Worcester Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2019 Murder of Jennifer Vazquez-Rivera

WORCESTER– A 42-year-old Worcester man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the 2019 murder of Jennifer Vazquez-Rivera. Thomas Bergstrom was sentenced on Monday to life behind bars with the possibility of parole after 25 years, following his guilty plea to second-degree murder.

Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. expressed hope that the sentence would bring some measure of justice to Vazquez-Rivera’s family, stating, “We know nothing can bring Jennifer back to her family, but we hope today’s plea brings some measure of justice to her family to help them move forward after this tragedy.”

The murder occurred on October 2, 2019, when Vazquez-Rivera, Bergstrom’s ex-girlfriend, was found fatally stabbed inside her apartment on Lapierre Street. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to the hospital.

Witness statements and cell phone evidence led investigators to Bergstrom. Just days after the murder, Bergstrom turned himself into police on October 4, following an intense manhunt. He has been in custody ever since.

The murder was described as a brutal crime, with a witness at the scene reporting hearing a scream before seeing a man matching Bergstrom’s description running away with a knife. Police later determined that Bergstrom had taken a cab to the apartment about half an hour before the stabbing.

In court, Worcester Superior Court Judge William Ritter upheld the state’s recommendation for 25 years of parole eligibility, despite a request for a 22-year parole hearing by the defense. Vazquez-Rivera’s family agreed with the plea, which spared her two minor children from having to testify at trial.

District Attorney Early commended the hard work of investigators, Assistant District Attorneys, and Victim Witness Advocates for their dedication to bringing justice to Vazquez-Rivera’s family.

Though the sentence cannot undo the devastating loss of Jennifer Vazquez-Rivera, it brings a sense of finality to a case that has left the community in shock.

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