WEST BATH, Maine — The man who admitted to fatally shooting four people in Bowdoin this past April pleaded not guilty in a Sagadahoc County court Friday afternoon during his arraignment.
Joesph Eaton, 34, reportedly told investigators he shot and killed his parents, 62-year-old Cynthia Eaton and 66-year-old David Eaton, along with two of their friends, 72-year-old Robert Eger and 62-year-old Patti Eger, on April 18 at his parents' Bowdoin home. He also allegedly killed the family dog.
Police said afterward he got onto Interstate 295 and shot at multiple cars in Yarmouth because he thought police officers were tailing him. Three people were injured.
Friends and family of the Egers were present in the West Bath courtroom Friday, along with those who were shot and injured on I-295, including 51-year-old Sean Halsey.
Halsey told reporters outside the courthouse that he and his kids, who were also injured that day in April, are doing better. He added he is happy justice is taking its course.
"If [Eaton] wants to go to trial, we’ll be there to make sure he gets his proper sentence," Halsey said.
A brother of Patricia Eger, Peter G. DeRaps, laid out pictures of his sister and brother-in-law along with photos of David and Cynthia Eaton outside the courthouse steps.
In a note presented to reporters, DeRaps called Joseph Eaton an "evil, selfish, coward." DeRaps also told reporters the Egers and Joseph's parents "loved him more than you could imagine."
Angie Kensell is another person Eaton is accused of shooting on I-295 in April. She also said she was a close friend of Patricia Eger.
"[Patricia] loved people, she did things for them and she was always there to help. [If] someone needed something she'd get it and it's just people like that, that open their hearts to people and then they get hurt ... it breaks my heart," Kensell said.
Kensell added hearing the not-guilty plea was "surreal" but said, "We'll get through it together."
Kensell also didn't realize she was getting shot at on I-295 during the alleged shooting spree in April at first. She said her car was hit by 12 bullets and she was uninjured.
Eaton pleaded not guilty and not criminally responsible to all 27 charges against him. He will remain in custody without bail. His attorney and the prosecution will meet in three months to set the schedule for the remainder of the case.