Cause Of Death Revealed For Slain Lockport Baby, Mom: Prosecutors (2024)

Anthony Maggio learned he needs $10 million cash to be released after being charged in the deaths of his daughter and daughter's mother.

Posted Thu, Dec 15, 2022 at 10:38 am CT|Updated Thu, Dec 15, 2022 at 2:56 pm CT

Lockport Police Department deputy chief Ron Huff confirmed for Joliet Patch on Thursday afternoon that Maggio was the father of little Hazel Bryant and the ex-boyfriend of Ashtin Eaton, both of the homicide victims.

Maggio, of Crestwood, was booked into the Will County Jail on Wednesday. Thursday morning marked his criminal court appearance. He appeared over the video system from Will County's Jail. Judge Carlson informed Maggio he will need $10 million cash in order to regain his freedom while awaiting his eventual trial.

"Yes, sir," Maggio answered Judge Carlson.

The 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, Eaton worked for 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.

A motive for the double murders was not revealed during Thursday's court hearing.

Judge Carlson let everyone in the courtroom know that he was responsible for reviewing the arrest warrant issued by the Lockport Police Department charging Maggio with six counts of first-degree murder.

After reading the charges, Carlson turned his attention to Maggio, informing the young man from Crestwood that if Maggio is found guilty of committing multiple murders, that's a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.

"Yes," Maggio responded.

An unfamiliar face in Will County Courtroom 405 came forward and entered his appearance as Maggio's private criminal defense counsel, Chicago attorney Leland Shalgos.

Following the hearing, Shalgos met with a man and a woman in the fourth floor courthouse hallway, explaining to them the legal process involving Maggio.

About 10 minutes later, Joliet Patch's editor approached Shalgos in the courthouse lobby. He indicated he was not prepared to make any statements on behalf of Maggio. According to his business card, Shalgos has two law offices in Chicago, one on West Jackson Boulevard and another on West 51st Street.

Carlson set Maggio's next court appearance for Jan. 5, back in Courtroom 405.

On Thursday afternoon, Lockport Police Department issued the following press release:

On Friday, October 2, 2020, at 8:17 AM, the Lockport Police Department received a call at 936 S. Hamilton St regarding a female who was found deceased in her home. When officers arrived, they found a 32-year-old woman dead, along with a 14-month-old girl. The caller was a relative of the 32-year-old woman.

They were identified as Ashtin Eaton and Hazel Bryant. Ashtin is Hazel’s mother. Following an autopsy by the Will County Coroner’s Office, it was determined that the manner of death for both Ashtin and Hazel was homicide. Ashtin had been strangled, and Hazel was asphyxiated.

Lockport Police detectives conducted an exhaustive two-year investigation into the deaths. After processing more 100 pieces of physical evidence and following up on numerous leads, detectives identified Anthony F. Maggio, age 28, of the 13200 block of West Circle Drive Parkway in Crestwood as a suspect in the homicide. Maggio is the father of Hazel and had dated Ashtin previously, according to police.

With the assistance of the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Lockport Police Department was able to secure an arrest warrant for Maggio for six counts of first-degree murder. Maggio’s bond was set at $10,000,000. Maggio was arrested by the Will County Sheriff Department’s Warrant Division at his residence. He has been detained at the Will County Adult Detention Facility. The Lockport Police Department would like to thank the Will County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigations team and Will County State’s Attorney Jim Glasgow for their help throughout the course of this investigation.