A few years ago, a family moved from Texas to Maine because they felt Houston was too dangerous and wanted to raise their children in a safe place.
Then just weeks later, the children witnessed their parents getting shot and killed by a stranger in Westbrook.
Marcel LaGrange, who pleaded guilty to the murders, was sentenced to life in prison Thursday.
Prosecutors said Marcel LaGrange shot and killed Michael Hayter and Brittany Cockrell in front of their children because he was rejected by a woman.
“Stated that multiple people would die because of what she was doing,” prosecutor Jennifer Ackerman said.
Ackerman said that LaGrange laid in wait to kill someone, anyone, in Westbrook on the night of June 19, 2023. The deaths of Hayter and Cockrell were caught on video surveillance.
“Mason and Maddie Hayter were present in the car when their father was executed in the front seat,” Ackerman said. “They saw their mother being chased by the defendant with a gun in his hand.”
The children’s grandfather read a letter from his grandson, Mason Hayter, in court.
“There was just enough time so Maddie and I could duck,” read Jeff McKinney, who is helping to raise the children.
Mason Hayter was 11, and Maddie Hayter was 7, when they witnessed the murders of their parents.
“We are so mad at the State of Maine,” McKinney said. “This guy had made threats with a gun before. The police knew about it, but he was still out walking around.”
The victims’ sister and mother spoke directly to the defendant.
“You took my sister, my best friend,” sister Laura Wrobleski said. “But you still get to breathe the air.”
“Marcel, I can say I hate what you’ve done to my family. But I pray for your soul,” mother Brenda McKinney said.
Speaking from Texas, Mason and Maddie Hayter’s older sister, Cadence Cockrell, told the judge that “LaGrange should never get out of prison.”
“He killed my parents,” Cockrell said. “And I hope he gets the two life sentences he deserves. No parole for taking my parents, for my siblings having to watch.”
Attorney Tina Nadeau then spoke on behalf of the defendant.
“Marcel has pleaded guilty to these crimes, all of the crimes, with no promise of any outcome,” Nadeau said. “He is, and always has been, truly remorseful.”
“I wanted to say, as if I’m speaking to the family members. I don’t know if any of you guys are here right now, but I’m just really sorry,” LaGrange said.
An hour and a half later, Superior Court Justice Deborah Cashman sentenced LaGrange to two life sentences.
“Children having to witness this horrific violence enacted on their parents by a stranger is a significant factor in the court’s sentencing decision today,” Cashman said.
“We love Mike and Brittany, and justice has been served today, I feel like,” Brenda McKinney said.
“We’ll never see our daughter or son-in-law again, so it’s bittersweet,” Jeff McKinney said.
LaGrange told the court the murders still don’t seem real, but the victims’ children said the nightmare of living without their parents never goes away.
