Michael Madison Update: Prosecutors to weigh death penalty against suspected East Cleveland serial killer
(CBS/AP) EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio --Prosecutors will begin weighing next month whether to seek the death penalty against the Ohio man charged with killing three women whose bodies were found wrapped in trash bags in East Cleveland last month.
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Cuyahoga County prosecutor Tim McGinty made the comment during a pretrial hearing Tuesday for 35-year-old Michael Madison. Prosecutors said their Capital Review Committee is set to meet Sept. 18 to mull seeking the death penalty against the suspected serial killer, reports CBS affiliate WOIO.
Madison responded briefly to questions from the judge, who scheduled another hearing for Aug. 20.
Defense attorney David Grant said afterward that his client's mental state would be evaluated, but he did not elaborate.
Madison was arrested last month after the bodies were found in a dilapidated neighborhood in East Cleveland and has been held on $6 million bond. He is charged in the murders of Shetisha Sheeley, Angela H. Deskins and Shirellda Terry. He has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors also said in court they are making arrangements for the defense team to tour the crime scenes, reports WOIO.
East Cleveland police responded to a call about a foul odor July 19 and discovered a body in a garage in a dilapidated neighborhood. Within hours, they identified Madison as a suspect and went to his mother's house, where he was arrested after a brief standoff.
Police found the additional bodies the following day after their questioning of Madison led them to renew their search. All three bodies were found in the fetal position, wrapped in several layers of trash bags.
Terry and Deskins were strangled, a medical examiner found, and Sheeley died of "homicidal violence by unspecified means."