: ‘I don’t know what’s going on.’
He was then heard saying: ‘What is going on? Baby, are you awake? Girl. Julia?
‘I’m just freaking out right now.’
Less than 30 minutes later, Phan was declared dead by emergency responders.
Phan had just quit her job at JP Morgan after asking to relocate to Texas.
Phan’s friends told the Globe they were enraged days later after Duan posted videos partying in Tulum and flashing a thumps-up.
Duan allegedly told police that he had seen Phan dancing with another woman the previous night, and that someone had seen Phan putting something her in mouth.
That person said they didn’t know what Phan allegedly put in her mouth, but Duan claimed Phan at some point told someone else: ‘I’m really feeling the molly now.’
Months later, a medical examiner ruled that Phan had died from intoxication from MDMA, also known as molly.
But Phan’s friends insist she never took drugs and was very health conscious.
The Boston Globe reviewed a message where Phan declined ‘recreational enchantments’ offered by Duan before the concert.
Phan died from intoxication from MDMA, also known as molly, but her friends said she did not take drugs
GQ once declared Duan as ‘America’s most imaginative bartender’
Duan is known for posting his extravagant lifestyle on social media
‘No thank you… I have a drug test this week haha,’ Phan replied, as she was routinely drug tested in order to refill her ADHD medication, one of her friends told the Globe.
A spokesperson for Duan told the Globe he was referring to marijuana.
Duan declined to speak about Phan’s death, citing a police investigation.
‘Julia was one of the kindest and sweetest people and I am devastated by her passing,’ he told the Boston Globe.
‘This past January, the investigators asked that I not comment publicly on this matter. I will continue to respect the process and – most importantly – Julia’s privacy; but I do want to express that she, her family, and all those who loved and cared for her are in my thoughts.’
Duan rose to prominence as the brains behind innovative bars in the Boston area and was named by GQ as ‘America’s most imaginative bartender’.
The Burlington Police Department said their probe into Phan’s death is ongoing.
The Daily Mail reached out to Duan for comment on this story.
