Murder Trial Comes to a Close with 40-Year Sentence
Biddeford, ME – Almost three years to the day after the brutal murder of Rhonda Pattelena in York, Maine, on March 26, 2021, Jeffrey Buchannan of Massachusetts was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Pattelena, age 35 at the time of her death, was beaten over the head repeatedly with a rock by
Buchannan, her long-term partner and father of their then two-year-old son, at Short Sands Beach in York.
The horrific murder was captured by Pattelena’s Snapchat video, surveillance footage from nearby buildings, as well as multiple eye-witness accounts from individuals near the beach.
For the three years following Pattelena’s death, Buchannan, now age 36, claimed numerous mental health ailments such as schizophrenia, paranoia, and delusions, yet no official diagnosis was ever made.
Wednesday’s trial marked the final chapter of this emotionally charged domestic violence case, with Superior Court Justice Richard Mulhern presiding over the court at the York Judicial Center in Biddeford to hear the final arguments of the State and Buchannan before delivering the ultimate sentence.
The court was filled with members of Pattelena’s family and friends, many wearing shirts in
support that read “Justice for Rhonda” as her mother, sister, and lifelong friends delivered statements, pleading with the court to give the maximum sentence that had been capped at 43 years.
Reliving the trauma of her sister’s death, Jessica Pattelena stated, “He pretended he wanted to marry my sister and took her to her favorite spot and waited until her back was turned to commit this heinous act.”
Lauri Pattelana, mother of the deceased, also addressed the court, “Her ability to live, breath, watch and raise her boys…were taken at the hands of a pure evil monster.”
Before Justice Mulhern recessed to survey the footage one last time, Buchannan spoke candidly to the court, saying, “I am ashamed, terrified, and disappointed in what I did…I can’t and won’t forgive myself” and asked the court to consider a 30-year sentence.
Justice Mulhern provided his summary and assessment of this cruel act and stated, “The
defendant executed her, and she never saw it coming,” before declaring the final 40-year sentence upon Buchannan.
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