Newport woman to plead guilty in body dumping case

NEWPORT — A 50-year-old woman who was one of five people involved in dumping the body of a man in the woods who died of a suspected drug overdose has filed notice with the court that she intends to plead guilty to charges related to the crime.

Laurel Ayotte, who is currently held in Cheshire County House of Corrections, filed notice in Sullivan Superior Court on Thursday that she intends to plead guilty to charges of falsifying physical evidence and abuse of a corpse, according to court documents.

The prosecutor and defense attorney are finalizing the terms of a “capped plea” — a negotiated sentence in which the maximum prison sentence is less than the maximum time allowed by law — and will notify the court of the terms when completed, the notice said.

Ayotte is the fifth and final person to plead guilty for involvement in disposing in the woods the body of a 40-year-old Newport man, who is suspected to have died from a drug overdose at the Ayottes’ residence on Paradise Road in Newport last March. 

Other people charged in the crime and who have pleaded guilty include Ayotte’s 29-year-old and 19-year-old sons, in addition to two non-family members.

Ayotte’s next court date is a plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for Oct. 25.