A Maine man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after killing his mother and her boyfriend.
A York County Superior Court Justice Richard Mulhern handed 26-year-old Matthew Cote two life sentences without the possibility of parole for the shooting death of Cheryl Cote, 47, and Daniel Perkins, 45.
Though Cote pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, the jury convicted the defendant of two counts of intentional or knowing murder and one count of arson.
"Once I snapped, I couldn't stop," said Cote to investigators, according to 13 WGME.
On June 17, 2021, officers and the fire department responded to a home ablaze on Hardscrabble Road, where the couple shared with Cote. After the fire was put out, authorities found Cheryl Cote and Perkins’ bodies inside the charred residence. According to prosecutors, Cote shot both victims with a semi-automatic rifle before setting the house on fire.
Later, the defendant admitted to the killings, but the motive remains unclear.
Cote’s defense lawyer argued his client had suffered a traumatic background and upbringing with a serious mental illness. In addition, the Cote’s family also told the court that the defendant was diagnosed with schizophrenia and post traumatic stress disorder before his 16th birthday.
During the sentencing hearing, Cote apologized to his family and the Perkins family.
"Every day, I grieve my father, who was murdered by Matthew Cote. While I grieve, I do my best to remember the best parts of our time together," said Hannah Perkins, Daniel Perkins' daughter, reported WMTW.
The judge sentenced Cote to an additional 30 years in prison for the arson charge and ordered him to pay $3,348 in restitution.
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