Frances Hawkes never got her one precious wish – to see her daughter grow into young adulthood.
Hawkes died not knowing who murdered her daughter, a mystery that blocked unlocking a mother’s greatest gift of joy.
Alice Hawkes was found dead in her Westbrook apartment in 1987 of multiple stab wounds.
Not until 39 years later were police able to solve the killing, arresting Alice’s partner Stephen Bouchard, 63, last week.
Alice Hawkes was the youngest of five children, her oldest sibling 19 years her senior.
By the time she was born her mother was already in her mid-40s, something Alice was self-conscious about as a young child.
“I distinctly remember one night when I was 15, sharing a cup of tea with my mother, I half-jokingly relayed those feelings to her,” Alice later wrote. “She was shocked. She looked me in the eyes and said, ‘if there is one thing that I am most grateful for, it is that God allowed me to bring five beautiful children into this world. If He let me be your mother when I was 44, it can only mean that He plans on letting me live ‘til I’m 80, because I’ll be damned if I’m going to die before I watch you grow into a wonderful, responsible adult.’”
Sadly her mother was robbed of that dream.
Alice’s family issued a statement Monday after the arrest of Bouchard, who has pleaded not guilty.
“After many years of unanswered questions, the arrest of Stephen Bouchard brings renewed hope that justice for Alice will finally be achieved,” the statement reads. “We also want to thank our family, friends and members of the media who helped keep Alice’s name and her case in the public spotlight over the years. Your support, prayers and determination have meant more to us than words can express.”
The entire story of Alice and her mother, by MurderSheTold.com, can be read here.
It’s a terribly sad tale but worth reading in honor of a mother who had a surprise at age 44 – a girl she named Alice.
A way to protest the commercialism of Mother’s Day is to read about Frances Hawkes and her special daughter.
