October 15, 2025
A 41-year-old Eagle Mountain man is behind bars after a female police informant died from a fatal fentanyl overdose, just days after helping authorities with an undercover drug operation.
According to the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force, Darik Allan Ottens was arrested early Tuesday and booked into the Utah County Jail on suspicion of manslaughter, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, drug distribution, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Investigators allege Ottens provided the same potent batch of fentanyl that killed the informant, who had previously survived an overdose just weeks earlier.
The Informant’s Fatal Mission
Court documents reveal that detectives first made contact with the woman two weeks ago after she survived a near-fatal overdose in South Jordan.
“South Jordan police responded and found the victim unconscious, not breathing. Paramedics administered Narcan, and the victim survived,” investigators wrote in the arrest affidavit.
After her recovery, the woman agreed to assist police as a confidential informant in exchange for leniency. Under the direction of detectives, she completed two controlled drug buys from Ottens in Orem, each resulting in the seizure of fentanyl powder.
The controlled purchases were later used to obtain a search warrant for Ottens’ residence in Eagle Mountain.
But before the search could take place, tragedy struck.
On Sunday, officers were called to a report of an overdose in Orem — and found the informant dead.
“Narcan was administered but was not successful,” the affidavit states.
Texts Reveal Fatal Exchange
During their investigation, detectives reviewed messages between the victim and Ottens on her phone. The texts suggest that she requested fentanyl from Ottens shortly before her death.
“The victim reached out to Darik and asked him to bring her some fentanyl,” investigators wrote. “Darik replied, ‘This stuff is better than the other.’”
Later that same day, police executed the previously obtained search warrant at Ottens’ home, uncovering fentanyl powder, burnt tin foil, and a tooter — items consistent with fentanyl use.
“The fentanyl appeared to be the same powder detectives purchased with the victim during the controlled buys,” the affidavit reads.
Admission and Aftermath
Ottens reportedly admitted to detectives that he knew the dangers of fentanyl’s potency but continued selling it anyway.
He also confessed that he told the victim to delete their messages after each transaction, fearing they could be used against him if she overdosed again.
“Darik told her to delete the messages in case they overdose — as they have overdosed before,” investigators wrote.
The case underscores Utah’s ongoing fentanyl crisis, which has fueled a sharp rise in overdose deaths statewide. Authorities say they are now reviewing the incident to determine if additional charges or policy reviews are warranted regarding the informant’s handling.