EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — An Ohio man possibly influenced by a serial killer was charged Monday with aggravated murder after three bodies wrapped in trash bags were found in suburban Cleveland.
A call to police Friday led authorities to a home and a standoff with the man, who was eventually taken into custody.
Michael Madison, 35, was charged with three counts each of aggravated murder and kidnapping. He didn’t enter a plea at a brief court appearance where bail was set at $6 million. He also waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Authorities said they had identified only one of the victims, Angela Deskins, who was believed to be 38 years old.
Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Thomas Gilson said fingerprints, dental records and DNA genetic material would be used to try to identify the other two victims whose bodies were badly decomposed. One had numerous tattoos. He also said he couldn’t determine a cause of death.
East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton has said the suspect indicated he might have been influenced by the earlier case of a Cleveland serial killer, Anthony Sowell, who was convicted in the deaths of 11 women.
