The parents of Maine gunman Joseph Eaton had just recently flown up to New England from their home in Florida in an attempt to help their son readjust to life following his release from prison on assault charges.
Eaton, 34, made his first appearance in court Thursday, two days after he shot and killed his parents, David and Cynthia Eaton, 66 and 62, as well as their friends with whom they were staying, Robert and Patricia Eger, 72 and 62. The suspect had also been a guest of the Eger’s following his release.
In court, Eaton wore a traditional orange prison jumpsuit and a bulletproof vest. He showed no emotion. Earlier officials said that he had admitted to the murders. The criminal affidavit in the case says the discovery of the deaths in the rural town of Bowdoin was made by Patricia Eger’s sister, who came upon a crime scene with broken class, blood and guns strewn about the home.
The woman said she first noticed something was amiss when she saw blood on the steps leading into the home and then saw the carnage and a body.
The affidavit noted all bodies were covered and that the family dog had been killed as well.
Maine mass killer Joseph Eaton, 34, made his first appearance in court on Thursday, he is clad in a prison jump suit and was wearing a bulletproof vest
Earlier, investigators said that Eaton had admitted to killing his parents, their friends and to shooting at a random car along Interstate 295 on Tuesday
Investigators who arrived on the scene discovered an unsigned note on an island in the kitchen that referenced that someone had been molested, nothing was done about it and the writer wanted to be freed of pain.
In court, one of Eaton’s lawyers, James Mason, acknowledged after the hearing that the shootings shook the state.
‘What happened in Bowdoin is undeniably tragic. But I ask everybody to please reserve judgement,’ he said.
Eaton is charged with four counts of murder for the killings in Bowdoin but has not yet been charged in the highway shootings, officials said.
Around an hour after Patricia Eger’s sister found the horrific scene, police say that Eaton began opening fire on cars along Interstate 295 because he thought the police were following him.
In that shooting, bullets struck a family in one of the vehicles, wounding Sean Halsey, 51; Justin Halsey, 29; and Paige Halsey, 25, police said. Paige Halsey was critically wounded, police said.
Police say Eaton’s mother picked up from prison April 14 after he completed a sentence for aggravated assault.
Investigators who arrived on the scene discovered an unsigned note on an island in the kitchen that referenced that someone had been molested, nothing was done about it and the writer wanted to be freed of pain.
Eaton’s parents, David and Cynthia, pictured on her Facebook page in March 2021
Slain couple Patricia ‘Patti’ Eger and Robert Eger pictured on her Facebook page in May 2020
In court, Eaton’s lawyer, James Mason said: ‘What happened in Bowdoin is undeniably tragic. But I ask everybody to please reserve judgement’
Bullet holes can be seen in the windshield of the silver sedan that was involved in the shooting
Joseph Eaton posted this photo on the day of his release from prison accompanied with the caption: ‘Real food’
Eaton’s mugshot: He has lengthy criminal history in Maine, with charges including assault and illegal possession of a firearm on this record
The day before the shooting, Eaton posted an anguished live video on social media that referenced trauma including molestation.
‘Being molested and stuff, you know, it destroys somebody,’ he said. He also criticized people who call themselves Christians but are unwilling to forgive.
In the caption of the video, Eaton reference his mother, Cynthia.
According to his mother’s Facebook page, she and her husband lived in Ocala, Florida, just north of Orlando. Posts on her page show she and her husband to be passionate supporters of ex-President Donald Trump.
‘Life as a whole is suffering. You work for the duration, you get sick, people you love die, and your guaranteed to have ‘bad days.’ You die and lose everything you spent your life obtaining.
There is more to it than meets the eye. Life is a trial for what is to come,’ Eaton wrote in a Facebook post on April 16.
Eaton was charged over the past decade with more than a half-dozen crimes and and completed a sentence for assault on April 14, according to state records.
Past convictions included aggravated assault, a felony that would prevent him from legally having a firearm.
Eaton has a criminal history in both Maine and Florida. His crimes include felony aggravated assault, domestic violence and violence against a law enforcement officer, reports the Portland Press Herald.
The suspect was sentenced to three years in prison in the Sunshine State on felony weapons and assault charges in 2018.
On Friday, Eaton wrote on Facebook: It’s finally over. There are so many people I can’t wait to see.’ A day later he posted a photo showing him eating breakfast with the caption: ‘Real food!!!!’
DailyMail
