Arrest following Virginia Cookson's death – NECN

A man was arrested Friday morning in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in connection with the death of his ex-girlfriend in Bangor, Maine, earlier this week.

According to Pittsfield police, 42-year-old Richard Keith Thorpe, wanted in connection with the death of 39-year-old Virginia Cookson, was arrested on a charge of one after a police chase that prompted nearby schools to take shelter Fugitive taken into custody before justice A high school must be closed.

Bangor police were initially notified of a possible death on Larkin Street around 9 a.m. Wednesday, News Center Maine reported. One of Cookson's colleagues apparently went to her home after she failed to show up for work on Wednesday and then called police after she was unable to make contact.

Responding officers found Cookson's body inside the home, and the chief medical examiner's office ruled her death a homicide Thursday after an autopsy.

Bangor police said officers responded to the home just about a week earlier for a reported “family fight,” but no arrests were initially announced.

An investigation by Bangor police in collaboration with the state attorney general's office led to an arrest warrant for Thorpe on murder charges. After the warrant was issued, a BOLO (be on guard) went out to law enforcement essentially on this side of the country, Bangor police said.

Shortly before 4 a.m. Friday, Pittsfield police said they responded to a single motor vehicle crash near the intersection of West and Onota streets and found an unoccupied vehicle with items inside, leading officers to believe that Thorpe may have been the driver.

A search of the area was conducted but the driver could not be located.

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Approximately three hours later that same morning, just before 7 a.m., Pittsfield Police reported that officers responded to West Housatonic Street following a report of a stolen motor vehicle. A BOLO for this vehicle was sent to Pittsfield and neighboring jurisdiction officials.

About 90 minutes later, around 8:30 a.m., the stolen vehicle was located and the operator led Pittsfield officers on a chase that included the areas of West Street and intersecting streets, police said. The suspect vehicle allegedly crossed the center divider, overtook cars in a no-passing zone and failed to stop for police – all while school bus service was active.

As a precautionary measure during the car chase, all local schools were asked to shelter in place, and based on the location of Taconic High School, that school was placed on lockdown, Pittsfield police said. The security measures at the school lasted about five minutes.

The vehicle was eventually stopped in the area of ​​Euclid Avenue after it struck a police vehicle, Pittsfield police said. No significant injuries were reported.

The driver of the stolen vehicle was positively identified as Thorpe and was taken into custody without incident, Pittsfield police said. He was charged with numerous traffic offenses and an out-of-state warrant for murder.

Bangor police said Thorpe has reportedly waived extradition and will be sent back to Maine as quickly as possible, where he will be charged with murder by depraved indifference. No court or arraignment date has been set in Maine, and it was not immediately clear whether Thorpe had retained an attorney.

According to police, neither Thorpe nor Cookson, both of Bangor, Maine, have any known connection to Pittsfield, Mass.

An investigation is ongoing.