Sword and Scale – Episode 338 Summary

Date: February 6, 2026
Host: Sword and Scale
Theme: Generational violence, legacy of abuse, and the chilling realities of two intersecting Cleveland murder cases within one family.

Episode Overview

This episode explores a deeply disturbing family legacy of violence in East Cleveland, Ohio. It traces the 2019 murder of Diane Madison by her grandson, Jaylen Plummer, and uncovers how her own son, Michael Madison, became one of Cleveland’s most notorious serial killers just years prior. Through gripping 911 calls, survivor interviews, and interrogation audio, the episode paints a chilling portrait of generational trauma, systemic failures, and the dark ripple effects of unchecked mental illness and abuse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening: A Night of Horror in Cleveland

• Setting: Collinwood neighborhood, East Cleveland, June 21-22, 2019—summer solstice, “when some say the veil between this dimension and the others is the thinnest” (04:21).
• Crime: Two 10-year-old girls are stabbed and narrowly escape their home, calling 911 with remarkable composure as they seek help for themselves and their cousin.
• 911 Call Highlights:
  • The girls struggle to communicate their address and remain conscious despite life-threatening injuries.
  • A neighbor allows the blood-soaked children into her home, staying calm and focused even as her own asthma flares up (11:34).

“Hey, wake up, baby. Hey, wake up, baby.” – Unnamed neighbor, urging the girls to stay conscious (11:56)

2. First Responders Arrive

• Emergency Response: Slow but urgent, responders guide the neighbors in first aid.
• Victims: The girls had escaped from their grandmother Diane Madison’s house. Another child, Justin (12, autistic), remained trapped inside unaware he was also wounded.

“Justin was trapped in an upstairs bedroom and didn’t even know he was injured.” – Host (18:17)

• Perpetrator: Their cousin Jaylen Plummer (18), who had stabbed approximately his entire family and was caught in the shower attempting to wash away evidence.

“Jalen Plummer was fully clothed, standing under the shower. The blood from his own knife wounds swirled into the drain.” – Host (19:15)

3. Tragic Backstory: The Madison Family Tree

• Jaylen’s Motive: Cites mental health issues and the “mental health care system failed me, so I tried to kill my family.”

• Systemic Failure: Healthcare, legal, and familial interventions had all fallen short for Jaylen as his mental health cratered prior to the killing spree.

• Family Trauma:

  • Diane Madison, lauded in her community as loving and open-hearted, had a troubled past.
  • Her son, Michael Madison—Jaylen’s uncle—was, just a few years earlier, arrested and convicted as a serial killer.
  • The episode delves into Michael’s background, including years of abuse and neglect allegedly suffered at Diane’s hands.

“Maybe Diane Madison wasn’t just a grandmother. She was a mother of one of the most notorious killers in Cleveland’s history.” – Host (31:01)

4. The Michael Madison Case: Echoes of Violence

• Serial Murders: Michael Madison’s crimes included at least three women murdered, raped, and disposed of in garbage bags in and around East Cleveland (2013).
• Investigation and Arrest: After neighbors report a "dead animal smell," police discover decomposing bodies and evidence linking Michael to the crimes.
• Interrogation Footage: Michael offers rambling philosophical musings and barely veiled admissions, painting himself as a misunderstood victim.

“You could be the man right now. Let’s do it. Mike.” – Interrogator (53:22) “I’m numb. I’m truly numb. Truly numb, truly numb. I’m not expecting to be hurt, you know?” – Michael Madison (49:50)

• Abuse & Motive: Defense at trial argues Michael was shaped into a killer by extreme childhood abuse and neglect from Diane—allegations that overshadowed her posthumous reputation.

5. Parallel Trauma and Violence

• Generational Echoes:
  • Both Michael and Jaylen claim grievances rooted in traumatic upbringings and familial abuse, focusing their violence on women.
  • The episode ponders if this “house of horror” is cursed, or if the true horror is how trauma begets trauma when systems fail.

“A man’s manhood should never be compromised when it comes to a female who’s never been a man.” – Michael Madison (60:29)

• Society’s Role: Critique of mental health and social service systems, the stigma around male trauma, and the consequences of ignoring warning signs.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Resilience Amid Horror:

  “Despite her own problems, this woman wasn’t going to let two little girls slip into unconsciousness. I mean, if I needed somebody to bring me back, I’d want this lady. She goes hard.” – Host, on the neighbor’s handling of the situation (11:42)

• Shock at the Scene:

  “Oh, my goodness. This girl is stabbed up real bad.” – Neighbor to 911 (13:03) “In the immortal words of this Ohioan, oh, my goodness, this was Cleveland. But even our seasoned veteran here hadn't seen anything like this before.” – Host (17:05)

• Reflection on the System:

  “Did Jaylen inherit the same demons that haunted Michael? Was this demonic possession some sort of poltergeist in this house of horror? Or do we accept a more rational explanation?...Did the systems America has in place fail both these men? ...In the end, does it all really matter anyway? It should.” – Host (72:39)

• Courtroom Emotion:

  “He was laughing when she gave him the death penalty.” – Sherelda Terry’s aunt, on Michael's behavior during sentencing (67:08)

• On the Execution System:

  "They can put dogs and cats to sleep all day long...But they can't get the cocktail right for humans. ...Doesn’t sound very democratic, does it?" – Host (68:28)

Key Segments & Timestamps

• Intro & 911 Calls: [04:20–17:52]
• Rescue and House Discovery: [17:53–21:27]
• Jaylen’s Motive and Mental Health: [24:33–30:46]
• Family & Michael Madison Backstory: [30:46–44:27]
• Michael Madison Interrogation: [44:27–60:34]
• Investigation & Additional Victims: [60:34–64:03]
• Trial and Community Reaction: [64:12–67:07]
• Death Penalty Commentary & Societal Questions: [67:07–74:22]

Conclusion

Episode 338 delivers a haunting narrative of how cycles of violence and trauma can devastate families and communities across generations. Through firsthand recordings, chilling interviews, and unflinching reconstruction, it questions whether monsters are born, made, or both—and whether society has any real answers or willpower to intervene before tragedy strikes again.

A chilling listen that brings to life Cleveland’s darkest true crime legacy—an episode that stands as a warning and a lament.