Posts Tagged ‘Anthony Sowell’

Anthony Sowell pleads ‘not guilty’

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
Anthony Sowell

Anthony Sowell

Anthony Sowell, the man accused of killing 11 women and leaving their bodies to rot inside his Cleveland, Ohio home pleaded not guilty today, by reason of insanity.  Sowell, a convicted sex offender, is indicted on 85 counts stemming from kidnapping to rape, and aggravated murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in this case.

TIMELINE OF ANTHONY SOWELL’S LIFE:

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).

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House of ‘Horror’ – More Victims Identified

Monday, November 9th, 2009

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. 

 
SOWELL-CLEVELAND-POLICE2
 
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: 

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BREAKING NEWS: 4th victim identified in the Anthony Sowell case

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Just getting word from authorities that a fourth victim has been identified in the mass murders on Imperial Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. Nancy Cobbs, 43, was identified today.   According to investigators, Nancy lived along Griffin Avenue in Cleveland.  Her family says they have not seen her since April 28, 2009, and a missing persons report was filed on June 11, 2009.

More details to come… keep checking www.michellesigona.com

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Anthony Sowell: MORE VICTIMS IDENTIFIED & UPDATED TIMELINE

Thursday, November 5th, 2009
Anthony Sowell, 50

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. 

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Anthony Sowell case: NEW INFORMATION MORE VICTIMS IDENTIFIED

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

2ND AND 3rd VICTIMS IDENTIFIED…

I have new information to bring you on the Anthony Sowell case out of Ohio, and more information to help close in the detailed timeline listed below on this page.  Investigators today identified a second and third body in this case. Cops say,Telacia Fortson, 31, of East Cleveland, and Tishana Culver, 31, of the 12300 block of Imperial Avenue, sadly were both found inside the home where Sowell was living.

I will close in more of the timeline below in a few hours with a new updated post. 

To learn more about Telacia’s life, please take a look at the Cleveland Fox segment. 

On another note, my thoughts and prayers to all of the family and friends who lost so many at the Ft. Hood Army base today today… very tragic.

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First Victim Identified

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

TONIA CARMICHAEL, 52

The first victim in the Cleveland case is identified as 52-year-old Tonia Carmichael.  Her body is among the 11 found inside the “house of horrors” on Imperial Avenue in Cleveland, OH.  Investigators say Tonia was last seen on November 8, 2008 in Warrensville Heights, a Cleveland suburb near Sowell’s home.  Mourners gathered last night at a local church to pray for the victims, and for Sowell.  You can see video of last night’s service right here at FOX 8 Cleveland.

The Cuyahoga County Corner’s office spoke out at a press conference yesterday afternoon, and asked for any family members of missing loved ones to please come forward to submit DNA samples.  Right now, investigators say they have DNA from some of the other bodies located, but they don’t have anything to match it to.  Some of the victims are so badly decomposed that it is impossible to use fingerprints and visual recognition to identify them.  Dr. Frank Miller with the Cuyahoga County Corner’s office said the best samples need to come from the maternal side of the victims family, meaning mothers, grandmothers, and even children.  The Cleveland Police department also announced a search warrant served to Anthony Sowell to retrieve his DNA, and compare that to thousands of other crime cases across the country.

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10 bodies found in Cleveland

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
Anthony Sowell, 50, courtesy Cleveland Police Departement

Anthony Sowell, 50, courtesy Cleveland Police Departement

Police say they found 4 more bodies inside the home of Anthony Sowell, and they fear there are more.  This brings the total count up to 10, along with one skull found in the basement.  Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath said this yesterday at an afternoon press conference: “It appears this man had an insatiable appetite that he had to fill.” Sowell, a former United States Marine, is charged with 5 counts of Aggravated Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, and Felonious Assault. He was arraigned in court this morning in Cleveland, OH, this is where he will be held without bond.  The fire department will be on location inside the home today to tear out walls and floors to check for more bodies.  According to police, the Building Housing Department checked all vacant homes within 1/4 mile of Sowell’s residence yesterday.  Today, they will stretch their efforts out 1/4 mile more.  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.
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Breaking News Alert

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Anthony Edward Sowell, 50

Anthony Edward Sowell, 50

Breaking news:  Police in Cleveland, OH confirm four more bodies, and one skull found inside and around the home of Anthony Sowell off Imperial Avenue.  This brings the total count to 10.  At 4 p.m. this evening, Sowell was formally charged with 5 cts. of Aggravated Murder, and tomorrow morning he will be arraigned at 8 a.m.  I spoke to the head of the health department about complaints of stench coming from the home, and also Councilman Zack Reed who claims his office filed a complaint about the home in 2007.  I have a lot to tell you, but I am getting ready to go live again at 7 p.m.  As soon as I am finished, I will go into detail on www.michellesigona.com about the very latest in this horrific investigation.  I am hoping these women will be identified quickly.

UPDATE MISSING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

I spoke to the parents of Kyrstin Gemar, 22, missing University of Dickinson student about an hour ago.  I will detail the conversation of Larry and Claire Gemar when I am done with my live hits on CNN this evening.

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More Bodies Found In Ohio?

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

 There are reports surfacing that as many as two more bodies may have been found in connection with the Anthony Sowell investigation in Cleveland, Ohio.  I have calls into investigators to confirm possible discoveries.   

HORRIBLE STENCH LINGERING FROM HOME

In the meantime, I spoke with Cleveland Councilman Zack Reed, and he says his office contacted the health department in 2007 about the horrible stench rising from Anthony Sowell’s home.  I did reach out to the health department to confirm the visits they made to the neighborhood, and I am waiting to hear back.  Councilman Reed is calling for a full-scale independent investigation into the horrific smell that loomed through the neighborhood, and why more wasn’t done.  Councilman Reed hopes the investigation will uncover what procedures took place during the last few years along Imperial Avenue, and how the city can prevent something like this from ever happening again.  This Thursday, Councilman Reed, pastors and other members from the community will descend on the neighborhood for a press conference; they want to reach out to the community to let them know there is assistance to help them during this difficult time.  I’m heading out to CNN in Washington, D.C. now, and I will have more on this when I return.

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NAILING DOWN A TIMELINE

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Anthony Edward Sowell, 50

Anthony Edward Sowell, 50

TIMELINE OF ANTHONY SOWELL’S LIFE:

I am in the process of nailing down a detailed timeline for Anthony Edward Sowell, and the disturbing case surrounding the six bodies of African American females rotting inside his home in Cleveland, OH.

Please keep in mind, at this point Anthony Sowell has not formally been charged with the murders of the women found in his home–but investigators do tell me they are preparing to formally charge him soon.  Sowell was a United States Marine, and it makes me wonder how someone could take such a wrong turn in life.

As the hours go on, and as dates and locations are confirmed, 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)

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