Michael Madison (born October 15, 1977)[1] is an American convicted serial killer and sex offender from East Cleveland, Ohio who was known to have committed the murders of at least three women over a nine-month period in 2012 and 2013. He was arrested and charged with the crimes in 2013 and was sentenced to death in 2016.
Michael Madison | |
|---|---|
.png) Madison in an East Cleveland Police Dept. Booking Photo | |
| Born | October 15, 1977 East Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Conviction(s) | Sexually motivated aggravated murder (x3) Kidnapping (x3) Rape Attempted rape Abuse of a corpse (x3) Having a weapon under a disability |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Details | |
| Victims | 3+ |
Span of crimes | 2012–2013 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Ohio |
Date apprehended | July 19, 2013 |
| Imprisoned at | Ross Correctional Institution |
Early life
editMadison was born on October 15, 1977, to Diane Madison and John Baldwin, the product of an accidental pregnancy. However, Baldwin has denied that he was the father and had no contact with Madison.[2]
Madison had a severely abusive mother. His mother's boyfriends also abused him.[3] He would later admit that he had mixed feelings over his mother's death.[4]
Arrest
editOn July 19, 2013, police responded to reports of a foul odor, investigated a garage leased to Madison, and discovered a decomposing body lying 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 of the three 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.[5][6]
The victims were identified as:
- Shetisha Sheeley, 28, who had been missing since September 2012.[7]
- Angela Deskins, 38, a resident of Cleveland who was reported missing in June 2013.[8]
- Shirellda Helen Terry, 18, was last seen July 10, 2013, leaving a Cleveland Elementary School where she had a summer job.[9]
On July 22, 2013, Madison was charged with three counts of aggravated murder. His bail was set at six million dollars, and he also waived his right to a preliminary hearing.[10]
Trial and conviction
editOn October 31, 2013, Madison's attorney David Grant entered a not guilty plea to an updated indictment that included sexually motivated 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 14-count updated indictment includes two 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.[11][12]
Madison's trial began on April 4, 2016.[13] On May 5, 2016, Madison was found guilty in the murders of Shirellda Terry, Shetisha Sheeley and Angela Deskins.[14] The jury spent less than one day deliberating before returning a guilty verdict on all 13 counts. Madison told the court he planned to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.[15] On May 20, 2016, the jury recommended that Madison should be sentenced to death.[16] On June 2, 2016, Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Nancy R. McDonnell sentenced Madison to death.[17] During the sentencing, Madison was seen smirking. The smirking caused Van Terry, the father of the victim, Shirellda Terry, to lunge at Madison in anger over his daughter's murder. Terry was released without charges.[18]
The Ohio Supreme Court voted unanimously to uphold the death sentence for Madison on July 21, 2020.[19]
Madison was scheduled to be executed on May 15, 2024, but Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy granted a stay until all of his appeals are exhausted.[20]
Mother's killing
editThree years after his conviction, Madison's mother, Diane Madison, was killed at her home on June 22, 2019. She died from multiple stab wounds. Three of her grandchildren were also injured in the attack.[21] Her grandson, 18-year old Jalen Plummer was charged with his grandmother's murder and three counts of attempted murder. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced in June 2021 to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.[22][23]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Offender Details
- ^ "Serial killer Michael Madison's childhood abuse used as defense to avoid death penalty". Cleveland.com. January 11, 2019.
- ^ Harper, John; clevel; .com (2016-05-12). "Jury hears about serial killer's rampant childhood abuse". cleveland. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ 🩸 Serial Killer Interview - MICHAEL MADISON, Hints At More Killings - Phil Chalmers, 25 February 2021, retrieved 2022-03-27
- ^ After three 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
- ^ "Shetisha Sheeley identified as second East Cleveland murder victim, family confirms". newsnet5. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ "1 of 3 East Cleveland victims identified". CBS News. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "Third female victim in Ohio slayings identified". CBS News. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ "Ohio man charged with murder after 3 bodies found". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "Ohio sex offender pleads not guilty to slayings, could get death". NBC News. 31 October 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
- ^ "State v. Madison". Justia Law. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "Michael Madison's ex says the accused serial killer 'can't stand the female species'". cleveland.com. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Michael Madison found guilty of murdering three women in East Cleveland". cleveland.com. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "East Cleveland serial killer Michael Madison convicted on 13 counts: 'He will never do this again'". cleveland.com. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "Jury recommends death penalty for East Cleveland serial killer Michael Madison". cleveland.com. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ "East Cleveland serial killer Michael Madison sentenced to death". cleveland.com. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ "Van Terry lunges at his daughter's killer Michael Madison in court video". news.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "Ohio Supreme Court upholds death sentences of East Cleveland serial killer Michael Madison". cleveland.com. July 21, 2020.
- ^ "East Cleveland serial killer Michael Madison has his execution date postponed". cleveland.com. March 13, 2024.
- ^ Christina Maxouris (24 June 2019). "Ohio serial killer's mother was stabbed to death in the home where her son had been arrested". CNN. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- ^ Bingel, Julia (22 June 2021). "Cleveland man sentenced to life in prison for killing grandma, stabbing three other family members". www.cleveland19.com.
- ^ "Man charged in slaying of serial killer Michael Madison's mother, stabbing of three sleeping kids in Cleveland". www.cleveland.com. June 24, 2019.