CLEVELAND — The man charged in the murder of his grandmother went before a judge on Monday.
Jaylen Latrell Plummer is charged with fatally stabbing 62-year-old Diane Madison on Saturday. She is the mother of serial killer Michael Madison.
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However, Ken Wood doesn't want his friend Diane remembered only as the mother of a serial killer.
“Diane was a loving and kind person and sometimes I think that gets lost,” He said.
He and Robert Koonce used to work with Diane at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy and stayed in touch even after they all left the organization.
“I just want them to remember her smile and how much laughter and joy she brought to people's lives,” Robert Koonce said.
Ken added, “She was someone who was compassionate who cared about her family, who cared about her grandkids, who cared about her kids even when they couldn't reciprocate maybe.”
They were there to listen when she had to deal with the trial and sentencing of her son and watched how she handled the situation.
“With courage, facing the problem, not running away from it, not being unwilling to talk about it and trying to make the next day better than the current day,” Robert said.
He added that she cared for her grandchildren, including Michael's kids and tried to make their world a better place.
“I want her to be remembered as someone who cared deeply for her children, as someone who cared passionately about her community,” Robert said.
That's why she worked for companies and organizations that saved land and revitalized historic real estate.
“[She was] a person of true joy despite challenges she faced over her life recently and in past years,” Robert said.
Ken will remember her as a country girl from rural Pennsylvania who kept in touch with High School classmates.
“She was just a fine person and I'm a better person to have known her,” he added.
Plummer is being held on $2 million dollars bond.