Slain Long Branch Teen Was Charismatic, Outgoing, Family Says

LONG BRANCH, NJ - Sixteen-year-old Madison Wells should be sitting in her classes at Long Branch High School, where she had just started her junior year.

Instead, her friends and family will be preparing for the young girl's funeral on Friday afternoon in West Long Branch. They will attend a vigil for her at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Cherry Street Park.

Madison was stabbed to death last Saturday night by a man authorities say she knew. Bryan Cordero-Castro, 20, 4th Avenue, is slated to appear before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge James J. McGann at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13. He is is charged with first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and third degree attempted escaped, Prosecutor Christopher J. Grammicioni

Cordero-Castro is from Guatemala and is living in the country illegally, authorities have said.

Wells and Cordero-Castro worked together, according to Michelle Rago, who has set up a gofundme page for Michelle's father Edward and her family to help with funeral expenses.

So far, 69 people have donated $7,006 towards the $15,000 goal in just six hours. If you would like to donate, please click here.

Long Branch police responded to a 10:42 p.m. call reporting the stabbing at 284 Van Pelt Place, Long Branch. Wells was taken to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, where she died at 11:25 p.m., the prosecutor said.

A funeral service for her will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday at the Fiore Funeral Home, 882 Broadway in West Long Branch.

Here is Michelle's obituary, courtesy of Fiore Funeral Home:

Madison Michelle Wells, 16, of Long Branch, died on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. She was born in Long Branch and lived in Florida before moving back to Long Branch in 2014.

Madison began her junior year at Long Branch High School last week. Madison loved making at home science projects, doing her makeup and bike riding. She loved to cook. She had a beautiful smile and was very charismatic and outgoing.

She was predeceased by her mother, Michelle Yurko in 2014; her maternal grandmother, Constance Yurko and her paternal grandmother, Edith Fornino. Surviving are her father, Edward Wells; sisters, Tina Wells, Lexi Wells and Danielle DiGirolamo; her paternal grandfather, Edward Wells, Jr.; aunts and uncles, Lauren Wells, Valerie Wells-Wulffer, Connie and Lou Cicalese and Rob Heinemann, Joe Pron and John Yurko; cousins, Joseph Cicalese and Jennifer Hughes and Louie Cicalese; and nieces, Hailey Marsella and Mikayla Rivera.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday at the Fiore Funeral Home, 882 Broadway in West Long Branch. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her family in care of the funeral home. For condolences, please visit www.fiorefuneralhomes.com.

Photos: Courtesy of Fiore Funeral Home and Gofundme, a Patch promotional partner