For Immediate Release
Contact: Julia Keane 508-368-7226 or 774-530-1207
WORCESTER — Today, 40-year-old Matthew J. Vanier, of Gardner, was sentenced to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder and robbery of 56-year-old Randy S. Vaillancourt, of Gardner, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.
On November 13, 2025, a Worcester County Superior Court jury found Mr. Vanier guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery. In addition to the life sentence for murder, he was sentenced to 20-25 years in state prison on the armed robbery conviction, to run concurrently with the murder sentence.
On December 9, 2017, Gardner Police found Mr. Vaillancourt’s body inside his home on Nicholas Street after conducting a well-being check at the address. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide and determined the cause of death to be blunt-force trauma. Investigators also determined that some of Mr. Vaillancourt’s personal property was missing from the scene.
“Our hope is that the family and loved ones of Mr. Vaillancourt can find some closure in this outcome,” said Mr. Early. “Everyone who worked on this case, including the Gardner Police Department, Mass. State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorneys Lina Pashou, David Feraco, and Jesse-Paul Crane, and Victim Witness Advocates Maria Deyette and Kayley Jones, all did an exceptional job.”
Gardner Police Chief Eric McAvene said, “I want to thank the Gardner Police Detectives, Massachusetts State Police Detectives, and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office for their good work to bring this case to a resolution.”