LOCKPORT, IL — A man from Crestwood, Anthony Maggio, is set to face trial for the double murder of Ashtin Eaton and her one-year-old daughter, Hazel Bryant, in 2020, according to records from the Will County court. The trial is scheduled to begin in September, with Maggio, 29, facing multiple charges of first-degree murder in connection to the tragic deaths that occurred on October 2, 2020. Despite the killings taking place two years ago, charges against Maggio were only filed in December 2022.
Maggio, who is the father of Hazel Bryant and the ex-boyfriend of Ashtin Eaton, has been in custody since 2022 with a bond set at $10 million. The Lockport Police conducted an extensive two-year investigation into the murders, processing over 100 pieces of physical evidence and following numerous leads before identifying Maggio as a suspect in the case.
According to the criminal complaint, Maggio is accused of intentionally causing harm to Ashtin Eaton on October 2, 2020, resulting in her death by strangulation. The complaint also alleges that Maggio smothered one-year-old Hazel Bryant to death on the same day. Despite his lawyer’s argument for release under electronic monitoring, citing lack of direct evidence and a history of non-violence, Maggio remains incarcerated at the Will County Jail as of April 29.
A hearing has been scheduled for August 1, with the jury trial slated to commence on September 30, as per court records. The case has garnered significant attention due to the heinous nature of the crimes and the delay in bringing charges against the accused. It is expected that the trial will shed light on the events leading up to the tragic deaths of Ashtin Eaton and her young daughter, Hazel Bryant, in Lockport.