Courts: Maine judge expected to rule on decades-old murder case

Added: 2026-05-28

This news report covers a Maine court case where a judge is expected to rule on bail for Stephen Bouchard, who was arrested in 2024 for the 1987 murder of his girlfriend Alice Hawkes in Westbrook, Maine. The case, which had gone cold for decades, was reopened by detectives last year, leading to Bouchard's arrest earlier this month. The report highlights how cold cases can be revisited years later when new evidence or investigative techniques become available, and how courts must balance public safety concerns with the rights of individuals accused of crimes.