Heroin Dealer Charged in City Woman's Overdose Death

A city woman who police say sold $45 worth of heroin to another Portsmouth woman who died from an overdose in November was arrested Monday for causing the victim's death.

Portsmouth Deputy Police Chief Corey MacDonald said Jennifer Landry, 41, of last known address 309 Oriental Gardens in Portsmouth was charged with the sale of heroin to Svetlana Filippenko, 22, of Ocean Road in Portsmouth. 

Filippenko was found deceased on Nov. 21, 2012 and the state's chief medical examiner declared her cause of death to be, “Acute Heroin Intoxication,” according to MacDonald. The manner of death was ruled accidental. following Filippenko's death after Portsmouth Police issued an arrest warrant.

According to MacDonald, "Any person who manufactures, sells or dispenses methamphetamine, lysergic acid (LSD), PCP, or any other controlled drug classified in schedule I, II, or any controlled drug analog there of, in violation of RSA 318-B:2, is strictly liable for a death which results from the injection, inhalation or ingestion of that substance and may be sentenced to imprisonment for life or for such term as the court may order."

Police allege that Filippenko purchased approximately $45 worth of heroin from Landry on Nov. 20, 2012 in Portsmouth. Filippenko is believed to have ingested the drug in her residence and to have died from said ingestion. MacDonald said Landry will be arraigned today in Portsmouth Circuit Court. 

Anyone with information as to the circumstances surrounding this case should contact Detective Matthew Hester or Detective Scott Study at 603-436-2511. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Seacoast Crime Stoppers at 603-431-1199. You can also leave an anonymous tip by logging on to www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org or by sending an SMS text to CRIMES (274637) and including TIPSCS in your message. You could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 if your information leads to an arrest and indictment.