Posts Tagged ‘serial killer’

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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WHAT IS A SERIAL KILLER?

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

SERIAL KILLERS

Ted Bundy… David Berkowitz… John Wayne Gacy… Jeffrey Dahmer…

Gary Ridgway… Charles Manson… Andrew Cunanan…

FBI - www.fbi.gov

FBI - www.fbi.gov

These are all familiar names linked to the phrase, “serial killer.”  According to the FBI, Serial killings are rare, probably less than one percent of all murders. They do, however, receive a lot of attention in the news and on screen—and much of the information out there is wrong. Yet, the public, the media, and even sometimes law enforcement professionals who have limited experience with serial murder, often believe what they read and hear. And this misinformation can hinder investigations.” 

The FBI says – as for serial killer myths, our group of experts had this to say about a few of them:  

1) Serial killers are not all dysfunctional loners: some have had wives and kids and full-time jobs and have been very active in their community or church or both.

2) Serial killers are not all white males: the racial diversification of serial killers generally mirrors the overall U.S. population.

3) Serial killers do not want to get caught: over time, as they kill without being discovered, they get careless during their crimes.

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SERIAL KILLER: Six bodies found

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Six women found dead inside an Ohio home…

Anthony Sowell, convicted sex offender case – Police say the bodies were found inside his home.

CBS CRIMESIDER

I just got off the phone with Powell Cesar, spokesman with the Cuyahoga County Corner’s office in Ohio.  He says, the corner’s office can confirm there were six female bodies found inside the home where Anthony Sowell lives.  It is confirmed four of the women died by strangulation, the fifth victim ‘may’ have died by strangulation (working to determine).  The sixth body was badly decomposed and it may take some time to determine the cause of death.  Cesar says, “the bodies could have been there from weeks, to months to years.  Some were covered in blankets, some found in a crawl space, and others in a shallow grave.  When the corner’s office arrived on the scene, they had their hands full.  They had to secure the bodies, bring in a cadaver dog, and determine a fix manner and cause of death, then the next step is to determine the women’s age, race and gender.  We know for sure, two of the women were African American.  Anthropologists in their office can figure out quickly whether the bodies are male or female because of their pelvis bone.  Right now, the Cleveland 4th district headquarters has a command post set up, and are looking for families with loved ones who are missing.  They are collecting DNA samples from those family members, and the corners office will try to match up those samples to the victims.  Cesar says, “the only case I can compare this to is a house fire where five people perished, but something like this is a big case.”  Another case Cesar mentioned in comparison was the case of Jeffery Lungrin who was executed on October 24, 2006 for killing a family of five in 1989.  The youngest victim in that case was only 7-years-old.  You can read the press release here. http://www.drc.ohio.gov/public/press/press253.htm

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