WORCESTER — On Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, a Worcester County grand jury indicted a Charlton woman on manslaughter and operating under the influence charges in connection with a September 2024 crash in Charlton that resulted in the death of a Worcester woman and seriously injured others.
According to a statement from Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.’s Office, Aphrodite Papoutsides, 28, of Charlton, was indicted on the following charges:
- Involuntary manslaughter
- Manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle while under the influence
- Motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation
- Motor vehicle homicide while under the influence
- Motor vehicle homicide
- Operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury (three counts)
- Operating under the influence
- Reckless operation of a motor vehicle
According to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, on Sept. 21, 2024, a Mercedes driven by Papoutsides struck a Honda on Southbridge Road (Route 169) in the area of
Carpenter Hill Road in Charlton.
As a result of the crash, the Honda’s driver, 51-year-old Leah S. Forrester, was killed, and three of her passengers were seriously injured.
“Ms. Papoutsides was initially arraigned on charges of motor vehicle homicide by reckless
operation, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and a marked lanes violation on September 23,
2024, in Dudley District Court,” the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office said in its statement.
The indictment transfers the case to Worcester Superior Court, where Papoutsides is expected to be arraigned at a later date.
