Foreclosures are always tricky and tend to have state-specific quirks. I am not an expert in Massachusetts and my brief reading finds quirks that makes your post more puzzling.

 You mention a Sheriff's Deed, but also mention a three year period. Those would appear to be two of the many ways to foreclose, so the question becomes "what was really done?". Was this a judicial foreclosure? A non-judicial foreclosure under a power of sale? Was this a foreclosure by entry? Without examining the documents, it is impossible to know exactly what was being done in this case. It is not possible to know if the recorded deed is flawed or if it can be corrected.

As for bankruptcy, the case would have to be examined to see if the property was part of the proceedings. The bankruptcy trustee would have to file a request during the proceedings to address whether the redemption should be extended/foreclosure stayed or if the property was being abandoned. 

For your reading pleasure, I did find Stewart Title's underwriting guidelines (2014) for reviewing foreclosures in Massachusetts.

 https://www.stewart.com/content/dam/stewart/Microsites/massachusetts/pdfs/foreclosure%20reviews%20april%202014.pdf