Boyfriend sentenced to prison for murder of missing Massachusetts woman

SALEM, Mass. – In Essex County Superior Court today, the Hon. Thomas Drechsler sentenced 48-year-old Bruce Maiben, of Lynn, to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker announced in a release. On Monday afternoon, a jury found Maiben guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Sherell Pringle of Woburn.

Pringle went missing in the early morning hours of December 19, 2021, and her family immediately expressed concern. Investigators said Pringle was killed that morning and her body was located off of Route 107 in Saugus two days later. Maiben was arrested and arraigned in Lynn District Court on December 23, 2021, before grand jury indictment moved the case to Superior Court.

According to family, Sherell told her mother that she was going on a date the night of her disappearance with 48-year-old Bruce Maiben of Lynn. He told the family he dropped her off at home in Woburn between the hours of 3:00 a.m.-3:30 a.m., but family believed that was not accurate.

The investigation into the murder involved the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to Tucker’s office, including Sgt. Thomas Sullivan and Tpr. Stephen Hernandez; the Lynn Police Department, including Captain Christopher Kelly and Detective Timothy Ferrari; the Woburn Police Department, including Detective Jeffrey Carreau; and the Boston Police Department.

Prosecutor Kate MacDougall represented the Commonwealth, along with Assistant District Attorney Lindsay Nasson and Victim/Witness Advocate Rocky Yaniv. Maiben was represented by attorney John Morris.

“This verdict and subsequent sentence will ensure that the defendant will be held accountable for his senseless and atrocious conduct,” Tucker said. “Our hope is that the family and friends of Sherell Pringle can find some comfort in this outcome.”