Two people are now facing murder charges in connection with the death of a 17-year-old Delaware teen who was found deceased in a wooded area in Newark last month.
Delaware Online reports that fellow classmate, 17-year-old Annika Stalczynski, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder on Monday, in connection with the death of Madison Sparrow. Stalczynski is the second person charged in the case. Last month, police arrested Sparrow’s former boyfriend, 19-year-old Noah Sharp, and charged him also with first-degree murder.
On October 2, Sparrow’s mother reported her missing after the teen failed to return home from what was supposed to be a quick trip to the store with a friend. The next night, a Gold Alert was issued for Sparrow but by the following day, authorities found her in a “wooded area” close to Interstate 95 and near Route 896.
After interviews with friends and family, detectives learned Sparrow reportedly went to an area in the city where Sharp “was located.” On October 5, investigators questioned Sharp, who allegedly admitted to his part in the murder.
Police said Sharp claimed he hit Sparrow in the head with an aluminum bat while behind Maclary Elementary School in Newark, before moving her body and dropping her off in a secluded, wooded area.
Sharp named Stalczynski as his co-conspirator and said they both planned out the murder in advance.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said she couldn’t speak yet about the motive or additional details in the case, as they are “ethically restrained, for good reason.”
“Every murder is an outrage, but the murder of a child strikes at everything we hold dear,” Jennings said. “Madison was stolen from her family and friends with her life and her dreams still ahead of her. A life has been taken and a cruel trauma has been inflicted on hundreds of people who knew and loved this kind, gentle young woman.”
Sparrow and Stalczynski were classmates at Newark Charter High School, Philly Voice reports. State Prosecutor A.J. Roop said that the two girls had known each other for quite some time, spanning back numerous years.
“I believe that they had a relationship going back over a number of years,” Roop said. “I won’t get into much more than that, or what the status was recently, but they were acquaintances and they did know each other.”
Stalczynski and Sharp are also facing additional charges of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, along with conspiracy. Both remain behind bars on a $1 million cash (each) bond.
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[Feature Photo: Madison Sparrow/Facebook]
