More than three decades after the brutal and unresolved killing of Susan "Su" Taraskiewicz, relatives, community members, and law enforcement investigators have once again united to demand accountability and urge anyone with crucial information to finally step forward. The passage of thirty-four years has not diminished the resolve of those seeking closure for the Saugus native, whose 1992 homicide remains one of the region's most enduring and deeply felt unsolved mysteries.
On Saturday, an emotional memorial vigil took place along the shores of Constitution Beach in East Boston, a poignant setting positioned directly across the water from Logan Airport, where Taraskiewicz worked before her life was violently cut short. Approximately 100 people gathered at the waterfront location to show support, including grieving family members, longtime personal friends, and active investigators dedicated to solving the long-standing case.
To honor her memory and visibly emphasize the prolonged wait for answers, attendees at the vigil observed thirty-four seconds of complete silence. Each second served as a solemn reminder of every year that has slipped by since September 1992 without a single suspect being brought to justice, highlighting both the lasting pain felt by her loved ones and the unwavering focus of an ongoing criminal inquiry.
For the victim's mother, Marlene Taraskiewicz, the annual arrival of the anniversary brings an overwhelming emotional toll. Speaking to the assembled gathering, she candidly shared the persistent heartbreak that resurfaces every September, explaining that while she manages to cope during most of the year, the specific week marking the anniversary of her daughter's death remains an agonizing period of grief.
Standing within sight of the airport where her daughter once worked, Marlene Taraskiewicz delivered a direct and uncompromising message aimed squarely at the individuals who know the truth behind the crime but have kept quiet for more than a generation. Addressing those who have harbored that secret for thirty-four years, she issued a blunt warning: "tick-tock." She stressed that while more than three decades is an extraordinary amount of time to wait, justice delayed is not justice denied.
The case originated in September 1992, when Taraskiewicz was a vibrant 27-year-old woman living in Saugus and working as a ramp crew chief at Logan Airport. Those who knew her recall her hard work and leadership on the tarmac, managing airport operations and working closely with her fellow airline crew members.
The tragic sequence of events began during one of her regular shifts when Taraskiewicz stepped away from her post at the airport to run what should have been a brief and routine errand. According to investigators, she left the facility with the intention of picking up sandwiches for her coworkers on the ramp crew, but she never returned to complete her shift or deliver the food.
The search for the missing 27-year-old came to a grim conclusion the following morning, on September 14, 1992. Authorities located Taraskiewicz's car left outside an auto body repair business in the neighboring city of Revere. Upon inspecting the vehicle, investigators made the horrifying discovery of her body inside the trunk, where she had been brutally beaten and stabbed to death.
In the decades that followed that discovery, law enforcement agencies have pursued a wide variety of investigative leads across Massachusetts and beyond. Detectives have closely examined multiple potential suspects and scrutinized numerous theories surrounding the circumstances of her disappearance, yet none of the leads have resulted in criminal indictments or formal arrests.
Despite the immense hurdles that naturally arise as decades pass and cases grow cold, law enforcement authorities emphasize that the Taraskiewicz case has remained open and active. Detectives continue to review case files, re-evaluate witness statements, and seek out new angles that could potentially dismantle the wall of silence surrounding the Revere crime scene.
To help incentivize individuals with knowledge of the murder to break their silence, Delta Air Lines continues to offer a substantial financial reward. The airline maintains an active $250,000 reward for any credible information that directly leads to the arrest and successful conviction of the perpetrator or perpetrators responsible for Taraskiewicz's death.
Investigators and advocates hope that the combination of the significant monetary reward and the passage of time will encourage someone to finally unburden their conscience. Cold case specialists often note that personal relationships and allegiances shift dramatically over three decades, meaning individuals who were previously intimidated or reluctant to speak in 1992 may now feel secure enough to disclose what they know.
As the Taraskiewicz family continues their thirty-four-year quest for truth and closure, authorities are once again appealing to the public for help. Anyone who may possess information regarding the death of Susan Taraskiewicz is strongly encouraged to reach out to the Massachusetts State Police or contact the Suffolk District Attorney's Office.
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