Anthony Sowell

American Serial Killer (1959–2021)

Anthony Edward Sowell, born on August 19, 1959, and passing away on February 8, 2021, was an American serial killer and rapist infamously known as The Cleveland Strangler. He was convicted in 2011 of murdering 11 women, whose bodies were discovered at his Cleveland, Ohio home in 2009. Following his death sentence, Sowell succumbed to a terminal illness while incarcerated.

Quick Facts

• Born: August 19, 1959, East Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
• Died: February 8, 2021 (aged 61), Franklin Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
• Criminal Status: Deceased
• Convictions:
  • Sexually motivated aggravated murder (11 counts)
  • Attempted murder (4 counts)
  • Kidnapping (2 counts)
  • Rape (5 counts)
  • Attempted rape (5 counts)
  • Abuse of a corpse (11 counts)
  • Tampering with evidence (11 counts)
• Criminal Penalty: Death
• Victims: 11
• Span of Crimes: May 2007 – September 2009
• Country: United States
• State: Ohio
• Date Apprehended: October 31, 2009

Early Life

Sowell's upbringing in East Cleveland was marked by trauma and abuse. Born to single mother Claudia "Gertrude" Garrison, he was one of seven children, including his late sister's children who also lived in the household. Reports indicate that Garrison subjected the children to severe physical abuse. Sowell’s niece, Leona Davis, recounted harrowing incidents, including a time when Garrison forced her to strip naked and whipped her with electric cords until she bled. Tragically, Sowell himself began raping Davis, starting when she was just 10 years old, a horrific pattern of abuse that was compounded by the presence of other men in the household committing similar acts.

Military Service

On January 24, 1978, at the age of 18, Sowell enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. His training took place at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina, followed by electrician training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. By July 1978, he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. In 1980, Sowell served overseas in Japan with the 3rd Force Service Support Group before returning to Cherry Point.

In January 1984, he was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Butler in Okinawa, Japan, and a year later transferred briefly to Camp Pendleton in California before his discharge on January 18, 1985. Throughout his seven years of service, he earned accolades, including a Good Conduct Medal, a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and multiple commendations.

1989 Attack, Incarceration, and Release

In 1989, Sowell attacked a pregnant woman who attempted to leave his home. He bound her hands and feet and gagged her with a rag, choking her until she believed she would die. This led to charges of kidnapping and attempted rape in 1990. Sowell pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, ultimately released in 2005.

Post-incarceration, Sowell worked in a factory until 2007 when he began collecting unemployment benefits. Neighbors reported a foul odor emanating from his home, with some alleging he made a living selling scrap metal. Notably, he was active on an online dating service, presenting himself as a "master" seeking a submissive partner to train.

Sowell entered into a relationship with Lori Frazier, a niece of Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson. Frazier lived with Sowell and mentioned the foul odor, which he attributed to his stepmother and later to a nearby sausage shop when she moved out.

Discovery of Bodies and Arrest

The chilling discovery began in September 2009 when Sowell invited Latundra Billups to his home for drugs. Following an assault, Billups reported the incident to the police. On October 29, authorities arrived at Sowell’s home with an arrest warrant, but he was not present. He was apprehended two days later.

Investigators unearthed the bodies of two women buried in a shallow grave in the basement, while four others were found on the third floor and within crawlspaces. Digging in the backyard revealed three additional bodies and partial remains. Disturbingly, a human skull was discovered in a bucket inside the house, bringing the total victim count to 11. Autopsies revealed that most victims had been killed by manual strangulation, with some found gagged or bound.

Sowell had also raped three women, luring them to his property under the pretense of smoking crack cocaine.

At the time of his arrest, Sowell was 50 years old and had resided at that location for four years. He was held on a $5 million bond. His trial faced numerous delays, initially set for June 2010, pushed back to September, then to February 2011, and ultimately began in June 2011.

Conviction, Sentencing, Appeals, and Death

Sowell faced 11 counts of aggravated murder along with 74 counts of other crimes, including rape and kidnapping. Initially pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, he later changed his plea to simply "not guilty." On July 22, 2011, he was found guilty on all but two counts, including the murders of the 11 women discovered in his home. The jury recommended the death penalty on August 10, and Judge Dick Ambrose upheld this recommendation shortly thereafter. He was sentenced to death and placed on death row at Chillicothe Correctional Institution.

In November 2011, Sowell's lawyers filed an appeal with the Ohio Supreme Court. Although his execution was scheduled for October 29, 2012, a motion for a stay was granted pending the appeal. Sowell's new attorneys later appealed to overturn his conviction based on claims of unfair trial due to extensive media coverage, courtroom closures during jury selection, and inadequate legal representation.

The Ohio Supreme Court reviewed the case and, on December 8, 2016, affirmed Sowell's convictions and death sentence. Subsequent appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court were dismissed, with the court choosing not to hear his case.

On February 8, 2021, Sowell died in an Ohio prison hospital from a terminal illness.

Victims

Sowell's known victims were primarily African-American women, many of whom were mothers. The following are notable victims identified during the investigation:

1. Crystal Dozier, 38 - Missing since May 17, 2007.
2. Tishana Culver, 31 - Missing since June 2008.
3. Leshanda Long, 25 - The youngest victim, missing since August 2008.
4. Michelle Mason, 45 - Last seen in October 2008.
5. Tonia Carmichael, 53 - Disappeared in December 2008, found buried in Sowell's backyard.
6. Kim Yvette Smith, 44 - The first victim reported missing in 2009.
7. Amelda "Amy" Hunter, 47 - Last seen in April 2009.
8. Nancy Cobbs, 45 - Missing since April 24, 2009.
9. Telacia Fortson, 33 - Last seen in June 2009.
10. Janice Webb, 48 - Last seen in June 2009.
11. Diane Turner, 48 - Disappeared in late September 2009.

In the wake of Sowell's crimes, East Cleveland police reopened numerous cold cases from the late 1980s, examining links to unsolved strangulation cases that bore similarities to Sowell's modus operandi.

Aftermath

Following Sowell's conviction, his residence at 12205 Imperial Avenue was demolished in December 2011. He remained imprisoned until his transfer to Franklin Medical Center in January 2021 for end-of-life care. His death on February 8, 2021, marked the end of a notorious chapter in Cleveland's criminal history.

The case has been featured in various media, including the premiere episode of Investigation Discovery's Killer Instinct and the documentary Unseen, which focuses on the victims and survivors of Sowell's heinous acts. In November 2012, Sowell controversially penned a letter to the people of Cleveland, expressing grievances against the former trial judge and discussing artwork he had sent to a murderabilia website.

A memorial, the Garden of 11 Angels, was dedicated on November 6, 2021, to honor Sowell's victims, with a groundbreaking ceremony held on July 16, 2021. Additionally, on July 24, 2021, five women who survived Sowell's attacks shared their harrowing stories in an episode of Oxygen's Snapped titled "Notorious: The Cleveland Strangler."

Sources

• Anthony Sowell - Wikipedia. Retrieved from Wikipedia