Full Name: Madison Elizabeth Sparrow

Alternative Name: Madi

Case Status:

Record ID#: 0161

*The names “Jane Doe”  and “John Doe” are English names used when the person’s true name is not known. If used above, the name refers to a person of unknown identity.

Date of Birth*: 2003
Birthplace:
Age at the Time: 17
Age Group: Teenager (13 to 19 Years Old)
Biological Sex: Female
Hair: Long, Brunette
Eyes: Dark Colored
Skin Complexion:
Shoe Size:
Ethnicity: Caucasian or White
Nationality: United States
Languages Spoken: English

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Physical Build:

Height:

Weight

Distinguishing Marks:

• Eyeglasses

Medical Condition:
Physical Abnormality:
Dental Condition:
Scars & Other Marks:
Piercings:
Tattoos:

Other Descriptors:

Clothing

Black Tights, Denim Shorts, Blue Hoodie with "Wildwood Beach, New Jersey"

Possessions:

White Ghost Earrings

Date of the Disappearance*: October 2, 2020

Description: On October 2, 2020, the quiet town of Newark, Delaware was shaken by the sudden disappearance of 17-year-old Madison Elizabeth Sparrow—a bright, kind, and introspective high school junior who dreamed of one day becoming an elementary school teacher. Known to her loved ones as “Madi,” she was described as warm-hearted and full of quiet cheer, someone whose smile and hugs could lift the spirits of anyone around her.

Madison was funny, outgoing, and vivacious. . . . a loving and compassionate person. She had an infectious smile and gave spirit lifting hugs. Her presence in the lives of all that knew her will forever be deeply missed. ~ Funeral Home Obituary

That Friday afternoon seemed ordinary at first. Madi told her family she was heading out for ice cream and to pick up a birthday present for her sister. She stopped at a local Dairy Queen around 3:00 p.m., but what was supposed to be a simple outing turned into something far more sinister.

Later that afternoon, around 3:30 p.m., family and friends began receiving strange, out-of-character messages from Madi’s phone. The texts hinted at her wanting to run away, but the tone felt off. Alarmingly, her phone went silent shortly after.

At approximately 3:40 p.m., witnesses reported seeing Madison climbing into an older-model, white, lifted Chevrolet pickup truck with four doors. Inside were reportedly three unidentified men. It remains unclear whether the suspect and eventual confessed killer, was among them or if the truck was simply used to facilitate the plan that had already been set in motion.

With her purse, money, and credit cards left behind, her family grew increasingly concerned and reported her missing by 8:30 that evening. A Gold Alert was issued, and a full-scale search quickly followed. Police, volunteers, and members of the community combed through wooded areas and farmland, desperate to bring Madi home.

Multiple Victims?: No

Rumored or Actual Sightings:

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Date the Body was Recovered: October 5, 2020

Description: The investigation soon led detectives to focus on Madi’s ex-boyfriend, 19-year-old Noah Sharp, after interviews with her friends revealed troubling details. During an interrogation, Sharp confessed to something unimaginable—he had lured Madison into a wooded area behind Maclary Elementary School and struck her with an aluminum baseball bat, delivering a fatal blow. He then moved her body to a secluded area near the I-95 and Route 896 interchange, where police recovered her remains on October 5, just three days after she was last seen.

The horror of the case didn’t end with Sharp. Further investigation revealed a second suspect: 17-year-old Annika Stalczynski, a classmate and friend of Madison’s, who had helped plan the ambush. Both were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. The revelation that Madi’s death was not only premeditated but orchestrated by people she once trusted sent shockwaves through the community.

In May 2022, Stalczynski pleaded guilty to murder and conspiracy. Because she was a juvenile at the time of the crime, her sentence allows for a review after 30 years. Later that year, Sharp stood trial. In October, a jury found him guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The loss of Madison Sparrow left a hole in the hearts of her family, friends, and the broader Newark community. More than 400 people attended candlelight vigils held in her memory in both Delaware and New Jersey. They spoke of her laughter, her dreams, and her deep compassion. Her former school, Newark Charter, established a scholarship in her name—one that will help other young people pursue careers in education, just as Madi had hoped to do.

Time of Death: October 2, 2020 shortly after she was taken.

Cause of Death: Blunt force trauma to the head, likely from being struck with an aluminum baseball bat.​

Recovered Remains (if partial):

Suspected Homicide?: Yes

Multiple Victims?: No

DNA Tested (No Match):

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Description: Older-model, white, lifted, four-door Chevrolet truck

License Plate:

Description:

Noah Sharp was 19 years old at the time of Madison Sparrow’s murder and was identified as her ex-boyfriend. A Black male from Newark, Delaware, he was born around August 23, 2001. He is described as having an average build with dark black, curly hair and dark eyes. Prior to the crime, there is no public record indicating any previous criminal history. Sharp was arrested on October 7, 2020, and held on $1,021,000 bail. In October 2022, he was convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy, and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Annika Stalczynski was 17 years old when she was arrested in connection with the murder of Madison Sparrow. A White female and classmate of Madison’s at Newark Charter School, she was born around July 9, 2003. She was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy, and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. She was held in juvenile detention on $1,021,000 bail. In May 2022, Stalczynski pleaded guilty to the charges. Because she was a juvenile at the time of the crime, her life sentence is subject to a mandatory review after 30 years under Delaware law.