Michael Madison Aggravated Murder Charges: First Victim Identified as Angela Deskins, 38
An Ohio man was charged Monday in the suspected killings of three women whose bodies were discovered in trash bags near his home over the weekend.
Michael Madison, a former sex offender, was charged with one count of aggravated murder, East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton said on Monday. The charges were filed after police identified one of the three victims, Angela Deskins, 38, whose body was discovered over the weekend,according to Reuters. Police suspect that Madison may have been on a spree of killings.
The search for additional bodies in the area ended Sunday, however, after 40 empty houses returned no evidence. Additional charges could be filed after the second and third bodies are identified, the mayor added.
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A woman who identified herself as a family member in the home where Madison was listed as a registered sex offender had little to say. She told reporters however that she was "shocked" by the allegations, according to Fox News.
The bodies were first discovered on Friday after residents reported a smell coming from the area. It is possible that Madison was mimicking a former serial killer, Anthony Sowell, who was convicted in 2011 of murdering 11 women. A neighbor told Fox news that Madison had threatened in the past to kill women in a similar way that Sowell did.
Police questioning Madison were unable to retrieve any conclusive information about whether or not there could be other bodies. The three women discovered were likely killed over the past six to 10 days authorities said.
"He really hasn't stated that there's any more, but he hasn't said anything that would make us think that there's not," East Cleveland Police Chief Ralph Spotts said.
According to Norton, authorities have "lots of reasons" to suspect that more victims are involved.
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