Arrest Made for the 1987 Murder of Alice Hawkes
Alice Hawkes (family provided photo), edited by Murder, She Told.
Justice for Alice Hawkes: May 2026 Update
In October of 1987, 23-year-old Alice Hawkes was brutally murdered inside the apartment she shared with her boyfriend, Stephen Bouchard in Westbrook, Maine. Her killer left her alone to die on the bathroom floor, locked the door behind them, and disappeared into the night.
For nearly four decades, Alice’s case remained unsolved. Until now.
On Friday, May 8th, 2026, detectives with the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit arrested 63-year-old Stephen Bouchard in Winslow, ME on a charge of murder. Stephen was Alice’s live-in boyfriend at the time of her death and a suspect since day one in the eyes of Alice’s loved ones. Officials say Alice’s homicide was thoroughly investigated in 1987 by both Maine State Police and Westbrook Police, but despite their efforts, the case eventually went cold.
That changed in 2025, when the Maine State Police Cold Case Unit launched a full reinvestigation into Alice’s murder. According to investigators, that renewed effort ultimately led the Maine Attorney General’s Office to seek a murder charge against Stephen Bouchard.
During a court appearance Monday, May 11th, Stephen Bouchard pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors appeared with a grand jury indictment but at the time of this recording had reportedly not yet turned over evidence to the defense or released a police affidavit detailing the case against him. I suspect they likely won’t file an affidavit with the court, thus keeping their case quiet until trial. We likely won’t know what triggered the charges until the trial begins.
I will keep you updated. You can follow intermittent updates on the Murder, She Told Facebook Page, and follow the show wherever you listen for major updates.
Alice was bright and full of life. Every photo of Alice I have that her friends and family shared, she is smiling, even the candid ones. She had a special way of touching the lives of everyone around her. That is what was stolen from the world. But her family is ready for this next chapter.
As of now, Stephen Bouchard remains held at the Cumberland County Jail while the case moves forward.
And for the people who loved Alice Hawkes, the fight for justice is no longer frozen in 1987.
Learn more about Alice Hawkes and the investigation
Learn more about who Alice Hawkes was through her own voice and the memories shared by her family and loved ones in the original 2021 episodes of Murder, She Told, along with details about the original investigation into her murder:
Find your audio platform:
Part One: https://tinyurl.com/alicehawkes
Part Two: https://tinyurl.com/alicehawkes2
An arrest has been made, but the work isn’t done! If you have information related to the death of Alice Hawkes, now is the time to come forward. Please contact the State Police Major Crimes Unit at (207) 657-5710 or leave a tip online.
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Alice Hawkes
Alice Hawkes and her friend, Andree
Alice Hawkes (top left), James Hawkes (top right), Frances Hawkes (bottom right)
James Hawkes (left), Frances Hawkes (second from left), Alice Hawkes (top right)
Debbie and Alice Hawkes in Disney World
Debbie and Alice Hawkes
8 Spring St, home of Alice Hawkes and Stephen Bouchard
Alice Hawkes (left), 1987
Alice Hawkes and Stephen Bouchard
Sources For This Episode
Newspaper Articles
Various articles, from the American Journal, Bangor Daily News, Portland Evening Express, Portland Press Herald.
Articles written by Chance Viles, Frank Sleeper, Gail Geraghty, Leslie Bridgers, Marianne Shafer, Martha Englert, Raymond Foote, Renee Ordway, Steve Campbell, and Tom Berg.
Full listing here.
Online written sources
All writing at AliceHawkes.com (primarily written by Mark Swett)
All writing at Facebook page, “Who Killed Alice Hawkes” (primarily written by Mark Swett)
Interviews
Alice’s friend, Debbie, her sister, Rosemary, and family advocate, Mark Swett.
Photo Sources
Photos primarily from Mark Swett and alicehawkes.com.
Credits
Research, writing, recorded by and edited by Kristen Seavey
Research, photo editing support by Byron Willis
Murder, She Told is created by Kristen Seavey