A dead woman was found in Warwick, Massachusetts, late last year and now two New Hampshire residents are charged with kidnapping, holding her captive and shooting her up with a deadly drug cocktail that included fentanyl and the animal tranquilizer xylazine.
When Justina Steffy’s body was recovered in Warwick, on Oct. 23, 2024, the Massachusetts medical examiner determined that she had died from “the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, and xylazine.” The death was deemed homicide.
Now, New Hampshire authorities said she was forcefully injected with the drugs and died of an overdose in Keene, New Hampshire. After that her body was moved to Warwick, prosecutors said.
Keene police arrested Andrea Martin, 42, and Christian Torruellas, 32, in relation to the investigation, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office, which is prosecuting the case.
“Today’s arrests are a significant development in the investigation into the tragic death of Justina Steffy. I want to make it clear that New Hampshire takes allegations of human trafficking very seriously,” New Hampshire AG John Formella said in an emailed statement.
“We are committed to pursuing justice and holding accountable those who exploit vulnerable individuals. Our thoughts are with Ms. Steffy’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and we urge anyone with information to come forward,” he continued.
Formella said that Martin and Torruellas have been charged with kidnapping Steffy, 31, and confining her from Oct. 1 through Oct. 17 “with a purpose to terrorize that person and/or others. They are also charged with human trafficking another, unnamed person “against that person’s will to perform a service or labor for the benefit of another” and did so through threats, confinement and hooking the person on drugs.
Martin has even more charges. She is charged with dispensing fentanyl and falsifying physical evidence. She is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Eighth Circuit Court in Keene. Torruellas’ arraignment is pending as he is currently jailed on unrelated federal charges.
Formella’s office asks that anyone with any information on these allegations to contact Keene Police Department Detectives Jennifer Truman or Andrew Lippincott at jtruman@keenenh.gov, alippincott@keenenh.gov, or by calling (603) 357-9820.