Richard Hatt sentenced to 45 years for Waterville murder

AUGUSTA, Maine (WABI) - A Clinton man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for a 2024 murder.

Richard Hatt, 54, pleaded guilty last month to the murder of Stephen Killam, 47, who was shot 13 times through his car door in a Waterville parking lot.

Prosecutors and Killam’s family say Hatt stalked and harassed Killam and his loved ones for six years, convinced—without evidence—that Killam was having an affair with Hatt’s girlfriend.

Hatt’s attorneys previously called those beliefs “delusional.”

The state sought 60 years to life for the murder, citing premeditation.

Prosecutor Jennifer Ackerman said Hatt staked out a Winter Street address overnight, believing Killam was there, then assaulted people inside and threatened to kill them before leaving and later killing Killam—an incident for which Hatt was sentenced concurrently.

She says Hatt assaulted the people in the home and threatened to kill them, before leaving to murder Killam, an incident Hatt was sentenced for concurrently

Judge Michaela Murray sentenced Hatt on Friday to 45 years, consistent with a plea deal that avoided trial.

Hatt has terminal cancer and is not expected to outlive the sentence.