ELLSWORTH, Maine — A Maine man convicted of raping and killing his former high school classmate, Mikaela Conley, was sentenced on Wednesday, September 11 to 58 years in prison for her murder and 30 years for her rape.
Jalique Keene was captured on surveillance video carrying Conley over his shoulder as she kicked her legs. The video later showed him carrying her lifeless body to the woods where she was found dead. Conley was 19 years old.
Keene and Conley knew each other from Mount Desert Island High School. Keene killed Conley after she gave him a ride from Boston Logan International Airport on May 31, 2018.
During the sentencing, Judge Murray said Keene's lack of willingness to take responsibility for Conley's death, despite the video evidence, was chilling. Judge Murray said it was also chilling how Keene could show his face to Conley's mother, feigning concern for her daughter, just minutes after killing her.
Prosecutors Meg Elam described the violent beating and strangling Keene inflicted on Conley before raping her. Prosecutors told the judge at Hancock County Superior Court in Ellsworth that the way Keene killed Conley demonstrated a total lack of respect for life.
Prosecutors described how Conley struggled to release herself from Keene's grip as he killed her, citing DNA evidence. "We do not know how long she struggled," prosecutors admitted but said evidence showed it was prolonged.
Keene was described by the prosecution as a narcissist and a potential psychopath for killing a woman he had described as his best friend and feigning surprise about her disappearance and death. Keene even participated in searches for Conley in the days after her death before her body was found. Keene has a criminal past that dates back to when he was 15 years old. Prosecutors said Keene had an absence of remorse and said he had "no motivation to change his selfish destructive behavior."
The 22-year-old was convicted of murder and gross sexual assault in May.
Keene testified that he and Conley had a fight after they had consensual sex. But he couldn't recall the events depicted on the video.
In speaking on his own behalf, Keene told Judge Murray he disagreed with one point of the case, saying that he loved Mikaela but was never in love with her as was previously stated. Keene then read a written statement admitting to causing Conley's death and said that is why he tried to commit suicide, saying he wished he could trade his life for hers. He said he would never intentionally harm any of his friends but would take a bullet for them and seemed to ask for the death penalty rather than rot in jail for years. Keene also said no one knows what happened the night Mikaela was killed.
Family and friends of Mikaela Conley spoke through tears to share their stories of heartbreak at losing their sister, daughter and friend.
"To be a part of her life was the truest blessing,” Morgan Dawicki told the court.
Conley's stepfather, Erie Geiger, who raised Conley since she was three years old, called Keene a monster and a wolf in sheep's clothing as he described how the death of his step-daughter had impacted the community of Bar Harbor.
Keene's biological mother, Mrs. Jordan, spoke to the court saying her son's life will never be the same and said she had "no words to explain why this happened to two wonderful families." She asked Judge Murray to consider all the facts as he made his sentencing.
RELATED: Keene convicted of the rape, murder of Bar Harbor teen
RELATED: Emotional third day in man's trial for 2018 rape, murder
RELATED: Trial continues for man accused in 2018 Bar Harbor rape, murder
RELATED: Trial begins for man accused of Bar Harbor rape, murder
RELATED: Jury selected, trial begins Tuesday for Jalique Keene
RELATED: Man accused in rape, murder of teen pleads not guilty
RELATED: Man accused in rape, murder of teen to be arraigned
RELATED: Jalique Keene, 21, formally charged with murder and rape
RELATED: Bar Harbor murder suspect had prior run-ins with law
