Summary of Episode 338

Overview of Episode 338 — Sword and Scale

This episode examines two related, brutal crime sprees centered on one East Cleveland house and family. It traces the 2013 murders and disposal of multiple women linked to Michael Madison, and then follows how trauma and violence in that same household culminated in 2019 when 18‑year‑old Jalen Plummer stabbed his grandmother, Diane Madison, to death and attacked other children. The episode uses 911 calls, police/interrogation audio, reporting, and interviews to explore motives, family history, and the wider failures of systems meant to prevent or treat violence and mental illness. Content warning: explicit violence, murder, abuse, sexual assault, and disturbing audio.

Key timeline & events

• 2013 — Neighbors report a severe rotten smell; police find the decomposed body of a woman in trash bags in a garage linked to an apartment rented by Michael Madison.
• July 2013 — Police arrest Michael Madison after a standoff at his mother’s house on Chickasaw Avenue. Investigation and evidence lead to discoveries of additional female victims (three women in total).
• 2016 — Michael Madison is convicted on multiple counts including aggravated murder, rape, kidnapping, and gross abuse of a corpse; he is sentenced to death (June 2, 2016).
• June 21–22, 2019 — Two 10‑year‑old cousins escape their house on Chickasaw/ Cherokee reporting they were stabbed. Neighbors call 911; officers find 12‑year‑old Justin Madison (autistic) and discover 18‑year‑old Jalen Plummer in the shower. Diane Madison, the grandmother, is found dead of multiple stab wounds.
• 2021 — Jalen Plummer pleads guilty to the stabbing and is serving life with parole eligibility after 30 years.
• Post‑conviction matters — Michael Madison remains on death row; executions in Ohio have been stalled by drug/supply/moratorium issues.

Main people profiled

• Michael Madison

  • Born 1977 (East Cleveland); lived intermittently at apartment/garage connected to the later incidents.
  • Described as quiet, withdrawn, angry toward women; no graduation, sporadic work.
  • Arrested in 2013 after decomposition found in garage. During interrogation he speaks philosophically, deflects, but provides a “functional confession” (leads police to bodies, describes scenes).
  • Convicted (2016) of multiple murders, rape, kidnapping, corpse abuse; sentenced to death and remains on death row.
  • Defense presented severe childhood abuse allegations (physical, emotional, sexual), argued as mitigating evidence at trial.

• Diane Madison

  • Grandmother of Jalen Plummer and mother of Michael Madison.
  • Remembered by neighbors as kind and community‑oriented; defense at Michael’s trial presented a conflicting, abusive depiction.
  • Stabbed to death in her bed in June 2019.

• Jalen Plummer

  • Diane’s grandson; 18 at time of the 2019 attack.
  • Stabbed his grandmother and injured other children in the house; claimed “the mental health care system failed me so I tried to kill my family” (episode quotes).
  • Pleaded guilty in 2021; serving life with parole eligibility after 30 years.

• Victims named in the episode

  • Sherelda / Sherilda Terry (transcript contains both spellings)
  • Shetisha / Shetisha Sheely (transcript spelling varies)
  • Angela Deskins / Daskins (transcript spelling varies)
  • Diane Madison (grandmother, deceased 2019)
  • Note: transcript spelling inconsistencies are present; names above reflect those used in the episode but may vary in external records.

Evidence, interrogation & audio highlights

• The episode includes raw 911 audio of two 10‑year‑old girls calling for help and neighbors/dispatch recordings as rescuers assist bleeding children.
• Police find Jalen in the shower; Justin (12, autistic) unaware of his grandmother’s death. Jalen and Justin’s interactions with officers are presented, including Jalen’s brief, detached statements.
• Michael Madison’s interrogation footage is a centerpiece: he alternates between philosophical rambling, vaguely confessing behavior, and minimizing responsibility. Detectives ultimately get him to lead them to multiple victims.
• The show contrasts public memory of Diane (compassionate elder) with the defense’s portrait of her as abusive; evidence and expert testimony about Michael’s childhood and psychological state are discussed.

Themes and takeaways

• Cycle of trauma and intergenerational violence: the episode links alleged childhood abuse, a father/stepfather figure who became a killer, and a grandson later committing brutal violence in the same household.
• Failures of systems: gaps in mental‑health care, social support, and early intervention are framed as contributing factors (Jalen’s statement about mental‑health failure is emphasized).
• Misogyny and motive: both men’s violent acts were directed at women; interrogations and trial materials point to deep resentment toward women as a recurring motive.
• Functional confession concept: Madison never fully admitted guilt verbally, but by leading police to evidence and bodies he effectively confirmed responsibility.
• Media and community complexity: neighbors’ memories, court mitigation evidence, and courtroom emotion show competing narratives about victims, offenders, and culpability.

Notable quotes (as heard in episode)

• Jalen Plummer: “The mental health care system failed me so I tried to kill my family.” (reported / quoted in the episode)
• Michael Madison (paraphrased from interrogation): “A man's man should never be compromised when it comes to a female who's never been a man.” (reflects his ideology about masculinity)
• Narration highlight: “It's not in what they say, it's in what they do.” (on functional confessions)

Outcomes, legal status, and aftereffects

• Michael Madison: convicted of multiple murders and related charges (2016). Sentenced to death; execution delayed due to Ohio’s moratorium / difficulties obtaining lethal‑injection drugs.
• Jalen Plummer: pleaded guilty to the 2019 murder and related charges; serving life with parole eligibility after 30 years (sentence imposed 2021).
• The surviving children remained with their mother (Tania Plummer) after the 2019 attack; Justin and the two girls survived.

Critical observations / implications

• The episode argues for a broader examination of how abuse, neglect, incarceration, and celebrity criminal cases (e.g., the Anthony Sowell “Cleveland Strangler” case mentioned) interact to shape violent behavior in a community.
• It raises questions about whether community memory and public narratives (Diane the kind neighbor vs. defense allegations of abuse) obscure the complex reality of family dysfunction.
• It suggests that prevention requires better mental‑health access, earlier intervention for youth exposed to violence, and more robust community supports.

Recommended further reading/listening (if you want to follow up)

• Local Cleveland reporting on Michael Madison’s trial and victims’ memorials for name‑clarification and official records.
• Court/transcript records for Madison’s trial (2016) and Plummer’s guilty plea/sentencing (2021) for exact charges and legal findings.
• Resources on trauma, intergenerational abuse, and mental‑health interventions if you’re researching prevention and systemic responses.

Final note

The episode uses disturbing real audio and detailed descriptions; it presents a layered portrait of how abuse and neglect can ripple across generations and culminate in horrific violence. It leaves listeners with questions about accountability, prevention, and the complexity of victim and perpetrator narratives.