Indictments in Connection with the Death of Justina Steffy in Keene, New Hampshire

Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces that a Cheshire County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Andrea Martin (age 42) for dispensing a controlled drug with death resulting in violation of RSA 318-B:26, IX, in connection with the death of Justina Steffy (age 31).

The indictment alleges that Andrea Martin, in concert with and aided by another, knowingly sold or dispensed to Justina Steffy a controlled drug, said substance containing fentanyl (a schedule II classified controlled drug) and Justina Steffy died as a result of the injection or ingestion of that substance. The Cheshire County Grand Jury also returned an indictment against Andrea Martin for falsifying physical evidence in violation of RSA 641:6, I, in connection with the removal of Justina Steffy's body from Keene and subsequent disposal in Massachusetts.

In addition, the Cheshire County Grand Jury returned indictments against Andrea Martin and Christian Torruellas (age 32) for kidnapping, in violation of RSA 633:1, I. Those indictments allege that Martin and Torruellas, from about October 1 to about October 17, 2024, acting in concert with and aided by another, knowingly confined Karen Miner under their control with a purpose to terrorize Miner and/or others. Martin also is separately charged with another kidnapping count, alleging that from about October 10 to about October 13, 2024, she acted in concert with and was aided by another to knowingly confine Justina Steffy under her control with a purpose to terrorize Steffy and/or others.

Lastly, Andrea Martin and Christian Torruellas have each been indicted for trafficking in persons, in violation of RSA 633:7, I(a). That charge alleges that Martin and Torruellas, from about October 1 to about October 17, 2024, acting in concert and aided by others, knowingly compelled an identified complainant against the complainant's will to perform a service or labor for the benefit of another, and said compulsion was accomplished by causing or threatening to cause serious harm to the complainant, confining complainant unlawfully by means of actual and threatened use of force, threatening to commit crimes against complainant, facilitating or controlling the complainant's access to an addictive controlled substance, and/or engaging in a scheme, plan, or pattern (overt or subtle) intended to cause the complainant to believe that if such labor or services were not performed the complainant would suffer serious physical harm or physical restraint. Pursuant to the statute setting forth the offense of human trafficking, the complainant's name will not be released.

Both defendants are scheduled for arraignment on June 12, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., in Cheshire County Superior Court.

The charges and allegations against Andrea Martin and Christian Torruellas are merely accusations, and each is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.