LYNN, MA – A Massachusetts man has been ordered to spend the rest of his life behind bars for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, whose body was later discovered in a marsh north of Boston.
Bruce Maiben, 48, received a life sentence without parole this week after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder in the death of Sherell Pringle, 40. The decision was handed down in Essex County Superior Court following more than two years of investigation and legal proceedings.
Pringle vanished on the night of December 19, 2021, after spending the evening with Maiben. When her family was unable to contact her the next day, concern quickly escalated. Relatives initiated their own search, tracking her phone to a remote section of marshland off Route 107 in Saugus, roughly 11 miles from Boston. It was there, two days later, that they made the devastating discovery.
According to court documents, Pringle had been stabbed more than 200 times, a level of violence that left her family reeling. Her mother, Pearl Garner, said the injuries were so severe that a closed-casket service was required. Investigators described the attack as exceptionally brutal.
Family members, frustrated by the pace of the initial police response, said they immediately pointed to Maiben as a person of interest, urging authorities to locate him. Maiben lived in Lynn, not far from where Pringle’s body was found. He was arrested four days after the killing and initially faced a series of lesser charges, including larceny and tampering with evidence. The murder charge was added shortly thereafter, and the case proceeded to trial.
Evidence presented in court suggested a turbulent relationship. Prosecutors argued that Pringle had been planning to end things with Maiben after a series of confrontations, including one incident in which he reportedly broke into her home and threatened her with a knife. Text messages submitted as evidence showed Pringle telling a friend she “was done” with Maiben shortly before she disappeared.
Throughout the six-day trial, Pringle’s family and friends packed the courtroom, determined to see justice served. The proceedings were emotional, with statements from loved ones underscoring the immense loss. Pringle’s son, Jahmani Larionne, expressed frustration that warnings about Maiben went unheeded in the crucial hours after his mother went missing.
After the guilty verdict was delivered, Pringle’s mother addressed Maiben directly in court, expressing her grief and outrage at the loss of her daughter. The family described Pringle as a driven, compassionate woman and a “natural-born leader” in her obituary, noting that she leaves behind her only child and a large extended family.
Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker acknowledged the pain inflicted on Pringle’s loved ones and praised the jury’s decision. He emphasized that the verdict ensures Maiben is held responsible for what prosecutors described as a senseless and vicious act.
The conviction brings the legal case to a close, but Pringle’s family says the wounds from her death will endure. They hope that the sentence brings some small measure of resolution as they remember a woman known for her ambition and warmth.