More than three decades after the brutal killing of a young Massachusetts airport employee, the search for truth and accountability continues to resonate across the Greater Boston community. Thirty-four years after Susan "Su" Taraskiewicz was found murdered in the trunk of her automobile, her family, friends, and law enforcement personnel gathered once again to demand answers and urge witnesses to break their silence.
The memorial gathering took place on Saturday at Constitution Beach in East Boston, a poignant setting situated directly across the water from Logan International Airport. The location holds profound significance for Taraskiewicz's loved ones, as the airport was not only the facility where she worked as a ramp crew chief, but also the final place where she was seen alive before her life was violently cut short.
Approximately 100 people assembled along the waterfront to pay tribute to the slain 27-year-old Saugus resident and to reaffirm their collective dedication to resolving the long-unsolved homicide. As part of the memorial, attendees observed 34 seconds of silence, a solemn and deliberate gesture in which each passing second symbolized a full year that has elapsed since the murder took place.
Taraskiewicz was remembered by those in attendance not only as a victim of an unresolved tragedy, but as a dedicated professional who was actively building her career in aviation. In September 1992, she was serving as a ramp crew chief at Logan Airport, overseeing ground operations during her shifts and earning the respect and camaraderie of her fellow airport workers.
According to investigative records, the sequence of events leading to her death unfolded during what was supposed to be a routine work shift in September 1992. Taraskiewicz stepped away from her post at the airport with the intention of picking up sandwiches for her coworkers. However, she never returned to the airport terminal, prompting immediate concern among her colleagues and loved ones.
The search for the missing airline employee culminated in a grim discovery the following morning, on September 14, 1992. Taraskiewicz's body was discovered inside the trunk of her personal vehicle, which had been left outside an auto body repair shop in the neighboring community of Revere. A subsequent examination revealed that the 27-year-old had been severely beaten and stabbed.
For her surviving relatives, the passage of thirty-four years has done little to lessen the intense pain caused by her sudden and violent death. Her mother, Marlene Taraskiewicz, addressed the crowd gathered at the waterfront vigil, providing an emotional perspective on the enduring burden of enduring decades without answers or closure.
Speaking candidly about the ongoing emotional toll, Marlene Taraskiewicz explained how the passage of time affects her through the seasons. She shared that while she manages to get by during most of the year, the arrival of the anniversary week in September unfailingly brings a renewed wave of deep sorrow and difficulty.
During her address, the victim's mother directed a direct and unyielding message toward those who possess vital information about the circumstances surrounding her daughter's homicide. She issued a clear warning to anyone who has kept quiet over the past three decades, emphasizing that accountability remains inevitable.
"To the people who know what happened to Su, the people who have carried that truth for 34 years, I just have one thing to say: tick-tock," Marlene Taraskiewicz declared to the crowd. She underscored her family's persistent resolve to see the case resolved, reminding the public that while thirty-four years is far too long to wait, justice delayed is not justice denied.
Over the extensive course of the investigation, state and local detectives have pursued multiple investigative avenues and closely scrutinized several potential suspects in connection with the killing. Despite examining various leads and potential persons of interest across more than three decades, law enforcement officials have yet to secure an arrest or bring formal charges against any perpetrator.
Authorities emphasize that the homicide inquiry remains open and active, with investigators continuously reviewing case files and following up on newly submitted information. The visible presence of law enforcement personnel alongside friends and family members at the East Boston vigil underscored the ongoing commitment of investigators to keep the case at the forefront of public attention.
To aid in the ongoing effort to secure critical leads, Delta Air Lines continues to offer a substantial financial incentive. The company maintains an active reward of $250,000 for any information provided to authorities that leads directly to the arrest and successful conviction of the person or persons responsible for Taraskiewicz's murder.
Investigators and family members remain hopeful that the significant quarter-million-dollar reward, combined with the shifting relationships and perspectives that develop over thirty-four years, will encourage someone with crucial knowledge to finally speak out. Officials believe that even a minor detail previously withheld could provide the critical breakthrough needed to resolve the case.
Law enforcement agencies are renewing their public appeals for any tips that could help close the case and provide long-overdue justice for the Taraskiewicz family. Anyone who has information concerning the September 1992 murder of Susan Taraskiewicz is urged to contact the Massachusetts State Police or the Suffolk District Attorney's Office.
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