Gregory Marquez sentenced to 30 years for murdering Emily Rivera

Gregory “Greg” Marquez, 27, was sentenced Tuesday in Worcester, Massachusetts, to 30 years in state prison for stabbing his pregnant girlfriend, 22‑year‑old Emily Rivera, to death at his home on March 12 and then burying her in a five‑foot grave in his backyard. Marquez called police later that day to report Rivera missing, claiming she had simply left the house. The case drew national attention after Rivera’s sister received a text from her on the night of the murder that read, “If I die it was Greg.”

The murder unfolded amid a pattern of escalating abuse that friends and family say went unchecked for months. Rivera had told her sister she was pregnant and that she feared Marquez, but she had not filed a restraining order. Neighbors reported hearing arguments and occasional shouting, but no formal complaints were made. The crime highlights the broader problem of intimate‑partner violence, especially against pregnant women, which has risen sharply during the pandemic and remains under‑reported. Advocates say the case underscores the need for better resources and earlier intervention.

Prosecutors presented a damning trail of evidence. Police found Rivera’s body in a shallow pit beneath a garden shed, wrapped in a sheet. Autopsy reports confirmed multiple stab wounds and a fetal demise. Marquez’s phone records placed him at the scene, and his 911 call was recorded as he claimed Rivera had vanished. He pleaded guilty to first‑degree murder, second‑degree assault and abuse of a corpse. At sentencing, the presiding judge called the crime “a calculated act of cruelty” and ordered Marquez to pay restitution to Rivera’s family. Rivera’s sister, who received the fateful text, wept in court and urged lawmakers to strengthen protections for victims.

Marquez will be transferred to a maximum‑security facility next month, where he will serve the bulk of his term before eligibility for parole in 2048. The case has prompted local officials to review domestic‑violence response protocols and to expand outreach programs for pregnant victims. Advocacy groups plan a rally outside the courthouse to demand stricter enforcement of restraining orders and more funding for shelters. The sentencing closes a tragic chapter but leaves the community grappling with how to prevent similar murders in the future.