More than three decades after the brutal killing of Susan "Su" Taraskiewicz, loved ones, community members, and law enforcement authorities gathered near the site of her former workplace to reaffirm their commitment to uncovering the truth. The 27-year-old Saugus resident was killed in September 1992, sparking an enduring quest for answers that has now spanned thirty-four years without an arrest.
Over the weekend, approximately 100 people convened at Constitution Beach in East Boston to participate in a solemn memorial vigil. The location carried deep symbolic meaning for those in attendance, as it sits directly across the water from Boston's Logan Airport, where Taraskiewicz had spent her working days prior to her untimely death.
Those gathered at the coastal park marked the somber milestone by observing 34 seconds of total silence. The momentary pause was designated to represent each individual year that has passed since Taraskiewicz was taken from her family, highlighting the immense duration of time her loved ones have waited for accountability in the justice system.
The harrowing circumstances surrounding the unsolved homicide date back to early autumn in 1992. At the time of her death, Taraskiewicz was employed as a ramp crew chief at Logan Airport, carrying out demanding responsibilities on the airfield tarmac during her regular shifts.
According to investigative findings, Taraskiewicz temporarily stepped away from her duties at the airport during a shift with the routine intention of purchasing sandwiches for her coworkers. It was a familiar, everyday errand from which she would never return, immediately triggering alarm among her colleagues and family members when she vanished.
The following morning, on September 14, 1992, law enforcement made a devastating discovery in the neighboring community of Revere. Taraskiewicz’s body was found abandoned inside the trunk of her own vehicle, which had been parked outside a local auto body repair facility. Investigators determined that she had been brutally beaten and stabbed to death before being left at the scene.
For Taraskiewicz's surviving relatives, the passage of more than three decades has not lessened the profound heartbreak caused by the unresolved tragedy. Her mother, Marlene Taraskiewicz, spoke candidly at the gathering regarding the intense emotional weight that returns each time the calendar approaches the date of the crime.
Marlene shared that while she manages to get by during the course of the regular year, the specific week marking the anniversary of Susan's murder remains exceedingly painful to endure. Her remarks underscored the enduring psychological toll experienced by families who are forced to navigate life without resolution following the violent death of a loved one.
The memorial gathering also featured poignant statements from Dianne Braley, a longtime family friend who is currently writing a book chronicling Susan's life and the ongoing pursuit of justice. Braley utilized the podium to direct an uncompromising message toward any individuals who possess hidden knowledge about the events surrounding the 1992 homicide.
Addressing those who have kept critical information secret for more than three decades, Braley issued a stern warning that the window of secrecy is closing. She addressed the responsible parties directly with the phrase "tick-tock," emphasizing that while thirty-four years represents an unacceptable delay, justice delayed will not ultimately mean justice is denied.
Throughout the lengthy history of the investigation, detectives have pursued numerous potential leads and scrutinized several persons of interest in connection with the crime. Despite decades of sustained investigative effort by multiple generations of law enforcement officers, formal charges have never been filed and no arrests have been secured.
State and local authorities have reaffirmed, however, that the homicide case remains open and actively investigated. Detectives continue to review the circumstances of the case in hopes that modern investigative methods or fresh information could finally yield the breakthrough needed to hold the perpetrator accountable.
A major element supporting the ongoing investigative effort is a substantial financial incentive. Delta Air Lines continues to offer a $250,000 reward for any credible information that leads law enforcement to the arrest and subsequent conviction of the person or persons responsible for Taraskiewicz's murder.
Organizers and attendees of the weekend vigil stressed that sustaining public awareness is vital to solving cold cases of this magnitude. Advocates remain hopeful that changing personal relationships, evolving circumstances, or a burdened conscience might eventually motivate someone possessing key details to come forward after decades of remaining silent.
Law enforcement agencies are once again appealing to the public for assistance in resolving the decades-old homicide. Anyone with any information related to the death of Susan Taraskiewicz is urged to contact the Massachusetts State Police at 617-727-8817 or reach out directly to the Suffolk District Attorney's Office.
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