Posted on October 8, 2020

Missing Delaware Teen Was Bludgeoned to Death with Baseball Bat by Ex-Boyfriend, Police Say

Crystal Bonvillian, WHIO, October 7, 2020

A 17-year-old Delaware girl reported missing Friday was bludgeoned to death by her ex-boyfriend, who told police he planned the crime with an unnamed person, according to authorities.

Madison Elizabeth Sparrow, 17, of Newark, was last seen alive around 3:40 p.m. Friday. The Delaware State Police had issued a “Gold Alert” on Sparrow out of concern for the girl’s welfare.

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{snip}…Sparrow’s body was found over the weekend in a wooded area near Interstate 95 and Delaware state road 896. Authorities said an autopsy determined she died of blunt force trauma.

State police investigators announced Tuesday that they’d arrested Sparrow’s ex-boyfriend, Noah M. Sharp, 19, in connection with her death.

Sharp, also of Newark, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, according to a Delaware State Police news release.

The motive for the killing, if known by police, has not been made public.

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Investigators conducting interviews learned that Sparrow had gone to an area of Newark where Sharp was, the news release said.

When detectives interviewed Sharp, he allegedly confessed to the killing and directed authorities to Sparrow’s body.

Court records obtained by the Post allege that Sharp told police he used an aluminum bat to hit Sparrow in the head in a wooded area behind Maclary Elementary School. Investigators who went to the school and searched the woods found the bat.

They also found blood and Sparrow’s clothes, the newspaper reported.

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The court records also indicated that Sharp did not plan the crime alone, but his alleged conspirator or conspirators have not been named.

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The investigation into Sparrow’s homicide is ongoing.

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Original Article