BANGOR, Maine — A Bangor man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning in Penobscot County Superior Court.
Richard Thorpe was arraigned for murder in the Sept. 25 death of Virginia Cookson. Thorpe was indicted by a Penobscot County Grand Jury in Oct.
According to police, Cookson was found dead in her home on Larkin Street after a coworker went to check in on her when she didn’t show up to work.
Court documents show Cookson and Thorpe began dating in April and broke up shortly before her death. Just days before Cookson was killed, family called to report that Thorpe showed up at her home and that he had recently threatened to kill her.
According to court records, Cookson died by strangulation.
Thorpe was previously convicted of domestic violence in 2021. He was supposed to be in prison until 2027 but was released earlier this year.
Thorpe is being held in Penobscot County Jail without bail. He will be back in court in February for a status conference.
The judge also rescheduled a motion for discovery for February.