Supreme Court upholds death sentence for killer of 3 women

The death sentence handed down to an Ohio man convicted of killing three women whose bodies were found wrapped in garbage bags was appropriate, the state Supreme Court ruled in upholding the sentence.

East Cleveland resident Michael Madison was arrested within days of the discovery of the bodies in 2013. He was indicted and eventually convicted at trial in 2016.

Justice Pat Dewine wrote the court’s unanimous opinion, released last week and rejecting claims by Madison’s attorneys that Madison deserved life in prison, and not a death sentence, because of irregularities in the jury selection and trial process,

Dewine said there was overwhelming evidence to support a death sentence for the killings carried out over nine months. A killer’s “course of conduct” behavior involving multiple deaths, even if they don’t occur at the same time, is a factor under Ohio law for receiving a death sentence.

“The similarities in the murders indicate that a single person killed all three victims,” Dewine wrote. “Madison’s admissions and the strong evidence connecting the victims to him and to his residence prove that he was the murderer.”

The court also rejected arguments that Madison should be spared because of an abusive and unstable childhood, noting the killings happened when Madison was 36 years old.

Bowling alley where off-duty officer killed man settles suit

The company that owned a Cleveland bowling alley has settled part of a lawsuit brought by the family of a man who was fatally shot there by an offduty police officer in 2018.

Court documents show the company that owned Corner Alley Uptown, which has since closed, reached an agreement with Thomas Yatsko’s parents on July 14 to end part of their lawsuit connected to their son’s death. If approved, the company will pay Yatsko’s parents $1.2 million, Cleveland.com reported.

Yatsko, 21, got into a fight with a friend inside the bowling alley on Jan. 13, 2018, when off-duty Sgt. Dean Graziolli was working as a security guard there. Yatsko then fought with Graziolli outside, punching him in the face multiple times. Garziolli pulled his gun and shot Yatsko twice. He died a short time later.

His parents, Melissa Yatsko and Darian Allen, sued the company, the officer and the Cleveland police department, alleging that Graziolli used excessive force and failed to provide medical care to their son.

The settlement would end part of Yatsko’s parents’ lawsuit. Their complaints against the Cleveland police and the officer are ongoing.

ASSOCIATED PRESS