Victor Rivera, a 49-year-old from Nashua, New Hampshire, has been handed a hefty sentence for the second-degree murders of Patricia Swett and Matthew Champagne. In an event that shook the downtown Nashua community, Rivera was found guilty of the 2023 shootings following a trial that concluded this January.
The verdict, stemming from a jury trial on January 14, set Rivera's fate with consecutive 40-year to life sentences, adding up to a minimum of 80 years behind bars. The sentence was decided after relatives and friends of the victims delivered impactful statements in court, detailing the immeasurable loss caused by the twin killings. This information was relayed in a brief by New Hampshire's Attorney General, John M. Formella, and Nashua Police Chief, Kevin Rourke, in a statement obtained by the Department of Justice of New Hampshire.
Assistants Attorneys General Adam L. Woods and Rachel C. Harrington prosecuted the case, with Amy Cerullo supporting as a Victim Witness Specialist.
