Father’s Grief Erupts After Daughter’s Killer Sentenced to Death

In a Cleveland courtroom, moments after serial killer Michael Madison received the death penalty, grief overwhelmed Van Terry, father of victim Shirellda.

After delivering an emotional statement questioning how he could forgive “the man who tore my family apart,” Terry suddenly lunged toward Madison, leaping over a table before being restrained by security.

The outburst stunned the courtroom, underscoring a painful truth — justice can punish, but it cannot heal the wounds of loss. Terry’s reaction was a raw reminder that behind every verdict lies a lifetime of grief.