GARDNER, MA—More than seven years after a Gardner man was found beaten to death in his home, the person responsible has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Matthew J. Vanier, 40, of Gardner, was sentenced Dec. 2 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of 56-year-old Randy S. Vaillancourt, also of Gardner, according to an announcement from Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
A Worcester County Superior Court jury convicted Vanier on Nov. 13 of first-degree murder and armed robbery. In addition to the life sentence for murder, Vanier received a concurrent sentence of 20 to 25 years in state prison on the armed robbery conviction.
Vaillancourt was found dead inside his Nicholas Street home on Dec. 9, 2017, after Gardner police conducted a well-being check at the address. The medical examiner later ruled his death a homicide caused by blunt-force trauma. Investigators also determined that personal property was missing from the home.
In a statement included in the announcement, Early said, “Our hope is that the family and loved ones of Mr. Vaillancourt can find some closure in this outcome.” He also praised the work of local and state investigators, prosecutors and victim witness advocates who worked on the case.
Gardner Police Chief Eric McAvene also commented in the announcement, thanking Gardner police detectives, Massachusetts State Police detectives, and the district attorney’s office for their work in bringing the case to a conclusion.
