CONCORD, NH – Seabrook Police Department Acting Chief Brett J. Walker has announced an arrest has been made in an ongoing suspicious death investigation. The plot thickens, as police reveal the scenario involves a 2017 restraining order, and what the Attorney General’s office describes as a reckless crime, after a couple and their dog were struck by a neighbor – whom they had a restraining order against since September of 2017.
RELATED: Seabrook woman charged with homicide in death of neighbor
At approximately 6:20 p.m., on Aug. 29, the Seabrook Police Department responded to a report of an accident involving pedestrians on Pine Street in Seabrook. Police investigation has revealed that Catrina Costello, 38, struck two pedestrians, Erin and Stephen VanDalinda, and their dog with her truck. resulting in the death of Stephen VanDalinda, 64. Erin VanDalinda, 61, suffered several serious injuries and remains hospitalized, and their dog was also injured. An autopsy will be conducted Thursday to determine the exact cause and manner of Mr. VanDalinda’s death.
Based on the investigation, which includes personnel from the NH Attorney General’s office, Costello has been arrested on several felony and misdemeanor charges. Those charges consist of:
- Two felony counts of second-degree assault (RSA 631:2, I(c)), charging Costello with recklessly causing bodily injury to another under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life, in that Costello struck two pedestrians, Erin and Stephen VanDalinda, with her vehicle, causing Stephen VanDalinda’s death, and causing numerous injuries to Erin VanDalinda.
- Two felony counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated with serious bodily injury, (RSA 265-A:3, I(b)) charging Costello with driving a motor vehicle on Pine Street while under the influence of an intoxicating liquor, and Costello did cause a motor vehicle collision, which resulted in serious bodily injury to Erin and Stephen VanDalinda.
- Two felony counts of conduct after an accident with serious bodily injury (RSA 264:25) charging Costello with knowingly driving a motor vehicle that had just been involved in an accident which resulted in serious bodily injury to another and failing to immediately stop at the scene of the accident and provide her name, address, driver’s license number, and registration information to the other party involved or to give such information to the nearest police officer or station, in that Costello struck Erin and Stephen VanDalinda with her motor vehicle, causing serious bodily injury to both individuals.
- Three misdemeanor counts of violation of a stalking order of protection (RSA 633:3-a, I(c)) charging Costello with violating a stalking final order of protection issued by the 10th Circuit-Seabrook District Court on September 28, 2017 and which is in effect until September 27, 2018, and which restrained Costello from any contact with Erin VanDalinda, prohibited Costello from stalking or abusing Erin VanDalinda’s household members or relatives, and prohibited Costello from coming within 50 feet of Erin VanDalinda’s household animals, and Costello violated that protective order in that she struck Erin and Stephen VanDalinda and the VanDalinda’s pet dog with her vehicle.
Costello is scheduled to be arraigned in the Rockingham County Superior Court on August 30, 2018, at 1 p.m.
The incident remains under investigation. Anyone who has information or may have witnessed this event is asked to contact Sergeant Marc Beaudoin of the New Hampshire State Police at 603-223-8678.
The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and Ms. Costello is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
