A Maine man who admitted to gunning down a Westbrook couple as their children watched from the backseat has been sentenced to life in prison, with an additional 50 years for attempting to kill one of the children.
Marcel LaGrange, 26, appeared virtually Thursday for his sentencing at the Cumberland County Courthouse. He pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Brittney Cockrell, 36, and Michael Hayter, 41, in June 2023 while the couple sat in a vehicle with their 7- and 11-year-old children.
Investigators said LaGrange had no connection to the victims.
“They did not provoke or initiate this violence into their lives,” Assistant Attorney General Jen Ackerman said during the hearing.
LaGrange faced two counts of murder and additional charges including aggravated attempted murder, aggravated assault, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.
He reversed an earlier plea of not guilty by reason of insanity in September, with his legal team saying they believed the state could prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
