FREEHOLD – Madison Wells was just 16 when an ex-boyfriend took her life.
In the hours before her murder, her ex texted or called her more than 230 times, police found. Wells had recently broken things off with Bryan Cordero-Castro, 22, of Long Branch.
On September 8, 2018, the day of her murder, he went looking for her. She avoided him for a time, but ultimately she went outside to speak to him. A few minutes later, she stumbled back into her home with stab wounds in her chest.
Cordero-Castro was arrested at his cousin’s house two hours later. While he was being processed, he attempted to run out of the booking room but was quickly stopped.
He pleaded guilty on November 22, 2019 to first degree Aggravated Manslaughter and third degree Attempted Escape.
On October 23, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Subject to the “No Early Release Act,” he must serve at least 85 percent of the penalty before becoming eligible for parole. He also was served an additional 5 years in prison on the Escape charge.
