Michael Madison
Ohio Serial Killer and Rapist
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
East Cleveland, Ohio
TIME PERIOD
2012-2013
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Michael Madison, an American serial killer and sex offender, was arrested on July 19, 2013, in East Cleveland, Ohio, after police discovered the decomposing bodies of three women in locations associated with him, including a garage and a vacant house. The victims, identified as Shetisha Sheeley, Angela Deskins, and Shirellda Helen Terry, were reported missing between September 2012 and July 2013. Madison was charged with multiple offenses, including three counts of sexually motivated aggravated murder, kidnapping, and abuse of a corpse, and was sentenced to death in 2016. He remains incarcerated at the Ross Correctional Institution, with ongoing appeals regarding his conviction. Significant evidence included the victims' remains wrapped in plastic bags and further incriminating materials found in Madison's apartment.
Michael Madison is believed to have targeted vulnerable women, often engaging in manipulative behavior to lure them into his control. Some speculate that his early life experiences of severe abuse may have contributed to his violent tendencies and motivations for committing these heinous acts. There is also a theory that Madison may have had additional undiscovered victims, as the timeline of his crimes suggests he could have operated for longer than the documented nine-month period.
The Dark Legacy of Michael Madison: A Tale of Murder and Depravity
In the quiet, unassuming town of East Cleveland, Ohio, a sinister shadow loomed over the community between 2012 and 2013. This shadow took the form of Michael Madison, a man whose horrific actions would shock the nation and leave a trail of devastation in his wake. Born on October 15, 1977, Madison's life was marked by turbulence from the outset. The product of an accidental pregnancy, his father, John Baldwin, denied paternity and remained absent from his life. Raised by his mother, Diane Madison, Michael's childhood was marred by severe abuse, both from his mother and her boyfriends. It was a grim beginning that set the stage for his future heinous acts.
The Discovery of Horror
The chilling discovery commenced on July 19, 2013, when East Cleveland police, responding to reports of a foul odor, stumbled upon a decomposing body inside a garage leased to Madison. The gruesome scene was only the beginning. As the investigation unfolded, two more bodies were found the following day, wrapped in plastic bags—one in a backyard, the other in the basement of a vacant house. This macabre discovery prompted authorities to search Madison's apartment, where they found further evidence of decomposition, cementing his connection to the gruesome findings.
After a tense standoff at his mother's house, Madison was apprehended without further incident. The victims were soon identified, each with a haunting story: Shetisha Sheeley, 28, missing since September 2012; Angela Deskins, 38, reported missing in June 2013; and Shirellda Helen Terry, 18, last seen leaving a Cleveland Elementary School summer job on July 10, 2013.
The Path to Justice
On July 22, 2013, Madison was charged with three counts of aggravated murder, with his bail set at a staggering six million dollars. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing, setting the stage for a trial that would captivate the public's attention. His legal woes deepened on October 31, 2013, when a not guilty plea was entered by his attorney, David Grant, to an updated indictment. This indictment included charges of sexually motivated aggravated murder and sought the death penalty—a move prosecutors were determined to pursue despite Grant's efforts to prevent it.
The indictment was comprehensive, outlining two counts 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. Madison's criminal history was already tainted; he was registered as a sex offender in 2002 following a four-year sentence for attempted rape and had prior drug convictions in 2000 and 2001.
The trial began on April 4, 2016, and by May 5, Madison was found guilty of the murders of Shetisha Sheeley, Angela Deskins, and Shirellda Terry. The jury needed less than a day to deliberate, returning a unanimous guilty verdict on all 13 counts. Despite his conviction, Madison expressed his intent to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.
On May 20, 2016, the jury recommended the death penalty, and on June 2, 2016, Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Nancy R. McDonnell sentenced Madison to death. During sentencing, Madison's smirk incited outrage, prompting Van Terry, Shirellda's father, to lunge at him in court. Terry was released without charges following the incident.
Upholding the Sentence
The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously upheld Madison's death sentence on July 21, 2020. Although Madison was scheduled for execution on May 15, 2024, Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy granted a stay until all appeals were exhausted, leaving the final chapter of Madison's life pending in the judicial system.
A Tragic Family Legacy
The dark cloud over the Madison family continued with a tragic event on June 22, 2019. Diane Madison, Michael's mother, was brutally stabbed multiple times by her grandson, 18-year-old Jalen Plummer, in the very home where Michael had been arrested years earlier. Diane succumbed to her injuries, and three other grandchildren were injured in the attack. Plummer faced charges of murder and three counts of attempted murder. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in June 2021 to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
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First Victim Missing
Shetisha Sheeley, 28, goes missing in East Cleveland.
Second Victim Missing
Angela Deskins, 38, reported missing from Cleveland.
Third Victim Missing
Shirellda Terry, 18, last seen leaving her job.
Arrest of Michael Madison
Police find three bodies and arrest Madison.
Charges Filed
Madison charged with three counts of aggravated murder.
Trial Begins
Trial for Michael Madison starts in Cuyahoga County.
Guilty Verdict
Madison found guilty of murdering three women.
Sentenced to Death
Madison sentenced to death by Judge Nancy R. McDonnell.
Death Sentence Upheld
Ohio Supreme Court upholds Madison's death sentence.
