Massachusetts Man Convicted of Stabbing Ex-Girlfriend 217 Times

Bruce Maiben, 48, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was convicted of first-degree murder on November 3, 2025, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the killing of Sherell Pringle, 40. Pringle was found stabbed 217 times and her body was discovered in the Rumney Marsh Reservation in Saugus, Massachusetts, two days after she disappeared on December 19, 2021. Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said the sentence ensures Maiben will be held accountable for his “senseless and atrocious conduct.”

The Crime

Court records show Pringle had texted a friend shortly before the attack stating she was “done with” Maiben, signaling her intent to end the relationship. The killing followed a prior incident in which Maiben allegedly broke into Pringle’s home and threatened her with a knife - a documented escalation that preceded her death. Her body bore 217 stab wounds, a level of violence so severe that her family chose a closed-casket funeral.

Maiben was arrested on December 23, 2021, four days after Pringle vanished. He was initially charged with larceny, tampering with evidence, and obstruction before a murder charge was added. The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, Lynn Police Department, Woburn Police Department, and Boston Police Department.

Conviction and Sentencing

The jury returned a guilty verdict on November 3, 2025, following a trial that spanned nearly four years from arrest to conviction. At sentencing, Pringle’s mother addressed Maiben directly, condemning his actions and expressing the family’s grief. Pringle was remembered by loved ones as a vibrant, ambitious mother of one who had recently secured approval on a home purchase before her death. She was described as a natural leader with a passion for travel, shopping, and photography.

References: Man Stabbed Ex-Girlfriend 217 Times After She Said She Was ‘Done’ with Him | Man stabs girlfriend 217 times after she was ‘done’ with him | Lynn Man Receives Life Sentence for First-Degree Murder of Sherell Pringle