When was the last murder in Gardner? Here's what to know about the city's homicides

The death of Breanne Pennington in Gardner over the weekend marks the city’s first homicide in over three years.

Pennington, 30, was found dead inside her Cherry Street home shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday, and her husband, Aaron Pennington, was still being sought Wednesday morning by law enforcement officials in connection with the case.

The most recent homicide was also between a couple, according to the victim's family. Here is a look at the three most recent homicides in Gardner, plus two unsolved cases from the 1970s and 1980s.

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2020: Murder-suicide at Wakefield Place

In August 2020, two Gardner residents, Migdalia Perez and Jose Muniz Badillo, were found dead outside a third-floor apartment at Wakefield Place in what police said was a murder-suicide. Officials said Badillo, who lived on Prospect Street, killed Perez and then killed himself in the hallway of the Central Street apartment, where Perez had been staying at the time.

Witnesses reported hearing an argument between the two before the shooting. Perez had requested and was denied a restraining order against Badillo two days before her death, according to a 2020 article by Boston25.

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2017: Death of Randy Vaillancourt on Nicholas Street

In December 2017, the death of Randy Vaillancourt, 56, was ruled a homicide after his body was discovered by police while they were conducting a well-being check at his apartment on Nicholas Street.

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An autopsy found that Vaillancourt died from blunt-force trauma. Matthew Vanier, 33, of Gardner was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the slaying.

This case is still ongoing. Vanier's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 23.

From the archives:Gardner man was murdered

2016: Death of Christopher Starkweather on Waterford Street

In January 2016, 23-year-old Christopher Starkweather was stabbed to death on Waterford Street in a drug-related incident.

Francis O. Arbolay of 198 Pine St. was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to five to eight years in state prison in 2018. According to court records, Starkweather attempted to rob Arbolay of crack cocaine he was selling by passing off a $5 bill as a $100 bill during a pre-arranged drug transaction.

1983: Kathleen Daneault murdered by serial killer

On Nov. 18, 1983, the body of 25-year-old Kathleen Daneault of Gardner was discovered on a dirt path near the former Mahaki Restaurant. Officials said Daneault, a single parent of a 6-year-old boy, had been strangled to death.

Three decades later, law enforcement officials said that DNA evidence identified Edward M. Mayrand Jr. as the killer. Mayrand, a convicted murderer who died in prison in 2011, was also named as the killer of a New Hampshire woman, Judith Whitney, who was found strangled to death in 1987.

According to officials, Mayrand’s DNA was found on the ligature that was used to strangle Daneault.

1973: Unsolved murder of Mark Twohey

In February 1973, the body of 19-year-old Mark Twohey was found off Raymond Street in Gardner. Twohey had been stabbed to death and had been missing for about two weeks after he disappeared after attending a dance at the Polish American Citizens Club, which is on the other side of the city.

His homicide remains unsolved.

1965: Unsolved murder of Patricia M. Joyce

Patricia M. Joyce of Gardner was reported missing on July 5, 1965, by her mother, according to Worcester County DA's Office list of unsolved cases. Joyce’s employer had called looking for her because she was late to work.

Later that day, police "received a phone call stating that the body of a female had been found in a wooded area off a foot path which goes between Park Street and the Heywood Street Extension in Gardner." The body was later identified as Joyce's.

Her case remains unsolved.

2023: Attempted murder charge

Last month, police charged a Gardner man with attempted murder after a shooting inside a local liquor store. Officials said James Wilson allegedly opened fire just inside the doorway of Gardner Spirits on East Broadway at around 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. Police, firefighters and medical workers used life-saving measures to save an adult male who was shot, according to police.