Maine Man Faces Trial for Murder of Former Partner Following Multi-State Manhunt

Richard Thorpe, 44, is currently standing trial in Bangor, Maine, for the death of his former girlfriend, Virginia Cookson. Authorities allege that Thorpe strangled the 39-year-old woman in her home on September 25, 2024. The victim was discovered by first responders during a welfare check requested by a concerned coworker. Investigators found Cookson in a downstairs bedroom with an HDMI cord wrapped around her neck.

The relationship between the two began earlier in 2024, shortly after Thorpe was released early from prison. He had been serving a five-year sentence for domestic violence aggravated assault and was participating in a supervised community confinement program. By May, the couple had moved in together, but they reportedly separated shortly before the killing. Family members claim that Thorpe had recently threatened to kill Cookson before the attack occurred.

Following the crime, Thorpe fled Maine and traveled to Massachusetts, where he engaged in a dangerous pursuit with law enforcement. Police in Pittsfield report that Thorpe crashed one vehicle, stole another, and led officers on a high-speed chase through active school bus zones. He drove recklessly by crossing center dividers and ignoring police commands to stop.

Thorpe was apprehended in Massachusetts on September 27 and faces various motor vehicle charges in that state. He has since been extradited back to Maine to face the primary charges related to the murder of Cookson.