BANGOR, Maine — A local man accused of kidnapping, raping and strangling his girlfriend nearly two years ago pleaded guilty Monday at the Penobscot Judicial Center to one count each of intentional or knowing murder and kidnapping.
By pleading guilty, Zackery Mailloux, 23, admitted to restraining and killing Brooke Locke, a 21-year-old Husson University student with whom he shared an apartment on Essex Street.
In exchange for his guilty plea, one count of gross sexual assault will be dismissed at sentencing. There is no plea agreement concerning sentencing recommendations, defense attorney Jeffrey Silverstein of Bangor said Monday.
A sentencing date has not been set but it most likely will be held this fall.
Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea told Superior Court Justice Ann Murray that Mailloux had confessed to his cousin, police and other inmates at the Penobscot County Jail that he killed Locke because she wanted to break up with him. The prosecutor said that the victim had described Mailloux’s behavior to friends as “controlling” and “abusive.”
Silverstein told the judge that his client wanted to take responsibility for his actions and spare the Locke family the ordeal of a trial.
Mailloux has been held without bail since his arrest on Nov. 18, 2013.
On Monday, Murray ordered that Mailloux continue to be held without bail until sentencing. That time will be applied to his sentence.
More than a dozen family members and friends of the victim attended Monday’s hearing but declined to speak with reporters. One of them carried a black gym bag with Husson’s logo and the words “Dance Team” embroidered on it.
After calling 911 to report Locke’s death, Mailloux told police that he suspected Locke was seeing another man. Sometime after 7 a.m. Nov. 18, he discovered a text message on her phone that he said confirmed his suspicion, according to the court affidavit written by Bangor police Sgt. Tim Cotton.
Locke and Mailloux argued and he “manually strangled [her] to the point that he thought she was deceased,” according to the affidavit. “After a short time, Locke began to regain consciousness.”
He then bound Locke with wire cord and duct tape “for the entire morning,” the court document said. “During this incident, Locke admitted that she had been in another relationship.”
Locke had earlier told a sorority sister that she and Mailloux had broken up, according to a previous report.
Mailloux also told police that he sexual assaulted Locke while she was bound.
After another argument, Mailloux said he used a necktie to strangle Locke until she no longer resisted.
A photo of Locke’s naked body, bound and gagged with duct tape on the bed in the bedroom Mailloux said they shared, was found on Mailloux’s phone, the affidavit said.
Mailloux faces between 25 years and life in prison on the murder charge. He faces up to 30 years on the kidnapping charge.
Zainea said at an impromptu news conference outside the courthouse that she would recommend that Mailloux spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Silverstein said that he plans to present mitigating factors, including Mailloux’s age and his cooperation with and confession to law enforcement, to Murray and seek a sentence of less than life.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.