Death Penalty

James Mammone III v. State of Ohio, Case No. 2010-0576

Stark County Court of Common Pleas

Canton residents James Mammone III and Marcia Eakin married and had two children, Macy and James. Eakin later sought a divorce, which Mammone opposed. When Mammone became threatening, Eakin secured a protection order. Their divorce was finalized in April 2009.

On June 7, 2009, Mammone picked up his children for a scheduled visitation. While they were sitting in their car seats in the back of his vehicle, Mammone fatally stabbed them. He then drove to his former in-laws' house, where he beat and shot his ex-mother-in-law, Margaret Eakin, killing her. He traveled next to his ex-wife's home, set fire to a truck and broke into the residence, but then left. Sometime later, he returned to his apartment where police arrested him.

Mammone was convicted of the aggravated murders of his 5-year-old daughter, 3-year-old son, and former mother-in-law. Following the trial's penalty phase, the court imposed the death sentence for each murder count.

Mammone exercised his right to appeal his death sentence directly to the Ohio Supreme Court.