SEABROOK, N.H. — A woman accused of selling drugs to a teenage driver who plowed into a group of bicyclists over the weekend, killing two women from Massachusetts, was arraigned on Thursday.

Police arrested 48-year-old Cindy Sheppard, of Hampton, on Wednesday night. Sheppard is charged with supplying the painkiller fentanyl to 19-year-old Darriean Hess, of Seabrook, and allowing her to drive without a license.

Hess’ fiance, 19-year-old Scott Martin, also is facing a charge of letting her drive his car without a license.

Sheppard’s bail was continued at $10,000 at her arraignment Thursday in Seabrook. Her attorney, Neil Reardon, argued for a lower amount.

Hess, ordered held on $50,000 bail, was arraigned Wednesday via video from jail. She’s charged with negligent homicide.

Her attorney, Anthony Naro, said in court she’s “absolutely grief-stricken.”

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“I understand that there is a lot of media in the courtroom, but we need to look at the specific case we are dealing with and not the outside pressures,” Naro said. “This is a 19-year-old girl. This is beyond tragic for all parties involved.”

Hess was driving too fast and without a license when she ran into the bicyclists on an annual ride called the Century Ride in Hampton on Saturday, police said. Killed were Pamela Wells, 60, of South Hamilton, Mass., and Elise Bouchard, 52, of Danvers, Mass. Two other bicyclists were injured.

Hess had been stopped on the road eight hours before the crash and ticketed for driving without a license, police said. She was told someone needed to drive her home, and police say that person was Sheppard. They said Sheppard shouldn’t have given the car keys back to Hess.

There was no telephone listing for Martin, Hess’ fiance, and it was unknown if he had a lawyer. He’s been told to appear in court on Oct. 23.


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