Court filings show that police discovered four deaths at the Maine home of a shooting suspect, including the man's parents and two acquaintances.
According to court documents, police were sent to the home of a shooting suspect in Maine, where they found the bodies of four individuals, including the suspect's parents and two of their friends.
After being wanted in connection with the murders, suspect Joseph Eaton finally made his first court appearance on Thursday, April 20, in West Bath.
His mother and father, Cynthia Eaton and David Eaton, both in their 60s, were among the dead, as were their friends Robert Eger, 72, and Patricia Eger, 62. All of whom were shot to death.
The court did not hear a plea from him on Thursday. On June 28, he will return to court for his next hearing.
Statement From Police
AP News reported that police issued an affidavit with graphic details, a message recovered at the site, and a sequence of events.
During the short hearing, Eaton did not express any emotion to the court other than to confirm his understanding of the allegations against him.
The motivation for the killings that took place on a remote farm in Bowdoin and later along a major interstate highway around 12 miles (19 kilometers) from Maine's main city, Portland, has not been discussed by police. Neither the kind of weapon used nor how Eaton was able to get them have been disclosed by police.
According to the authorities, Eaton admitted to shooting at automobiles and murdering four people in Bowdoin, including his parents.
Officials have claimed that while Eaton has been charged with four charges of murder in connection with the Bowdoin murders, he has not yet been prosecuted in the highway shootings.
Note About Being "Free"
Patricia Eger's sister reportedly saw blood stains at the front door when she arrived at the house at about 9:00 AM, as per the court records obtained by WABI.
She discovered shattered glass, bullet holes, blood, and firearms scattered around the residence. She left the house and made a 911 call.
State police said a suspect was caught with what seemed to be blood on him at the site of a highway shooting.
According to reports, police found four bodies: one in a barn and three inside the residence. Apparently, a dog was also shot at the location.
According to the Independent, the detectives found a message when they searched the area. It said someone had been molested, and "nothing was done about it." The note also expressed that their suffering had ended.
Four days before the shootings, the Maine Correctional Center in Windham had just freed Eaton. On April 14, after serving his time for serious assault, his mother reportedly picked him up from jail.
