Man accused of 1987 cold case homicide to remain in jail while awaiting trial
Stephen Bouchard, charged with murder in 1987 Westbrook cold case homicide, is led into court in May. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)
The Maine man accused of murder in a 1987 cold case will remain in jail as he awaits trial.
A Maine Supreme Judicial Court associate justice this week upheld a denial of bail for Stephen Bouchard, who is charged with murder in the death of his then-girlfriend Alice Hawkes nearly 40 years ago. Hawkes, 23, was found dead in the apartment they shared in Westbrook.
Bouchard, 63, of Winslow, was arrested in May and has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys have argued he should be given bail, saying it would be hard for him to flee due to his medical needs and strong community ties.
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Judge denies bail to Maine man accused of murder in 1987 cold case
A Superior Court Justice denied their request for bail in June, and that decision was upheld by Maine Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice Wayne Douglas in a court order Tuesday.
Prosecutors for the state have alleged that Bouchard beat Hawkes and slit her throat on Oct. 3, 1987, at the apartment they shared on Spring Street. Bouchard said he had been out running errands at the time of her death. Hawkes’ friends and family told police they had spoken with her on the phone that morning.
A Maine State Police detective said in May that the state moved to indict Bouchard decades after Hawkes’ killing after reviewing the evidence and interviewing some witnesses again. In the immediate aftermath of the homicide, officials had interviewed Bouchard but then declared that he was not a suspect.
Hawkes was born and raised in Bangor, attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland, and worked for Maine Savings Bank in South Portland, according to her obituary.
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Tagged: cold case, maine crime
Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts,. More by Drew Johnson
