Nearly a year after a 17-year-old vanished beneath the surface of Lake Winnipesaukee, a Nashua woman is now facing felony charges tied to his death. Prosecutors say the case centers on allegations that the teen was given alcohol before going into the water in the lake’s Broads, where he later drowned. She has pleaded not guilty, was released without bail, and is scheduled to return to Belknap County Superior Court on June 26.
As first reported by NBC Boston, a grand jury indicted Buffy Ann Doyle of Nashua on charges of felony negligent homicide, witness tampering and falsifying evidence. Investigators told the station they uncovered evidence Doyle had negligently provided alcohol to the teen before he went into the lake; according to the outlet, she waived her arraignment and entered not-guilty pleas. The filing marks the first criminal indictment stemming from the June 20, 2025 drowning.
How the Search on the Broads Unfolded
According to state police, Marine Patrol received a 911 call that afternoon reporting that a person had gone into the water in the area known as the Broads, near Diamond and Rattlesnake islands, and had not resurfaced. An initial search by Marine Patrol and the Gilford and Alton fire departments failed to locate the teen, and the New Hampshire Fish and Game dive team later recovered his body around 7 p.m., according to a State Police news release republished by InDepthNH. Officers at the scene found a boat with three women on board who told investigators the teen had jumped in to retrieve a bag that had fallen overboard and then struggled in the choppy conditions.
Local coverage later identified the 17-year-old as a recent graduate of Nashua High School North, with classmates and school officials describing deep shock and grief in the immediate aftermath, according to the Nashua Telegraph. The outlet reports the school principal informed families of the loss and that friends organized a fundraiser for the teen’s family. State Police initially withheld his name while relatives were notified.
What the Charges Signal for the Case
The indictment alleges Doyle caused the teen’s death by negligently providing him alcohol and allowing him to enter the water while impaired, and that she took steps afterward that prosecutors say amounted to witness tampering and falsifying evidence. Under New Hampshire law, negligent homicide is classified as a felony, and state sentencing rules lay out potential ranges and enhanced penalties in certain situations; those guidelines are detailed in the state code under the New Hampshire statutes. Prosecutors will still have to prove every element of each charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt if the case goes to trial.
Doyle has waived formal arraignment in Belknap County Superior Court and is due back on June 26 for further proceedings. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the outing to contact Marine Patrol, noting that conditions on the Broads can become hazardous in high winds, a factor officials say complicated recovery efforts. The New Hampshire Fish and Game dive team used side-scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle equipment as daylight was fading, according to reporting by WMUR.
