What was supposed to be a night of celebration turned into a heartbreaking mystery.
On New Year’s Day, 24-year-old Julia Phan was found dead inside the mansion of Ran Duan, a well-known cocktail entrepreneur in the Boston area.
Her sudden death has left friends, family, and investigators searching for answers.
Who Was Julia Phan?
Julia, originally from Maine, had recently stepped away from her analyst job at JP Morgan.
She had plans to move to Texas and was known by those close to her as health-conscious, disciplined, and far from the “party scene” lifestyle.
Her friends insist she was not someone who drank heavily or used drugs.
The Night Before
According to police, Julia spent New Year’s Eve at a concert with Duan and several others.
At some point in the night, security reportedly asked her to leave because of intoxication—something her friends say was very unlike her.
Afterward, Duan drove her back to his $1.5 million Burlington home.
The Security Footage
Surveillance cameras later revealed Duan carrying a seemingly unconscious Julia from his car to the house.
In the footage, she appeared slumped over and made faint noises while being moved inside.
Hours later, at around 9 a.m., Duan dialed 911 in panic, saying Julia was unresponsive.
The Emergency Call
On the call, Duan sounded breathless and distressed.
He told dispatchers that Julia had gotten “really drunk” at the concert, that he had put her on the couch to rest, and that he found her unresponsive in the morning.
Emergency responders arrived within half an hour, but Julia was pronounced dead on the scene.
Conflicting Stories
What happened in those missing hours remains a puzzle.
Duan told police he saw Julia dancing with another woman and claimed someone noticed her putting something in her mouth.
He also alleged she later mentioned “feeling the molly now,” referring to MDMA.
Yet, Julia’s friends strongly reject this idea, pointing out that she was regularly drug-tested for her ADHD medication and had even texted Duan “No thank you” when he offered what he called “recreational enchantments” before the concert.
The Medical Examiner’s Report
Months later, the official autopsy listed Julia’s cause of death as intoxication from MDMA.
But her friends remain unconvinced. They say Julia would never take drugs, calling the findings completely out of character for her lifestyle.
Duan’s Public Silence
While Duan has largely avoided speaking about Julia’s death, he did release a short statement saying he was devastated and that investigators had asked him not to comment further.
Still, many were outraged after seeing him post carefree vacation videos from Tulum just days after Julia’s passing.
A Man with a High Profile
Duan is far from an unknown figure.
He built a name for himself in Boston’s nightlife scene with creative bar concepts, earning national recognition from outlets like GQ, which once crowned him “America’s most imaginative bartender.”
His prominence has only added more public attention to the ongoing investigation.
Where Things Stand Now
As of now, the Burlington Police Department says the case is still under investigation.
Julia’s loved ones are holding on to hope that they’ll get clarity about what truly happened that night.
The questions surrounding her final hours remain unanswered—and for many, the search for truth has only just begun.