Shivangi Sinha
In January 2001, a package was delivered to the home of Sandra Berfield. Accustomed to receiving mail, she took it to her room, where it suddenly exploded, killing her instantly. The homeowner rushed in after hearing the blast and immediately contacted the police. A crime of this nature was almost unheard of in the area, but when investigators examined Sandra’s background, they quickly identified a likely suspect, and evidence soon began to surface. ID’s ‘The Killer Beside Me: Deadly Delivery’ recounts the case, detailing the events, the investigation, and how justice was ultimately served.
Sandra Berfield Received a Fatal Pipe Bomb in Her Mail
Sandra “Sandy” Berfield was born on March 15, 1967, to Shirley and Charles Berfield and grew up in Massachusetts in a large, lively household with nine sisters and five brothers. Among them, she shared an especially close bond with her sisters Pamela and Cheryl. In January 1984, Sandy welcomed her daughter, Diane M. Fox Berfield. Though she was young, she fully embraced motherhood and devoted herself to raising Diane in Groton, Massachusetts. The greatest tragedy of her life came on July 24, 1995, when Diane passed away. It was a loss that devastated Sandy deeply, yet she continued pushing forward with her life.
Sandra eventually began working as a server at Bickford’s restaurant in Medford, Massachusetts, where she became a familiar face in the community. She was well-liked, known for her kindness toward customers, and lived a quiet, ordinary life. On January 20, 2000, she received a piece of mail with her sister’s return address. Seeing nothing unusual, she brought it to her room, but moments later, an explosion tore through the space. The homeowner rushed in after hearing the blast and found Sandra unconscious. Police arrived quickly and determined that she had died from catastrophic injuries caused by the explosion.
Sandra Berfield’s Killer Had Been Accused By Her in a Different Case
The police began by speaking with Sandra’s family to understand whether she had conflicts with anyone or if they had any suspicions. Her relatives immediately mentioned a man named Steven Caruso, whom they alleged had been stalking her. Steven first started visiting the restaurant around 1996 and quickly began insisting on being seated only in Sandra’s section. Although they initially made light conversation, things shifted in August 1998 when he asked her out and she declined. Despite this, he continued frequenting the restaurant and would stare at her constantly. Sandra had even reportedly asked her manager to adjust his seating because his presence made her uncomfortable.
On September 27, 1998, Sandra discovered that her car tires had been slashed, which left her extremely worried. When the same thing happened on September 30, she allegedly saw the person walking away from her car and recognized him as Steven. On October 4, 1998, her car suddenly stopped while she was driving, and a mechanic later confirmed that someone had poured battery acid into the gas tank. She checked her surveillance footage afterward and again saw Steven. The final incident occurred on October 25, 1998, when she caught him in the act of pouring acid into her gas tank and immediately called 911. She filed charges, and Steven was convicted on two counts of vandalizing private property related to the battery-acid incidents.
Steven was sentenced to concurrent terms of eighteen months in the house of correction and was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution, as well as undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Sandra also obtained a civil restraining order against him. According to the testimony of another inmate who was with him, he spoke about getting his revenge. After the blast, police executed a search warrant at his home since he was their primary suspect. Inside, they found bomb-making equipment, personal information belonging to Sandra and her family, and a destroyed bomb-making manual in his trash. Steven also gave conflicting accounts of his whereabouts that night. He was taken into custody, though he continued to insist he was innocent.
Steven Caruso is Behind Bars in Massachusetts Today
Steven Caruso’s trial began in August 2003, during which he maintained his stance that he was not responsible for the bombing. However, the evidence against him was overwhelming. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Caruso appealed his conviction in 2007 and again in 2016, but his sentence remained in place both times. He continues to serve his life term in a Massachusetts prison, and no additional details about his current incarceration have been publicly released.
Read More: Tim Bowman Murder: Where Are Naomi and Judith Kinney Now?
