Double Murder Defendant Should Be Freed From Jail: Lawyer

JOLIET, IL — A Chicago attorney has asked that the $10 million bail for Lockport double murder defendant Anthony Maggio be changed to electronic or GPS monitoring because "there is no direct evidence linking Maggio to these offenses, and he has no history of violence," Wednesday's motion at the Will County Courthouse showed.

"Anthony is 28 years old and has lived in the area for his entire life," argued Maggio's attorney Michael F. Clancy. "He has no criminal background and has strong family and community ties. He has no history of mental illness and has been gainfully employed his whole adult life. He is a licensed paramedic and worked at Amazon."

The Crestwood first-degree murder defendant has remained in Will County's Jail since Dec. 14. His criminal complaint states that Maggio, on Oct. 2, 2020, intended to kill or do great bodily harm to Ashtin Eaton and strangled her to death. Born in Joliet, the 32-year-old Eaton worked several years at the Joliet Amazon warehouse. In the death of little Hazel Bryant, who was Eaton's daughter, Maggio smothered her to death, also on Oct. 2, 2020, the complaint noted.

At the time of her death, Hazel was 1 years old.

In December, Lockport Police Department deputy chief Ron Huff told Joliet Patch that Maggio was the father of little Hazel and the ex-boyfriend of Ashtin Eaton.

Wednesday's bond reduction motion argues that "after more than two years, the fact remains that concrete evidence is wholly lacking against Anthony."

Clancy stated that "Anthony Maggio is presumed innocent of these charges pending against him. The $10 million bond ... is the equivalent of no bond at all ... Undoubtedly, the nature and circumstances of the charged offense could not be more serious. A young child and her mother lost their lives. However, Anthony Maggio was not responsible for their demise."

Since Lockport police opened their death investigation in October 2020, Maggio was one of a number of suspects interviewed over a two -year period and Maggio cooperated in the investigation, his lawyer indicated.

"Recently tendered discovery demonstrates that there is a complete lack of evidence even suggesting Maggio was responsible for these deaths," Clancy argued.

In October 2020, Maggio participated in an eight-hour interview with police and "he consented to his cell phone, residence and vehicle being searched and expressed willingness to take a polygraph examination," Clancy maintained. "Maggio also provided a DNA sample to law enforcement."

Clancy noted that laboratory results indicated that Maggio "cannot be excluded" as contributing DNA recovered from Ashtin Eaton's T-shirt and her fingernails. Clancy pointed out that Maggio and the 31-year-old Lockport woman had a relationship up until 12 days before her death.

Clancy revealed Wednesday that DNA from at least four male contributors was found on Ashtin Eaton's T-shirt, and DNA from at least two male contributors was recovered from the homicide victim's fingernails.

"Maggio's cellular phone records indicate that his phone was nowhere near Lockport during the time frame when these deaths occurred," Clancy stated. "No other relevant facts exist that link Maggio to the deaths."

Clancy suggested that the court put his client on electronic monitoring or GPS to track Maggio's whereabouts while free on bond. "Anthony is not a threat to any person or any community at large, nor is there any threat that he would attempt to obstruct justice if released," Clancy stated.

Maggio's first-degree murder case is assigned to Will County Courtroom 502 of Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak.

The defendant's bond reduction hearing will take place Friday, March 24.

Related Patch coverage:

Arrest Made In Slaying Of Lockport Mom, Baby

Cause Of Death Revealed For Slain Lockport Baby, Mom: Prosecutors

Lockport Murders Of Baby, Mom: Defendant Hires New Lawyer