Cleveland man pleads not guilty to killing 3 women

CLEVELAND (AP) — A man pleaded not guilty today to kidnapping and killing three women whose bodies were found wrapped in trash bags earlier this month.

Michael Madison, 35, appeared via a video feed from jail for his arraignment, for which he was handcuffed and wearing orange jail scrubs. When the judge asked him how he was, Madison answered, "I've been better."

The judge continued his $6 million bond and said she would appoint two attorneys to represent him. A pretrial hearing was set for Tuesday morning.

Madison is facing six charges of aggravated murder, two for each victim under different killing theories. He's also charged with three counts of kidnapping, three counts of gross abuse of a corpse, one count of rape and one count of weapon possession by an ex-convict.

East Cleveland police found one body July 19 when a caller reported a foul smell coming from a garage. Two more bodies were found the next day.

Madison was arrested in the deaths of Shirellda H. Terry, 18, Angela H. Deskins, 38, and Shetisha D. Sheeley, 28. The medical examiner said Terry and Deskins were strangled and Sheeley died of "homicidal violence by unspecified means."