Bowdoin Man Killed His Parents, 2 Others Before Highway Shootings

Maine State Police have identified the victims of Tuesday's shootings in Bowdoin, including the parents of the shooter.

Get our free mobile app

Who Are the Victims in Bowdoin and How Were They Found?

Joseph Eaton, 34, of Bowdoin is charged with four counts of murder for the deaths of four people in his hometown on Tuesday morning. Maine State Police released the identities of the victims in a media conference on Wednesday afternoon.

They are:

• Cynthia Eaton, 62
• David Eaton, 66
• Robert Eger, 72
• Patricia Eger, 62

Members of the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office went to the Egers' home at 1459 Augusta Road after receiving a call at around 9:21 in the morning. A family member had gone to check on the residents, when they were unable to reach them by phone, and called the Sheriff's Office after discovering a deceased person at the scene. When Deputies arrived, they found three more people who were deceased. All four people died of gunshot wounds and their deaths were declared homicides.

Cynthia and David Eaton are the parents of the suspect, Joseph Eaton.

What About the Victims in Yarmouth?

Shortly after 10:30 Tuesday morning, Eaton allegedly went 25 minutes south of Bowdoin, to Yarmouth, where he allegedly began shooting at vehicles on I-295. One northbound vehicle was struck by gunfire, as were three southbound vehicles. Three people were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds.

Those victims have been identified as:

• Sean Halsey, 51, of Bowdoinham
• Justin Halsey, 29, of Bowdoinham
• Paige Halsey, 25, of Bowdoinham

Sean Halsey is Justin and Paige's father. At last report, Paige remained in critical condition at Maine Medical Center. Sean and Justin received non-life-threatening injuries.

Police searched the woods next to the highway and near a vehicle believed to be Joseph Eaton's when they arrived on the scene. Eaton was located in the woods and taken into custody. Maine State Police say Eaton was originally taken to Maine Medical Center for a medical issue that police say was not an injury, and then taken in for questioning. They say he confessed to killing his parents and the Egers and also admitted to the highway shootings, saying that he thought he was being followed by police.

He was taken to the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset, where he is being held without bail, charged with four counts of murder.

What Do We Know About Joseph Eaton?

Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss says Joseph Eaton was released from the Windham Correctional Facility on April 14th, 2023 after serving a sentence for aggravated assault. When he was released, his mother Cynthia Eaton met him at the prison and brought him to Bowdoin to stay with the Egers, who were friends of the family.

On Monday, one day before the shooting spree, Eaton posted a video on his Facebook page, in which he talked about dealing with trauma, about having been molested, and people's inability to forgive.

I-295 was shut down all day on Tuesday as police processed the scene and investigated the circumstances leading up to the shootings. A large police presence was also at the Eger's home in Bowdoin during the day.

Anyone who thinks they may have information about these two crimes is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police in Augusta at 207-624-7076.