Crime & Safety

Drug Dealer Gave Driver Pain Medication Before Fatal Crash

Cindy Sheppard, 48, of Hampton, N.H. has been charged in connection to the fatal crash that killed Pamela Wells of Hamilton on Saturday. Sheppard will also answer Thursday to seven drug possession indictments.

Police said Thursday that an alleged Hampton Beach heroin dealer gave Darriean Hess a narcotic pain killer not long before Hess caused Saturday's fatal crash that killed Pamela Wells of Hamilton. 

Court papers filed in Hampton (N.H.) District Court states that Cindy Sheppard, 48, of 51 Ocean Blvd., apartment 5, allegedly gave Hess, 19, of 459 Lafayette Road, apartment 8, in Seabrook, N.H. fentanyl early Saturday morning. Fentanyl is an opioid used to treat cancer pain.

Sheppard was arrested Wednesday on multiple charges in connection to Saturday's fatal crash on the Neil R. Underwood Memorial Bridge, which caused the deaths of Wells and a Danvers cyclist and injured two others.

Sheppard was due for video arraignment in Hampton District Court at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, at which point she was also expected to answer to one violation-level charge of allowing an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

Hampton Police Detective Chris Gilroy states in a report filed with Hampton District Court that after Hess was stopped for speeding early Saturday morning, Sheppard took possession of the vehicle Hess was driving, a 2002 Honda Civic that was registered to an acquaintance of Hess.

Gilroy states that "Sheppard was informed" that Hess "could not drive due to a lack of a license," although she returned the keys and vehicle to Hess later that morning "with the knowledge that [Hess] would drive the vehicle." Hess caused the collision on the bridge around 8:30 a.m. after spending the night with Sheppard at 51 Ocean Blvd., Apt. 5, which Gilroy said is close to where Hess was originally stopped for speeding..

Sheppard is also scheduled for arraignment on seven drug possession indictments in Rockingham Superior Court at 1 p.m. Thursday, according to court staff. She faces two counts of possession of cocaine and one count each of possession of heroin, oxycodone, diazepam, methylone and marijuana, according to court staff, who said the counts are in connection to Sheppard's June drug arrest.


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