Woman Charged in Death of Family Member at Byfield, MA, Greenhouse

A Marblehead woman was charged in the death of a woman she hit when her car went through the wall of the Byfield Greenhouse.

Susan Olivia Sforza Nico, 47, of Seabrook was working the register at the garden center owned by her family when an SUV driven by Janet Bach, 70, accelerated, went through the wall, and into the checkout area where Susan was working.

Bach was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of motor vehicle homicide in Newburyport District Court. She was released with a bail warning and ordered not to drive during the pendency of the case. Her next court date is 9/13/22.

The Sforza and Nico families said on the greenhouse Facebook page that the charge fits what was taken from them by a "careless, reckless driver."

"Susan went to work on Saturday, May 21, 2022 and never came home to her husband, children, 2 dogs and the life she LOVED. Nothing will ease our pain. Nothing will give her back to us. Justice for Susan is what we want," they wrote.

The families also shared a letter from the New Hampshire SPCA in Stratham, letting the family know about donations made in Susan's memory.

"Susan was a strong advocate of rescuing dogs, transporting dogs from other states who were being adopted, fostering dogs and also collecting supplies. This truly was her passion," the families wrote.

According to her obituary, Susan married husband Diego Nico eight months ago, and became mother to his two children. Susan grew up in Byfield and moved to Seabrook after she was married.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH