Life sentence for man found guilty of 1988 South Boston murder

BOSTON, July 23, 2024 – A judge today sentenced CARL RICHARD VEGA, 61, to life in prison without possibility of parole for the 1988 murder of Judy Chamberlain, 21, in South Boston.

Vega, aka RICARDO MAZZARINO, was found guilty of first-degree murder on June 20—36 years to the day that Chamberlain was found strangled in the basement of the Fargo Building at 451 D Street. A maintenance worker discovered her body in a well next to a large sump pump.

Chamberlain’s brother, John Olson, sister, Jill Burr, and friend, Tina Cattaneo, delivered victim impact statements in front of Judge Josh Wall prior to sentencing.

“Anyone in the courtroom today could feel the anguish and desolation expressed by Judy’s loved ones after so many years of questions without answers.  Today they finally had the opportunity to see someone held accountable for the loss of the person they so clearly love and so clearly miss,” Hayden said.

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications