Man Accused In Triple Slaying Explains Motives In Letter

A crime that stunned northeast Ohio last spring is setting off another emotional reaction after the Canton man accused of killing his two young children and his former mother-in-law wrote a letter explaining himself.

James Mammone, 35, described his motives in the letter, which was printed Tuesday in the Canton Repository.

On Your Side investigator Ron Regan reported that not a lot of people in the Canton community think his words were fit to print.

Mammone is facing the death penalty if he is convicted in the June deaths of his children, 5-year-old Macy and 3-year-old James, and 57-year-old Margaret Eakin.

In the handwritten letter, Mammone admits he killed them. The letter was mailed to the Repository and was published Tuesday in a front-page story.

In the letter, Mammone claims he did the merciful thing by killing his two children to save them from divorce.

He insisted the children were not killed out of revenge, but his mother-in-law was.

Radio Q92 morning show host Pat DeLuca said listeners were outraged by the letter.

"People are appalled, they are absolutely shocked and disgusted that a local newspaper would go on the front page with such a story," said DeLuca.

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On the Repository's Web site, dozens of comments were written, condemning the story.

The newspaper said it informed the family in advance so they would not be surprised by the story, and said the crimes "are as much a community event as a private family event. As a result, community interest was high enough to warrant publication."

But some Canton residents disagree.

Regan spoke with the attorney representing the Mammone children's mother, who said he will not dignify the Repository's story with a response.

Mammone is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing in Canton on Wednesday.

The letter has been subpoenaed and turned over to police.