Robert Eastman in court on April 7, 2025, in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (WMUR).
As far as the children of Laurie MacLellan are concerned, her killer, Robert Eastman, should never see freedom again.
“That’s disgusting, Rob,” her daughter, Nicole MacLellan, said in court in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, on Monday, according to The New Hampshire Union Leader. “I hope you are thinking of that day every day of your life and may you rot in prison and never see daylight ever again. You’re the worst. You’re a waste of space, OK, and I hope all of your family knows that.”
The report described the victim and her killer as having been in an on-again, off-again relationship.
Prosecutors said the defendant stabbed the victim, who was 59 years old, 24 times. He pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder.
Laurie MacLellan’s son reportedly blasted Eastman, 56, as a “foul, disgusting” man.
“Laurie was a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a kind soul and most important in our lives,” Brandon MacLellan said, according to the Union Leader. “The day she was cowardly taken by Robert will forever burn in our minds. She was just taken from our world that day, she was taken from us the moment Rob entered her life.”
With a sentence of 30 years to life behind bars, Eastman will eventually get a chance at freedom. At best, he can knock off two years off the minimum term if he can stick to good behavior in the first five years of his term. Even if he gets out, the court suspended a sentence of up to seven years on charges of falsifying physical evidence and driving while certified as a habitual offender. That term will hang over his head for a decade from the hypothetical day authorities let him out of prison.
Eastman’s attorney on Monday read a letter on his behalf, in which he asserted he loved Laurie MacLellan.
“I hope each of you in some way can find some comfort knowing that I am haunted by this every day,” the letter stated, according to ABC affiliate WMUR. “I never wanted to hurt Laurie, and as hard as it is to believe, I do love her.”
“Today’s guilty plea and sentence send a strong message that violent crime will not be tolerated in the Granite State. While we can never fully heal the pain endured by Ms. MacLellan’s family, we hope this outcome provides them with a sense of relief and justice,” said state Attorney General John M. Formella in a statement. “I would also like to express my gratitude to our trial team for their dedication and hard work in securing this conviction. Our office remains steadfast in holding offenders accountable and ensuring that those who break the law face the full consequences of their actions.”
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