Execution Date Set
Madison's execution scheduled, but later postponed.
Michael Madison, an American serial killer and sex offender, was arrested on July 19, 2013, in East Cleveland, Ohio, after police discovered the decomposing bodies of three women in locations associated with him, including a garage and a vacant house. The victims, identified as Shetisha Sheeley, Angela Deskins, and Shirellda Helen Terry, were reported missing between September 2012 and July 2013. Madison was charged with multiple offenses, including three counts of sexually motivated aggravated murder, kidnapping, and abuse of a corpse, and was sentenced to death in 2016. He remains incarcerated at the Ross Correctional Institution, with ongoing appeals regarding his conviction. Significant evidence included the victims' remains wrapped in plastic bags and further incriminating materials found in Madison's apartment.
Michael Madison is believed to have targeted vulnerable women, often engaging in manipulative behavior to lure them into his control. Some speculate that his early life experiences of severe abuse may have contributed to his violent tendencies and motivations for committing these heinous acts. There is also a theory that Madison may have had additional undiscovered victims, as the timeline of his crimes suggests he could have operated for longer than the documented nine-month period.
The Dark Legacy of Michael Madison: A Tale of Murder and Depravity
In the quiet, unassuming town of East Cleveland, Ohio, a sinister shadow loomed over the community between 2012 and 2013. This shadow took the form of Michael Madison, a man whose horrific actions would shock the nation and leave a trail of devastation in his wake. Born on October 15, 1977, Madison's life was marked by turbulence from the outset. The product of an accidental pregnancy, his father, John Baldwin, denied paternity and remained absent from his life. Raised by his mother, Diane Madison, Michael's childhood was marred by severe abuse, both from his mother and her boyfriends. It was a grim beginning that set the stage for his future heinous acts.
The Discovery of Horror
The chilling discovery commenced on July 19, 2013, when East Cleveland police, responding to reports of a foul odor, stumbled upon a decomposing body inside a garage leased to Madison. The gruesome scene was only the beginning. As the investigation unfolded, two more bodies were found the following day, wrapped in plastic bags—one in a backyard, the other in the basement of a vacant house. This macabre discovery prompted authorities to search Madison's apartment, where they found further evidence of decomposition, cementing his connection to the gruesome findings.
After a tense standoff at his mother's house, Madison was apprehended without further incident. The victims were soon identified, each with a haunting story: Shetisha Sheeley, 28, missing since September 2012; Angela Deskins, 38, reported missing in June 2013; and Shirellda Helen Terry, 18, last seen leaving a Cleveland Elementary School summer job on July 10, 2013.
The Path to Justice
On July 22, 2013, Madison was charged with three counts of aggravated murder, with his bail set at a staggering six million dollars. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing, setting the stage for a trial that would captivate the public's attention. His legal woes deepened on October 31, 2013, when a not guilty plea was entered by his attorney, David Grant, to an updated indictment. This indictment included charges of sexually motivated aggravated murder and sought the death penalty—a move prosecutors were determined to pursue despite Grant's efforts to prevent it.
The indictment was comprehensive, outlining two counts 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. Madison's criminal history was already tainted; he was registered as a sex offender in 2002 following a four-year sentence for attempted rape and had prior drug convictions in 2000 and 2001.
The trial began on April 4, 2016, and by May 5, Madison was found guilty of the murders of Shetisha Sheeley, Angela Deskins, and Shirellda Terry. The jury needed less than a day to deliberate, returning a unanimous guilty verdict on all 13 counts. Despite his conviction, Madison expressed his intent to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.
On May 20, 2016, the jury recommended the death penalty, and on June 2, 2016, Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Nancy R. McDonnell sentenced Madison to death. During sentencing, Madison's smirk incited outrage, prompting Van Terry, Shirellda's father, to lunge at him in court. Terry was released without charges following the incident.
Upholding the Sentence
The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously upheld Madison's death sentence on July 21, 2020. Although Madison was scheduled for execution on May 15, 2024, Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy granted a stay until all appeals were exhausted, leaving the final chapter of Madison's life pending in the judicial system.
A Tragic Family Legacy
The dark cloud over the Madison family continued with a tragic event on June 22, 2019. Diane Madison, Michael's mother, was brutally stabbed multiple times by her grandson, 18-year-old Jalen Plummer, in the very home where Michael had been arrested years earlier. Diane succumbed to her injuries, and three other grandchildren were injured in the attack. Plummer faced charges of murder and three counts of attempted murder. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in June 2021 to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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First Victim Missing
Shetisha Sheeley, 28, goes missing in East Cleveland.
Second Victim Missing
Angela Deskins, 38, reported missing from Cleveland.
Third Victim Missing
Shirellda Terry, 18, last seen leaving her job.
Arrest of Michael Madison
Police find three bodies and arrest Madison.
Charges Filed
Madison charged with three counts of aggravated murder.
Trial Begins
Trial for Michael Madison starts in Cuyahoga County.
Guilty Verdict
Madison found guilty of murdering three women.
Sentenced to Death
Madison sentenced to death by Judge Nancy R. McDonnell.
Death Sentence Upheld
Ohio Supreme Court upholds Madison's death sentence.
Execution Date Set
Madison's execution scheduled, but later postponed.