Maine Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Executing Couple in Front of Their Children After Being Rejected by Another Woman, Prosecutors Say
PORTLAND, MAINE — A 26-year-old man who gunned down a couple in front of their two young children — all because a woman rejected him — has been sentenced to life in prison, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Marcel Lagrange Jr. appeared remotely for his sentencing, where a judge imposed the maximum penalty for the murders of 41-year-old Michael Hayter and 37-year-old Brittney Cockrell, along with an additional 50-year sentence for the attempted murder of the couple’s then-11-year-old son, Mason.
Prosecutors: Rejection Fueled a Deadly Revenge Plot
Authorities say the shooting unfolded on June 19, 2023, outside a Portland Pie restaurant, where Hayter, Cockrell, and their children had stopped while out together.
According to testimony, Lagrange had become enraged earlier in the evening when a woman rejected his romantic advances. Prosecutor Jennifer Ackerman told the court that Lagrange declared:
“Multiple people would die because of what she was doing.”
He allegedly waited for an opportunity before spotting the family in their parked vehicle and launching a deadly ambush.
Children Watched as Their Parents Were Murdered
In a harrowing affidavit reviewed by detectives, Mason described seeing Lagrange “appear out of nowhere” and fire directly at his father, striking him in the neck.
Cockrell fled on foot, screaming for help — but Lagrange chased her down.
Her daughter Maddie later told investigators:
“Mom was running, screaming, and pointing”
before she was shot multiple times.
The children managed to survive by ducking below the vehicle’s seats.
During sentencing, Cockrell’s father read a statement written by Mason:
“There was just enough time so Maddie and I could duck.”
The couple’s other child, Cadence Cockrell, who was not present during the attack, also spoke:
“He killed my parents. I hope he gets the two life sentences he deserves. No parole for taking my parents, for my siblings having to watch.”
Shooter Claims He Was Off Medication and Mentally Unstable
In court, Lagrange expressed remorse, telling the judge:
“I was not in my right mind that day. I had stopped taking my medication and was drinking and smoking weed, and not getting the mental health that I needed.”
But prosecutors emphasized that the killings were calculated, intentional, and motivated by anger, not confusion.
Life Sentence Plus 50 Years
The judge sentenced Lagrange to:
- Life in prison for murdering Brittney Cockrell
- Life in prison for murdering Michael Hayter
- 50 years for attempting to murder their son Mason
Under Maine law, he is expected to serve these sentences consecutively.
For the Cockrell-Hayter family, the sentencing brought relief — but no closure.
What are your thoughts on this devastating Maine tragedy? Should life sentences be automatic when children witness such violence? Share your opinion and follow breaking crime updates at WaldronNews.com.