Former JPMorgan analyst dies at Boston-area bar owner's mansion; medical examiner cites MDMA intoxication

A 24-year-old former JPMorgan analyst was found unresponsive on New Year’s Day at the Burlington, Massachusetts, home of Ran Duan, a Boston-area cocktail bar owner known for his nightlife ventures. The medical examiner later ruled that Julia Phan died of MDMA intoxication, according to authorities, though Burlington police said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Phan, a Maine native who had recently quit her job at JPMorgan after requesting a relocation to Texas, had attended a concert the night before with Duan and other friends. Friends told investigators she did not fit the pattern of someone who would drink to excess. Security footage described by authorities shows Duan lifting a slumped Phan from the passenger seat of her vehicle and carrying her to his front door, with Phan reportedly making quiet guttural noises as she was brought inside. About nine hours later, emergency responders declared her dead after a 911 call in which Duan described finding his friend unresponsive: “We went to a concert last night, and one of my friends got really drunk. 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.”

According to police, Duan told investigators that he had seen Phan dancing with another woman the previous night and that someone had seen Phan putting something in her mouth. He allegedly said that Phan at some point told someone else: “I’m really feeling the molly now.” Phan’s friends, speaking to local reporters, said she never used drugs and was health-conscious. They also criticized Duan for posting videos from trips to Tulum and other parties in the days after Phan’s death, arguing those images did not reflect her character. A message reviewed by the Boston Globe showed Phan declining “recreational enchantments” offered by Duan before the concert, and notes that she was routinely drug tested in order to refill ADHD medication.

Duan’s spokesperson told the Globe he had not spoken publicly out of respect for the ongoing police investigation, but offered condolences to Phan’s family and friends. Phan had recently left JPMorgan after requesting a relocation to Texas, and colleagues described her as a diligent analyst who had been pursuing a transition in her career. The Globe also reported that Duan had been named by GQ as “America’s most imaginative bartender” and that he maintains a high-profile social-media presence tied to his nightlife ventures. The Burlington Police Department said the investigation remains ongoing, and investigators have asked anyone with information to come forward. The case has drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding Phan’s death and to the broader context of nightlife culture and personal safety.

Months after Phan’s death, the medical examiner ruled the cause of death as MDMA intoxication, though her friends insist she did not take drugs and was mindful of her health. Police continue to review security footage and related records in a bid to establish a clear timeline from the concert to the moment Phan was found unresponsive. The family and friends have pressed for a thorough, transparent account of the events, while Duan remains focused on his business interests and public-facing projects as investigators pursue leads.