Anthony Sowell, 50
Two more victims in the Anthony Sowell case have been identified. Today, police released the identities of Telacia Fortson, 31, of East Cleveland, and Tishana Culver, 31, of the 12300 block of Imperial Avenue. Both women were among the 11 bodies found inside this “house of horrors” where Anthony Sowell was living.
Investigators say Telacia was reported as a missing person on October 31, 2009, she was last seen in the area on or about June 1, 2009. Cops say Tishana Culver was never reported as a missing person. Yesterday, investigators identified the first victim, Tonia Carmichael, 52, who was initially reported missing in Warrensville Heights on November 10, 2008.
“As we continue to make progress with the identifications, I want to assure the families of the missing that until they all get the closure they seek and ultimately the justice they deserve, this case will continue to be our focus. On behalf of the City of Cleveland I offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends and relatives of victims,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson.
Police will continue to search the home of Anthony Sowell, tearing it apart piece by piece. On November 4, 2009, investigators executed a warrant to take DNA from Sowell, that DNA will be entered into the national CODIS database.
To learn a little more about Telacia’s life, please take a look at the Cleveland Fox segment and for more about Tishana, please click here.
On Wednesday, November 4, 2009, Sowell was arraigned in Cleveland, OH and was ordered to be held without bond. Kathleen DeMetz, Public Defender representing Sowell says he was working until two years ago, and is currently collecting unemployment. DeMetz also stated Sowell has health problems to include a pace maker, and he is on medication for his heart. She reports Sowell was originally spotted last week pulling scraps off a vacant home when a Good Samaritan called police to turn him in, he didn’t have a car, and would often use the bus for travel. Neighbors report the stench filling the air for years was more than they could take. At one point in 2007, Cleveland Councilman Zack Reed said he submitted a complaint to the health department. The Director of the Cleveland Health Department, Matt Carroll told me yesterday, his department, unfortunately, did not receive that particular complaint, they receive 20,000 complaints a year. Although the health department couldn’t follow up on that complaint, they did follow up on another reported from a resident in the area, which was one block from Sowell’s home. A county inspector went to the location, but could not locate the source of the odor at that time.
TIMELINE OF ANTHONY SOWELL’S LIFE:
As the days go on, and we learn more about this case – this timeline will expand and incidents will be further detailed.
August 19, 1959 – Anthony Edward Sowell was born (according to the Ohio Attorney General’s office of sex offender registry)
July 11, 1977 – Sowell Enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. (according to GySgt Nun, United States Marine Corp Media Chief)
January 22, 1985 – Sowell ends service with the Marines (according to GySgt. Nun, United States Marine Corp Media Chief)
- At some point during Sowell’s service (exact dates TBA), he met a woman and they were married for one year. According to the ex-wife’s mother (whom I spoke with on the afternoon on November 2, 2009) Anthony and her daughter were divorced after one year of marriage. They lived on a base in California together.
July 22, 1989 – Anthony Sowell was convicted of attempted rape of a 21-year-old girl in Cleveland, Ohio (according to public sex offender details from the Attorney General’s Office in Ohio).
1990 – 2005 – Anthony Sowell was convicted and served full15 years behind bars for the 1989 attempted rape.
2005 – According to John O’Brien with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio, Sowell was released, and under the provisions of his release, he was required to check in at the sex offender’s office once a year. Sowell was convicted under Megan’s Law, Pier I classification. O’Brien says, if Sowell moved, he was supposed to check in with the sex offender office at the Sheriff’s department in person, and in writing. Sowell was in compliance with this requirement.
December 2008 – Sowell allegedly attacked a woman but the charges were dropped (more detailed information on this will be posted as soon as it is available).
September 22, 2009 – Deputies from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office did a random spot check on Sowell’s home at 12205 Imperial Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. John O’Brien with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office says Sowell in fact answered the door, and confirmed that he was living there. Deputies did not have cause to enter the home at that time. Allegedly, on the same day, according to O’Brien, another sexual assault took place.
September 23, 2009 – The victim from the September 22, 2009 sexual assault came forward and reported the alleged assault, and according to investigators disappeared.
October 19, 2009 – According to Lt. Thomas Stacho, Public Information Officer with the Cleveland Police department. The victim was scheduled to meet investigators but did not show up.
September 30, 2009 – According to Lt. Thomas Stacho, Public Information Officer with the Cleveland Police department, investigators went to the victim home. She was not there, and investigators were advised by the victim’s mom that the victim is, “hard to get a hold of, but will leave a message.” Investigators left a business card.
October 22, 2009 – An incident occurred when the fire department was called because a woman fell off Sowell’s roof. Police Chief Michael McGrath said this yesterday at an afternoon press conference: “Fire department respondent, and go there in about 5 minutes. The initial call was for Fire/EMS, it wasn’t a police call, the fire department went there, EMS arrived, and they assisted the victim into their wagon. The fire department interviewed Mr. Sowell inside his residence, they transported the victim, and I believe Mr. Sowell in the wagon to the hospital.”
The Police Chief goes on to say members of the fire department felt uneasy about the situation so they called in the police to meet them at the hospital. The victim told police: “she stated she was in the house, she was partying, they were doing coke, drugs, getting high, she was out on the upper balcony, dropped her keys, well when she went to pick them up, she fell off the roof.” According to the Police Chief, the victim told investigators at the hospital Anthony Sowell was her boyfriend, he was in the waiting room, and when police went to talk to him, his story matched hers. Sowell said: ”Yes, this is my girlfriend, we were partying all day… she went off the roof, that’s why we are here.” Investigators ruled the incident, “Accidental Injury” and there was no inclination that Sowell was a sexual predator.
October 27, 2990 – According to Lt. Thomas Stacho, Public Information Officer with the Cleveland Police department, the victim was finally interviewed.
October 28, 2009 – Cleveland Police obtained an arrest and search warrant for Anthony Sowell.
October 29, 2009 – Cleveland Police executed a search warrant; the first six bodies were discovered. Sowell was arrested for charges of rape and felonious assault. Earlier in the day, according to John O’Brien, a resident in the neighborhood saw Sowell pulling scraps off an abandoned house, and walking around, that’s when that Good Samaritan called police.
November 4, 2009 – Anthony Sowell appeared in court, he was arraigned and is so far facing these charges: 5 counts of Aggravated Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, and Felonious Assault. Sowell is being held without bond, and currently has a public defender. He could face the death penalty. Investigators executed a warrant to take DNA from Sowell, and that sample will be entered into the national CODIS database. According to a police press release, ‘his DNA will be compared against known suspect DNA profiles to determine whether or not he is a suspect in any other criminal matter.”
Tags: Anthony Sowell, cleveland, identified, more victims
