According to the Cleveland Police, investigators do not have plans to go back and search the address of Anthony Sowell, but they do have cadaver dogs combing over the neighborhood where Sowell lived.  Investigators are searching commercial dumpsters, and an old elementary school for more bodies.  The house at 12205 Imperial Avenue is still considered a crime scene and will continue to be secured. According to a Cleveland Police press release: “The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office to evaluate investigative strategies. Two County Prosecutors have been assigned and will assist investigators with preparing for prosecution.”  Sowell is currently facing 5 counts of aggravated murder, rape, kidnapping, and felonious assault.  Sowell is held only a $5 million bond, and currently has a public defender.  He could face the death penalty.  Meanwhile, on November 9, 2009, the 8th and 9th victims were identified.  Cleveland Police say Janice D. Webb and Kim Yvette Smith are among the victims found inside Sowell’s residence.  Also, the Prosecutors office filed an indictment today against Sowell for charges attempted murder, rape, kidnapping, and felonious assault.  Cuyahoga County Jail Warden, Kevin McDonough told me that Sowell is currently being held in solitary confinement.  He is only allowed out of his cell when there aren’t other inmates around, and his time out in the common area is very limited.  Warden McDonough said Sowell is only held at his facility during his court case, and will be transferred to the state prison when the case is over.  He says Sowell is “watched closely,” and during Sowell’s time there, he is allowed to receive and respond to mail. 

Over the weekend, three more victims were identified, bringing the total of positively identified remains to seven African American women.  Police say the women were found dead inside of Anthony Sowell’s home after they executed a search warrant on October 29, 2009.  Although we know the identities of  these seven women, there are still three more bodies and one skull police need to identify.

On November 8, 2009, Parishioners filled the Mt. Olive Baptist Church to mourn the murdered women.  Hundreds of people filled in to show their respect, and honored those lost with song and prayer.

I spoke with Councilman Zack Reed who was boarding a flight back to Cleveland this afternoon, he says after all 11 bodies are positively identified, two major things need to take place: 

1)      “We as city council who has oversight over the health department, safety department… we need as city council to put together committees, new committees, present comities, city council needs to do the oversight duties first.”

2)      “We cannot investigate ourselves, we have to do an independent evaluation as to what actually happened.”

Powell Cesar from the Cuyahoga County Corner’s Office told me earlier today they are working with DNA to identify the other four victims.  Cleveland police say six of the bodies were found inside the home, and five were buried outside.

On Wednesday, November 4, 2009, Anthony 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 which include a pace maker, and he currently taking heart medication.

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.

“On behalf of the City of Cleveland, the families of these victims and all missing persons are in our thoughts and prayers,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson.

According to police, Tonia, age 52 was reported missing in Warrensville Hts. on November 10, 2008. 

TELACIA FORTSON, VICTIM

TISHANA CULVER, VICTIM

Police say Tishana Culver, 31, was identified by the Cuyahoga County Corner’s office as one of the victims found in the 12205 Imperial Avenue house.  Tishana lived one block down in the 12300 block of Imperal Avenue.  She was not initally reported as a missing person.

According to police, Nancy lived in the 11900 block of Griffing Avenue in Cleveland.  Her family reported to police that she had not been seen since April 24, 2009.

Police say Amelda Hunter lived in the 3200 block of E. 137th Street.  She was not reported as a missing person at the time her body was discovered inside Sowell’s residence.  Investigators say her family came forward on November 3, 2009 to file an official report.  She was last seen on or about April 18, 2009.

Investigators say Crystal Dozier lived in the 6900 block of Kinsman Avenue.  Police say was initally not reported as a missing person at the time of her discovery inside the home, and she was reportedly last seen in October, 2007.

 According to police, Michelle Mason, 45, of Cleveland, Ohio was reported missing by her mom on October 12, 2008.  Investigators say they did hit the streets to search for Michelle by checking area hospitals and residences, but never found her until recently.  It was reported Michelle suffered a bi-polar disorder, and was not taking her medicine. 

 

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.” 

If you have any information on this case that could help police, please contact them at this e-mail address: Imperialtips@city.cleveland.oh.us