PIPESTONE, Minn. – A Minnesota woman has been sentenced to nearly a decade in prison for distributing fentanyl that led to the death of a 25-year-old Pipestone man, whose story was recently featured on the Grieving Out Loud podcast.
Breeann Krueger, 32, of Burnsville, received a 117-month sentence after being convicted of third-degree murder – sell/give/distribute controlled substance. The case involved the 2022 death of Justin Rops, a gifted athlete and aspiring special education teacher.
Justin died in November 2022 after ingesting fentanyl. His mother, Tish Kalla, found him unresponsive in their living room.
According to court documents, an investigation began shortly after Justin’s death, but charges weren’t filed until co-defendant Miranda Sanow pleaded guilty. Authorities say Sanow sold the drugs to Justin but obtained them from Krueger. Charges were filed against Krueger in Aug. 2024.
Justin’s younger brother, Will Rops, recently spoke about the loss on Grieving Out Loud and has become a vocal advocate for change. He is now working with Minnesota lawmakers to pass a bill that would require all public universities in the state to stock naloxone, an opioid-reversal drug, in student housing.
“I was inspired by Justin’s death to want to do something,” Will said.
Will, who was in college and involved in student government at the time of his brother’s death, said there were no naloxone requirements on campus—a gap he’s determined to fix.
“College-aged kids are so vulnerable to opioid use,” he said. “That to me was a giant oversight.”
Krueger will receive credit for 239 days already served in custody.
