Nashua resident indicted for allegedly giving alcohol to teen who drowned last summer in Lake Winnipesaukee

A Nashua woman was indicted on four felony charges related to her alleged involvement in a teenager’s drowning death last June, when she allegedly provided him alcohol and allowed him to swim, knowing he was drunk.

Buffy A. Doyle, 50, was indicted on April 17, for negligent homicide, tampering with evidence, and two counts of witness tampering, all felonies.

According to State Police, Doyle was indicted by a Belknap County Grand Jury following an “extensive investigation” into the teen’s death, which occurred June 20.

At 12:48 p.m. on June 20, Marine Patrol received a 911 call about a person who had gone into the water in The Broads on Lake Winnipesaukee, near Diamond and Rattlesnake islands, and did not resurface. This is the deepest part of the lake, at between 100 and 200 feet.

Responding officers found a boat with three women aboard, who reported a 17-year-old boy went into the water to recover a bag that fell overboard. They said due to rough water from strong winds, the victim struggled to swim, submerged, and never resurfaced.

Marine Patrol, Gilford Police and Alton Fire conducted a search, which was unsuccessful. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Unit was called, and at 7:02 p.m., recovered the body of the teenager.

The initial investigation determined the teen drowned, and all aspects of the incident were under investigation. An autopsy was also scheduled.

Doyle is alleged to have caused the teenager’s death by providing the minor with alcohol, and allowing him to enter the lake knowing he was drunk. A Grand Jury found Doyle acted negligently.

She also allegedly attempted to have a witness withhold information, by screaming at the 911 caller to hang up the phone. According to court records, this was in response to believing a law enforcement investigation was imminent.

Doyle is alleged to have also told the caller to tell police she was sleeping, also knowing an investigation would take place.

Doyle allegedly dumped alcohol off the boat into the lake, to “impair said alcohol’s verity or availability in the investigation."

Police did not identify the victim, but a letter sent to parents of Nashua North High School students identified him as Ian Blake, as did a crowdfunding campaign and a posted obituary.

Blake graduated from Nashua North just a week before the drowning, and would have turned 18 in August.

A letter to parents from Nashua North Principal Nate Burns said a member of the class of 2025 had died in the accident. He was described by Burns in the letter as a “kind and thoughtful student” and said his presence will be missed by the school community, and all who knew him.

“Ian’s bright smile and genuine personality touched many lives, and his presence will be deeply missed by classmates, staff, and all who had the privilege of knowing him,” Burns wrote in the letter.

The school made counselors available to support members of the Nashua North school community following the drowning.

Blake was a three-sport athlete at Nashua North, playing football, baseball, and throwing discus in track and field, according to his obituary. Burns wrote in his letter to parents Blake was also one of the voices of the school announcements, and brought “energy and warmth to the day at North.”

The crowdfund, set up by a friend the day following Blake’s death in an effort to assist the family, has raised more than $26,000 to date.

The investigation was conducted by State Police Major Crime Unit, with the assistance of Marine Patrol, Fish and Game, Gilford Fire-Rescue, Alton Fire and Nashua Police.

Doyle waived her right to a formal reading of her charges, scheduled for May 19, in Belknap Superior Court, and entered a not guilty plea to all four charges. She was released on a promise to return to court.

A dispositional conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., on Friday, June 26, in Belknap Superior Court.