A man from Maine will spend the rest of his life behind bars for shooting a man and a teenager, stealing their money, and posing for a picture.

Following the murders of 16-year-old Mohamed Aden and 21-year-old Mohamed Adan, Aaron Aldrich, 47, was informed of his fate on Friday. In September, Aldrich was found guilty in the case.

Associated coverage:

The defendant was criticized by Maine Superior Court Judge Jennifer Archer, according to local ABC affiliate WMTW.

Archer informed the audience that the self-centered deed of a man driven by avarice had taken the lives of these young victims, who were someone’s son, father, sibling, grandson, and friend.

According to The Lewiston Sun Journal, victim advocate Brian Hughes talked about how the killings affected the families, saying that Aden’s mother explained the custom of body washing that was part of her culture’s burial customs.

Hughes told me how tough it was to be there for that, to see her son in the state he was left in due to his injuries, and to understand how difficult it has been to get over that sadness and depression.

Thomas Carey, Aldrich’s lawyer, pushed for a 60-year sentence, pointing to his regret and drug addiction.

Aldrich, who testified for himself during the trial and stated that he was ambushed and acted in self-defense, said, “There isn’t a day that passes that I don’t think about what happened.” I apologize deeply. I am aware that it won’t make things right or bring them back.

The victims were shot at a house on Tripp Lake Road in Poland on February 20, 2023, as part of a narcotics deal. According to local NBC affiliate WCSH, their remains were found the following morning while performing a welfare check.

A woman informed authorities that Aldrich had left her home the night of the murders and returned at midnight, acting suspiciously and staring out the windows, according to court documents.

The witness reported to the police that she saw a cut on Aldrich’s wrist and blood on his sneaker. Around two in the morning, the woman left. Aldrich was gone when she got back, and he subsequently sent her a photo of himself along with the words, “I did something.”

He was extradited to Maine to face the double murder accusations after being apprehended in New Hampshire a few days later on unrelated charges.

According to The Sun Journal, prosecutors said he posed for pictures with cash and bloodied evidence during the trial and used a Hi-Point 995 9 mm weapon in the crimes.

Those two were killed by me. I stood on either side of them. Citing what Aldrich subsequently told a witness, Assistant Attorney General Lisa Bogue told the jury, “I flogged them.” He can go and take from younger, lesser boys that he has found.

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