Maggio's Lawyer Argued This Man Was The Probable Murderer In Lockport

JOLIET — At Friday's Lockport double murder sentencing, Anthony Maggio's long-time criminal defense lawyer out of Chicago, Michael Clancy, made one last push for a new trial. Clancy argued that Will County's longest serving judge, Amy Bertani-Tomczak, should have allowed them to present evidence suggesting that Ashtin Eaton's ex-husband, Jordan Eaton, was the most likely killer of her and her baby girl, Hazel Bryant.

On Oct. 11, a 12-person jury returned verdicts of guilty on all charges of first-degree murder against Maggio, who became romantically involved with Ashtin Eaton while the two worked together in Joliet at the Amazon warehouse.

Clancy's motion for a new trial, which was rejected late Friday morning by Judge Bertani, argued that the Will County State's Attorney's Office failed to prove Maggio was guilty of the charges against him beyond a reasonable doubt.

"The court erred in denying the defendant's motion in limine to admit evidence of alternative suspect," Clancy argued in his November motion for a new trial. "The court denied defendant's motion to admit evidence of alternative suspect, Jordan Eaton, on grounds that the 2011 arrest of Jordan Eaton was 'beyond remote.' The rest of the evidence of Jordan's motive and opportunity to commit the crime, behavior in the days leading up to and following the deaths and evasiveness with investigators was not remote at all."

According to Clancy's motion for the new trial, "the defendant sought to introduce evidence of an argument between Jordan and Ashtin that had taken place two weekends prior to the murders, as well as statements from Jessica Eaton that Ashtin was not going to let Jessica stay over at Jordan's house after that incident. Further, the defense sought to introduce evidence that would have called into question Jordan's whereabouts during the time frame of the murders, including neighbor Crystal Smith's statement that she saw Jordan leave his residence around 9 p.m. October 1, 2020, and did not see his work truck at 5:45 a.m. the next day, and that the truck is typically there when she leaves for work at that time," Clancy informed the court.

Clancy's motion went on to argue that, "defendant was denied an opportunity to present the evidence and prove its strength. The court's denial of defendant's request to present evidence of alternative suspect served to abridge his 6th Amendment right to confront witnesses and to present a complete defense ... Defendant was limited in his ability to attack the quality of the police investigation because he was not allowed to get into evidence that Jordan was looked at as a suspect by investigators, regardless of how long the investigators pursued that theory."

Clancy maintained that because he could not argue that Jordan Eaton was the more likely murder suspect, "the jury did not hear evidence of anyone else who could be shown to have motive to commit the murders. The State improperly argued 'Who else?' during their rebuttal at closing argument, which further denied defendant his 6th Amendment right to present evidence of alternative suspect."

At one point during the October murder trial, Clancy notified the courtroom and Judge Bertani that Jordan Eaton had accosted him on the ground level of the Will County Courthouse. Jordan Eaton was subsequently warned that he needed to be on his best behavior from that moment forward, otherwise, he would be thrown out of the courtroom and not allowed to watch the trial.

On Friday, Clancy reiterated during his last-minute arguments for a new trial that Jordan Eaton "had a broken alibi" for the night of the double murders on Hamilton Street in Lockport, that Eaton had motive to commit the murders and that Eaton had a violent background and that he had put a gun to murder victim Ashtin Eaton's head 10 years ago.

"Jordan Eaton was an absolutely viable suspect," Clancy insisted.

In the end, prosecutor Christopher Koch reminded the judge that Jordan Eaton's DNA was collected by the police and that Jordan Eaton's DNA was excluded from the scene of the crime, unlike the defendant, Anthony Maggio.

"I believe you made the correct ruling," Koch told Judge Bertani. "The information they wanted to bring in was too remote and too speculative. I believe it was the correct ruling."

Maggio, Koch argued, "was the only person with motive to kill that child and not want the child to be alive for purposes of child support."

After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Bertani announced, "I'm denying your motion for a new trial."

During Friday's noon sentencing, Maggio then made a statement, letting the more than two dozen family and friends of Ashtin Eaton and Hazel inside the courtroom know that his case was not over.

He insisted he was an innocent man who was now the subject of a wrongful conviction.

"That knowledge sickens me," Maggio remarked.

Maggio said that the deaths of Hazel and Ashtin "are a horrific tragedy" and that is complicated because "I am an innocent man" and the real killer "walks among you all."

He said that the Will County State's Attorney's Office presented the jury with "all the state's lies and misconceptions about me.

"Don't make the mistake of believing this is over," Maggio assured everyone. "I believe the Lord will see I am wronged and do me justice."

Lockport Police Chief Reacts To Maggio's Sentencing

On Friday, Joliet Patch reached out to Lockport's Police Chief Rich Harang for his reaction to the sentencing of Maggio to two terms of natural life in prison with no chance for parole.

"While the sentencing of Maggio to two terms of natural life in prison cannot bring back Ashtin Eaton and Hazel Bryant, I hope their family and loved ones can find some semblance of peace in their hearts and minds knowing that Maggio will never walk free again.

"This sentence ensures he is held accountable for his actions and justice has been served on Ashtin and Hazel. Again, I thank the great team at the Lockport Police Department as well as Jim Glasgow and all his staff involved in this case from the Will County State's Attorney's Office for all of their hard work, dedication and professionalism in ensuring justice is served. Their efforts and collaboration have been instrumental in bringing this case to resolution."

Related coverage:

• Joiet Amazon Paramedic's DNA Found On Lockport Murder Victim's Body
• Lockport Murders: Maggio's DNA On 3 Items At Crime Scene
• Lockport Murders: Mom Was Blocked On Snapchat Before Her Killing
• Juror Collapses As Autopsy Photos Of Lockport Mom Shown In Trial
• Lockport Mom, Baby Hazel Killed Over Child Support: Prosecutors
• Was Maggio Asleep When Lockport Murders Happened? Fiancee Testifies
• Amazon Worker Offered $10K To Make Woman Disappear Before Murder: Koch