Michael Madison
| Michael Madison | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 15, 1977 |
| Killings | |
| Victims | 3 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Ohio |
Date apprehended | July 19, 2013 |
Michael Madison (born October 15, 1977) is a suspected American serial killer from East Cleveland, Ohio who is currently being held in custody as a suspect in at least three murders.
Discovery and arrest
On July 19, 2013, police responding to reports of a foul odor investigated a garage leased to Madison and discovered the decomposing body laying inside. Two more bodies were found the following day – one in a backyard and the other in the basement of a vacant house. The bodies, which all belonged to young African-American women, were found 100 yards (91 m) to 200 yards (180 m) apart and were each wrapped in plastic bags. After obtaining a search warrant, police entered Madison's apartment and found "further evidence of decomposition." After a brief standoff with police at his mother's house, Madison was taken into custody without incident.[1][2]
Court appearance
On July 22, 2013, Madison was charged with three charges of aggravated murder. His bail was set a six million dollars and he also waived his right to a preliminary hearing.[3]
Death penalty sought and subsequent not guilty plea
On Thursday, October 31, 2013, Madison's attorney David Grant entered a not guilty plea to an updated indictment that included aggravated murder charges; prosecutors had announced that they were now seeking the death penalty, a move his attorney had tried to prevent but had expected. The case has drawn comparisons to that of the now-deceased Ariel Castro, of Cleveland, who kidnapped 3 area women (Amanda Berry, Gina Dejesus, and Michelle Knight) and held them for 10 years, and also that of death row inmate and fellow Cleveland-area serial killer Anthony Sowell, who was convicted of killing 11 area women. The 14-count updated indictment includes 2 counts each of aggravated murder for each victim, three counts of kidnapping, three counts of gross abuse of a corpse, one count of rape, and one count of weapons possession by an ex-convict. He had originally been registered as a sex offender in 2002 after serving four years for an attempted rape conviction, having had previous drug convictions in 2000 and 2001.[4]
Victims
The victims were identified as:
- 38-year-old Angela Deskins, a resident of Cleveland who was reported missing in June 2013.[5]
- 28-year-old Shetisha Sheeley, who had been missing since September 2012.[6]
- 18-year-old Shirellda Helen Terry, who was last seen July 10, 2013, leaving a Cleveland Elementary School where she had a summer job.[7]
References
- ↑ After 3 bodies found, mayor warns: 'There might be more victims', CNN.com, 21 July 2013
- ↑ East Cleveland sex offender Michael Madison to be charged Monday in deaths of 3 women, police say, Associated Press, 21 July 2013
- ↑ "Ohio man charged with murder after 3 bodies found". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ↑ http://www.nbcnews.com/news/other/ohio-sex-offender-pleads-not-guilty-slayings-could-get-death-f8C11503352
- ↑ "1 of 3 East Cleveland victims identified". CBS News. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ↑ "Shetisha Sheeley identified as second East Cleveland murder victim, family confirms". newsnet5. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ↑ "Third female victim in Ohio slayings identified". CBS News. Retrieved 24 July 2013.