Woman faces life in prison after indictment in Rochester man's fentanyl death

Staff reports 3:40 p.m.


Woman faces life in prison after indictment in Rochester man's fentanyl death

Nina Batista (Rochester Police photo)

DOVER - A Rochester woman faces life in prison after her indictment on charges she dispensed a drug resulting in death while out on bail.

Nina Batista, 22, of 40 Hancock St., is charged with acts prohibited-death resulting in the Sept. 15 incident that claimed the life of a young Rochester father.

The indictment, handed down on Thursday by a Strafford County grand jury, says, "she knowingly dispensed a Schedule I and/or Schedule II drug ... ingested by (the victim) resulting in his death."

Officials first learned of the man's death as responders were called around 1:10 p.m. on Sept. 15 to Osborne Street in Rochester for a report of an overdose there. Upon arriving at the residence they located a 23-year-old male who was deceased from what appeared to be drug use.
An autopsy was later performed by the state Medical Examiner's Office, and as a result of toxicology reports it was determined the individual died of acute fentanyl intoxication. His name was not released.
Batista, along with two other Rochester residents, was indicted in March on drug trafficking. She was also a suspect in a string of 2015 thefts in the city.

The victim leaves behind a young daughter.