Madison Brothers Arrested After Police Link Them to Three Cold-Case Homicides From 2016 and 2017
MADISON, WISCONSIN — Two Madison brothers have been arrested after investigators linked them to three separate homicide cases from 2016 and 2017 — bringing long-running cold cases back to life nearly a decade later.
Arrests Made After Years of Investigative Work
Madison Police announced Thursday that 34-year-old Jordan Sharlow and his brother 33-year-old Justin Sharlow were both taken into custody on homicide warrants following an extensive multi-agency investigation.
Jordan is charged with three counts of first-degree homicide, while Justin faces one count of first-degree homicide — all as party to a crime.
During a Friday briefing, Madison Police Public Information Officer Stephanie Fryer emphasized that detectives never gave up on these historic cases.
“These shootings happened in 2016 and 2017, but we never stopped working on solving these cases,” Fryer explained. “Through evidence work, interviews, and help from outside agencies, we finally had enough to charge both individuals this week.”
2016: Victim Shot Inside Car at Madison Gas Station
The first killing occurred in May 2016, when officers responded to a gas station on the 4500 block of Verona Road. A 38-year-old man was found shot inside a vehicle and later died at the hospital.
Jordan Sharlow is now charged in connection with this homicide.
2017: Drive-By Shooting Leads to Fatal Crash
In March 2017, investigators say a gunman opened fire on a vehicle along the 3000 block of East Washington Avenue. The 31-year-old victim attempted to drive away but crashed into a hotel on the 4800 block of East Washington Avenue. He died from his injuries.
Jordan is also charged in this case.
July 2017: Both Brothers Accused in Deadly Shooting on Adderbury Lane
According to police, both Justin and Jordan Sharlow are charged in the July 25, 2017 killing of a 29-year-old man found shot to death inside a vehicle on the 2000 block of Adderbury Lane.
This case became the link that connected the brothers to multiple killings across the city — leading to renewed investigative momentum.
Arrests Made in Two Wisconsin Counties
On Thursday morning, Madison Police executed a search warrant at a home on Brookfield Drive, arresting Jordan Sharlow.
At the same time, deputies in Columbia County and Sauk County served a search warrant at a residence in the Town of Randolph near Cambria, where Justin Sharlow was taken into custody.
The brothers had previously been arrested on homicide warrants in Cook County, Illinois, in 2018, though no convictions followed at that time.
Nearly a Decade Later, Detectives See Justice Moving Forward
Investigators say this case has been emotional for officers, especially those who originally responded to the homicide scenes years ago.
“Detectives working this case were patrol officers when these murders occurred,” Fryer said. “To come back almost a decade later and make arrests — it’s a full-circle moment.”
A court date for the brothers has not yet been scheduled. The investigation remains active as police continue reviewing evidence across multiple jurisdictions.
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