Drug Dealer Charged with Murder for Cranston Woman's Fentanyl Death

A Providence drug dealer who sold a Cranston woman pure fentanyl before she died from an overdose has been charged with murder.

The Providence County Grand Jury on Monday reported out an indictment charging Aaron Andrade, 23, of 108 Providence St., Providence, with one count of murder, one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and one count of delivery of a controlled substance.

Andrade is accused of selling pure fentanyl to Kristen Coutu, 29 on Feb. 17 of last year. She was later found unresponsive in her car near Farmington Avenue and Hubbard Street in Cranston.

The cause of death was determined to be fentanyl intoxication.

Cranston Police Sgt. Kevin Antonucci, who is assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration Providence Resident Office Task Force, developed a lead that brought him to Andrade as a suspect.

Eighty-three of the 232 overdose deaths in Rhode Island last year were related to fentanyl, according to the state Department of Health.

Coutu was a graduate of Cranston High School West and studied business management at the Community College of Rhode Island.

Friends remember her as a loving daughter with a quick wit and sense of humor.

In her obituary, she is described as “having a heart of gold” and ”a feisty and very determined girl.”

Andrade is due to be arraigned in Superior Court on Feb. 16.