Suffolk mother says pleas for help ignored before son killed his father during mental health episode

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Suffolk mother says she spent hours pleading with police for help as her son spiraled into a severe mental health episode, but before help arrived, she said that same son killed his own father in a fatal pedestrian accident.

Police say Michael Madison, 36, has been charged with second-degree murder, assault on a police officer and felony hit-and-run after striking and killing his father, Steaven “Bishop” Hamlin, 66, last Thursday morning near Factory Street in Suffolk.

When officers arrived, they found Hamlin lying on the roadway. He was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

Chantel Hamlin, the victim’s wife and Madison’s mother, told 10 On Your Side she spent nearly three hours leading up to the incident trying to get Suffolk Police to help.

She said she was begging for help, as her son suffered what she described as a manic, bipolar schizophrenic episode.

“My son, he’s bipolar, schizophrenic," Chantel Hamlin said. "He was having a manic episode. My son is torn between his brother killing his dad.”

Chantel Hamlin said police eventually sent a crisis-trained officer to the home, but she was told there was nothing they could do because Madison wasn’t acting combative.

“He went to talk to him and he said, ‘Well, there’s nothing I can do,’” she said. “And I said, ‘What do you mean nothing to do?’”

At one point, Chantel Hamlin said Madison’s counselor called police, warning that Madison needed help.

“I’m afraid he’s going to get in his car and drive,” she said, recalling her conversation with police. “And they said, ‘We’ll take his license plate number, and if he leaves, you just call us.’ And so they left.”

A short time later, Hamlin said her son got into his car, saying he thought he was under attack.

“My husband just happened to be the first person on the street that he saw,” she said. “He didn’t know who he hit. He killed my husband. The system failed my son. He needs some help.”

According to court documents, Madison appeared disoriented during his arrest, at one point claiming he was a 77-year-old man with a different name. Records also show he was taken to a hospital, where police said they had to restrain him after he bit an officer.

“I begged the police not to kill my son,” Hamlin said. “I had to go help find him, and I had to beg them, please don’t kill my son.”

Court records show Madison is being held without bond. Hamlin told 10 On Your Side she spoke with her son earlier Friday and that he was heavily sedated at the hospital. She said Madison told her he has no recollection of Thursday’s events.

Steaven Hamlin was a pastor and is being remembered by his family as a giving and selfless father, one who gives the shirt off his back to anyone in need.

10 On Your Side has reached out to Suffolk Police, and we are waiting to hear back.