Executive Summary
- Marcel LaGrange was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years for the 2023 murders of Brittney Cockrell and Michael Hayter.
- The victims were shot in their vehicle in Westbrook, Maine, in front of their two children, aged 7 and 11.
- LaGrange pleaded guilty to all charges, including aggravated attempted murder of the 11-year-old boy, after withdrawing an insanity plea.
- Investigators confirmed the attack was random and the victims had no prior connection to the shooter.
PORTLAND, Maine — A Maine man was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday at the Cumberland County Courthouse for the June 2023 killing of a couple in downtown Westbrook, an attack carried out in front of the victims’ two young children. Marcel LaGrange, 26, appeared virtually for the hearing where he received the life term for the murders of Brittney Cockrell and Michael Hayter, along with an additional 50-year sentence for the attempted murder of the couple’s 11-year-old son.
According to court documents, the shooting occurred while Cockrell, 36, and Hayter, 41, were in a vehicle with their children, aged 7 and 11. Investigators stated that LaGrange did not know the victims and described the attack as random. Assistant Attorney General Jen Ackerman noted the unprovoked nature of the crime during the proceedings, stating, “They did not provoke or initiate this violence into their lives.” Witnesses at the scene, including bystander Aaron Bean, described the chaotic aftermath to the court. “Brittney’s screaming rings in my ear,” Bean testified. “Seeing kids reach out for their dead father is heartbreaking.”
LaGrange had previously been indicted on two counts of murder, aggravated attempted murder, aggravated assault, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon. In September, he pleaded guilty to all six charges, reversing an earlier decision to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. His legal team indicated that the change in plea was made because they believed the state had sufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. During the sentencing, LaGrange addressed the court, apologizing to the families and attributing his actions to substance abuse and a lack of mental health treatment, stating he was “not in [his] right mind that day.”
Family members of the victims expressed that while the sentence brings accountability, it does not erase their loss. Jeff McKinney, Cockrell’s father, described the outcome as “bittersweet,” noting that while the judge made the right decision, the family will never see their loved ones again. Brenda McKinney, Cockrell’s mother, rejected LaGrange’s expressions of remorse, telling the court, “Whether he likes it or not, he is guilty, and I believe that.”
Judicial Outcome and Sentencing Standards
The imposition of a life sentence, accompanied by a consecutive 50-year term for attempted murder, underscores the severity with which the Maine judicial system addresses violent crimes involving random targets and minors. By sentencing the defendant to life without the possibility of release, the court has maximized the penalty available under state law, as Maine does not have the death penalty. This ruling confirms the finality of the legal process following the defendant’s admission of guilt, effectively closing the case regarding the charges brought by the state.
