Biddeford, Maine — Nearly five years after a devastating house fire revealed a double homicide, Matthew Cote has been sentenced to two life sentences plus 30 years for the murders of his mother and her boyfriend. A York County jury found Cote guilty of killing the two victims in June 2021, then intentionally setting their Limington home ablaze.
The conviction marked the culmination of a tragic case that transitioned from an early morning fire response to a thorough investigation of murder and arson. Prosecutors characterized Cote’s actions as premeditated, while his defense team claimed he was not mentally competent to stand trial. Ultimately, the jury dismissed the insanity defense, leading to a severe prison sentence imposed by Superior Court Justice Richard Mulhern.
During the sentencing hearing, family members of the victims shared their anguish. Hannah Perkins, daughter of Daniel Perkins, expressed that her father’s musical legacy now only lives on in memory. Other relatives of Cheryl Cote described the traumatic impact of her violent death, emphasizing that such a tragedy should not overshadow her life. Justice Mulhern recognized the emotional toll this case took on both families, as they bore witness to harrowing evidence during the trial.
Prosecutors revealed that on the morning of June 17, 2021, Cote used a semiautomatic rifle to shoot both victims multiple times in their Hardscrabble Road home. After the murders, he allegedly set the house on fire in an effort to destroy evidence, abandoning the scene and later spending time at the beach—a fact prosecutors used to argue that his actions were intentional, not erratic or careless.
The incriminating evidence against Cote included statements made to law enforcement after his arrest. Police apprehended him while he was driving his mother’s vehicle just hours following the incident, where he reportedly acknowledged the inevitability of the situation, claiming that once he “snapped,” he was unable to stop. Jail officials testified that he admitted to his role in the killings during phone conversations while incarcerated, further solidifying the prosecution’s claims of intent.
The case began to unfold when the Limington Fire Department responded to a fire at the residence around 5:13 a.m. Investigators quickly determined that the fire was not the cause of death, prompting a swift shift to a homicide inquiry involving both state and local authorities. The victims were identified as Cheryl Cote, 47, and Daniel Perkins, 45.
By the time the trial commenced in January 2026, the focus shifted from the question of who committed the crime to the mental state of the accused. Cote, now 26, pleaded not guilty and put forth an insanity defense based on claims of schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, prosecutors argued that Cote’s meticulous planning and deliberate actions demonstrated a clear state of mind during the crime.
Following the jury’s guilty verdict on January 23, Cote was convicted on two counts of intentional murder and one count of arson. In addition to his lengthy prison sentence, he was ordered to pay restitution of $3,348. Before the sentence was pronounced, Cote offered a brief apology. His legal team announced plans to file an appeal against both the verdict and the sentencing decision.
As the case moves into its post-conviction stages, an appeal seems likely, but the life sentences are expected to remain unless a higher court intervenes. The heartbreaking circumstances surrounding the double homicide have left a lasting impact on the families affected, with the community continuing to come to terms with the harrowing events that unfolded on that fateful June morning.