Murder victims Matthew Champagne of Manchester and his girlfriend Patricia Swett of Nashua. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – Victor Rivera, 49, of Nashua, was recently sentenced to 80 years in prison for the shooting deaths of his former girlfriend, Patricia Swett, and Swett’s boyfriend, Matthew Champagne.

He was also ordered to pay $25,400 in restitution which will be divided between the victims’ families and the state Victims’ Compensation Program.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., on Sept. 29, 2023, Nashua Police responded to the Maple Street parking lot after receiving reports of shots fired.

According to police, Swett, 45, of Nashua, and Champagne, 44, of Manchester, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Rivera was taken into custody on Sept. 30, 2023 for “knowingly causing the deaths of the two victims by shooting them, and alternatively, for recklessly causing the deaths of the two victims under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life.”

Victor Rivera, 49, of Nashua, was sentenced to 80 years in prison for the shooting deaths of Patricia Swett and Matthew Champagne. Courtesy photo/Nashua Police Department

During the five-day trial in January of this year, Rivera said he suspected that he and Champagne, his friend of seven years, were dating Swett at the same time. When he confronted them about it, they insisted that nothing romantic was going on and demanded that Rivera apologize for making false accusations.

Rivera said he reached his breaking point on the evening of Sept. 29, 2023 when he saw the couple at Slade’s Food and Spirits and followed them to the parking lot.

“That was it, I just blasted them,” he said. “I had no control over anything, it’s all blurs.”

On Jan. 14, Rivera was found guilty on two counts of second-degree murder.

Champagne’s son, Tyler, described Rivera as a “disgusting, selfish coward” during the March 10 sentencing.

“You knew how important his kids were to him and you still took his life,” said Tyler.

Champagne’s father, Donald, remembered learning of his son’s death on Sept. 30, 2023.

“I can’t put into words the pain and the anguish I’ve had since that day,” he said. “Some days the grief is overwhelming. Grown men cried when I told them about Matt.”

Donald also said Rivera expressed no remorse during the trial.

“That was pure disrespect — pure evil,” he said.

Swett’s niece, Kailey Hoey, said it is impossible for her family to ever be the same with the loss of her aunt.

“The grief is relentless,” she said. “The hole left by her loss will never be filled.”

Nicole Weldy, Swett’s friend, said she had nightmares for months stemming from the horrific events of that September night.

“They both loved you,” she said. “You’re the most selfish person I have ever met. You’re a sick, sad, horrible person and I hope that night haunts you more than it haunts me.”

In response, Rivera acknowledged that he had shattered the lives of two families.

“I want to apologize to Matt’s and Trish’s families for my horrendous actions on Sept. 29, 2023,” he said. “They were totally uncalled for.”

Judge Jacki Smith offered her thoughts prior to delivering Rivera’s sentence.

“Mr. Rivera’s acts require significant punishment; this is not a case in which there was a lot of planning,” she said. “Mr. Rivera certainly made choices that resulted in these murders.”