Michael Meaderds, a 33-year-old Black man, was a cook and a loving father to his children. Those who knew him remembered him as a caring and compassionate person who loved his kids very much. He was his mother's best friend. In May 2017, he was living in an apartment in Madison, Wisconsin, with his fiancée, Jessica Marias, and her three-year-old son.
On the afternoon of May 30, 2017, a group of men planned to rob Michael of cash and marijuana. Shortly after 4 p.m., the plan turned into a deadly armed home invasion at his apartment in the 500 block of Northport Drive. According to court documents, Michael, his fiancée, and her young child were at home when three men barged in, demanding, "Where is the money, where is the pounds?" One of the men, Glenn Shead, knew Michael and had been let into the apartment, at which point the others forced their way in behind him.
During the robbery, Michael tried to escape through a window but was shot before he could get out.
After he was shot, his fiancée was dragged from the living room to an upstairs safe, from which the intruders stole money and a handgun. A 17-year-old who also lived in the apartment and was involved in selling marijuana with Michael entered during the home invasion, was warned to run, but was caught and thrown into the kitchen. The men then fled the scene. Michael Meaderds was rushed to a local hospital, where he died from what the Dane County Medical Examiner's Office later determined was homicidal firearm-related trauma.
The Madison Police Department launched an investigation, quickly identifying several individuals. The day after the shooting, police arrested 30-year-old Emmanuel Johnson in Sun Prairie. Investigators also identified Odum Carter, 31, as a person of interest and released surveillance photos of two other unidentified men. The search also included a beige 2010 Buick Lacrosse and a white Dodge Charger. Over the following weeks, the investigation led to the arrests of all involved. Steven Johnson was arrested in Madison, Devon Davis was arrested in Chicago, and Odum Carter was apprehended on June 29 in Lafayette, Indiana, by a U.S. Marshals task force. The fifth suspect, Glenn Shead, turned himself in to police after his mother saw his photo in the news and urged him to do so.
All five men faced charges for their roles in the fatal robbery. Emmanuel Johnson, Steven Johnson, Devon Davis, and Glenn Shead ultimately pleaded guilty to armed robbery. Odum Carter, identified as the man who shot Michael, pleaded guilty to felony murder. The sentences varied: Emmanuel Johnson received 15 years in prison, and Steven Johnson was also sentenced to 15 years. Odum Carter was sentenced to 18 years in prison followed by 10 years of extended supervision.
During the court proceedings, Michael's family shared their profound and unending grief. His mother, Raychelle Scott, told the judge, "He was my baby, he was my best friend in the world, and they took that away from me. It’s a life sentence. Every day is a life sentence for me." Jessica Marias spoke of how her young son, who was present during the murder, still longed for his father and wondered why he couldn't come home from the cemetery. In court, Emmanuel Johnson became emotional, expressing remorse for his actions. "I have had countless days, nights, crying, praying, thinking about the victims and how my actions impacted their lives," he said. "And to read and hear about how his mom and his children, how they hurt — it hurts. It breaks my heart."
The case is considered solved, with all five men responsible for the death of Michael Meaderds arrested, convicted, and sentenced for their roles in the crime.
