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November 3, 2009

More Bodies Found at Ohio Home

Posted: 06:36 PM ET

Last night on our show we told you about the bodies of 6 women found at the Cleveland home of a convicted rapist. But now we’ve just learned there may be as many as 10 victims. Forensic teams, who’ve been at the home of Anthony Sowell with cadaver dogs and digging equipment since early this morning, unearthed more remains, up to 10 bodies now reportedly found at the home. Sowell, a convicted rapist back on the streets since 2005, was taken into custody over the weekend. Cops there to arrest Sowell on new sex assault charges when they make the shocking discovery in his home. Neighbors report smelling an awful stench for years but assumed it was coming from a nearby sausage company, Ray’s Sausage. But the entire time the foul odor was decomposing bodies hidden inside Sowell’s home. The first 6 bodies discovered in different areas of the three-story residence, including the basement, a living room, a crawl space and a shallow grave in the backyard. 5 of those victims, strangled to death. Authorities are set to hold a news conference, lots of new questions swirling, including are there even more victims? And, did this Cleveland neighborhood have a serial killer and rapist in their midst for years?

Anthony Sowell
Anthony Sowell

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MARLYNE COLLADO   November 3rd, 2009 7:14 pm ET

HE NEEDS TO ROT HIS DAMN SELF...HE NEEDS TO GET TORCHERD TO DEATH THE SAME WAY THOSE GIRLS DID!!! AND WHAT ABOUT OUR SYSTRM???SO THEY DONT CHECK ON RAPIST'S?? ANYONE WITH A BACKGROUND OF RAPE,MOLEST,KILLING,CHILD ABUSE I THINK SHOULD GET RANDOM VISITS....I MEAN COME ON SOMEONE COMING OUT OF PRISON THAT HAS A RECORD OF DRUG CHARGES AND ROBBERY GET CHECKED ON ALL THE TIME BUT THESE SICKO'S DONT! DONT MAKE ANY DAMN SENSE!!!!! WHERE IS THE COMMON SENSE??

Lynda Lansdell   November 3rd, 2009 7:19 pm ET

Sex crime convicts should just never-EVER get out. It should be recognized that that is ones sexual orientation! It won't change any more than somebody who's straight or gay or into feet! If you are "into" raping adults or children or animals, THAT WON"T CHANGE! A law should be passed, These people should never get out!

QUINCY LARCEN   November 3rd, 2009 7:44 pm ET

HE NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED FOR THESE HORRIFIC CRIMES. HE NEEDS TO BE TORTURED AND PUT BEHIND BARS FOR THE REST OF HIS MESSIRABLE LIFE. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS.

melissa   November 3rd, 2009 7:45 pm ET

I think this sick s.o.b shuld be locked up and the key thrown away !!
i dont seem to understand how these sick people are released into society each and every day! i agree with you lynda a law should be passed to keep theese disgusting pedofiles off the streets.

Joann   November 3rd, 2009 7:53 pm ET

I'm sure they aren't finding finished recovering his victims. THIS IS SICK!!! I read on another news report that the smell in the surrounding neighborhood had been sick for years. They are now searching a boarded up house on the same block. And a shut up school not to far away. I am in shock that the police didn't find something suspious here sooner. The smell was all blamed on a sausage plant. SICK SICK SICK!!! I just can't get over the shock I am feeling that no one no authorties nothing all these years sense 2005 when he was released thought of any thing going wrong. Apparently they had even went to his door to check on him for not reporting in I am guessing for parole or something. They were at his door apparently within hours of his latest rape victim reporting being raped by him. They could not smell the stinch and be suspious while there. They could have prevented this person from rape!!!!

Nora   November 3rd, 2009 7:58 pm ET

This monster has been walking around free since 2005! Why was he ever released from prison to begin with? Anyone who has the mindset to do these things is SICK and rehabilitation for them is a waste of time. The legal system needs to be restructured completely when it comes to sentancing and probation. If this man had been kept behind bars with NO chances of release...EVER...maybe the innocent people he killed would still be among the living. Our society needs to stop turning our heads away from things that are happening right in front of us...in the very cities and towns we live in.

JK   November 3rd, 2009 8:06 pm ET

Yeah, I live in Cleveland.. about 15 minutes away from this whole situation. It's disgusting, how can you go into a house that you live in with these dead bodies! So gross.

Lisa   November 3rd, 2009 8:34 pm ET

A sausage factory....that's what people thought the stench was from! Absurd! Totally absurd. How could people/the city of Cleveland have let this man out of prison to begin with? Aren't prisoner's given a psychiatric evaluation before they leave? The police chief even said himself, "he had an insatiable desire he had to fulfill". What kind of sick, sick individual could live like this. He must absolutely be totally mental....and the only reason he was left to create these crimes is that there are too many criminals and not enough people to follow-up. And why weren't these women reported missing??? My heart goes out to all of the victims and their families.

Kimberly   November 3rd, 2009 9:11 pm ET

This is really sick. He just needs to go jail for the rest of his life. They shouldn't even give people like him a trial because of the evidence. He's very very sick. How could this have gone on for so long?

LAQUITTAMEEKS   November 3rd, 2009 9:12 pm ET

ONE WORD: PITIFUL

Teresa Simmons   November 3rd, 2009 9:15 pm ET

This is so sad. I am so sorry for the families who will find out some of the discovered remains are their loved ones. I cannot begin to imagine how someone can repeatedly do such horrific things to another living human being. I hope police and detectives do their jobs so there is not even one loophole that will allow this man to ever see the light of day in the free world again. I hope the justice system sees to it that this monster of a man is punished to the full extent of the law. My condolences and prayers to the families of the victims.

Jim from Cleveland   November 3rd, 2009 9:16 pm ET

Two men called 911 in the summer when a naked woman fell from a window. The suspect also came out of the window. He too, was naked. The two men called 911. Cleveland EMS came and transported the woman to the hospital. She spoke with the Cleveland Police at the hospital but she would not press charges so Cleveland Police did nothing further.

Kim   November 3rd, 2009 9:17 pm ET

Does anyone know where the stepmother is now? I hope that he didn't do something bad to her too.

lisa healey   November 3rd, 2009 9:21 pm ET

What happened to the follow up on a predator?. He was a sex offender how could he have been allowed to live and breath amongst the public especially since his violence was rape..How could no one be able to get through the red tape and have the police do a random search of his home?. God save us all from these animals

TONY   November 3rd, 2009 9:24 pm ET

I really think this is the sickest thing I ever herd of,has our country gotten that bad to where we can't keep people like this in jail, I think we need to do a better job of investgating the sex offenders we let out of jail, because they had him and let him go now we have all these bodies poping up, my sympaty to the families.

Leyni   November 3rd, 2009 9:25 pm ET

This is completely ridiculous. First off, how clueless can people be? The smell of a decomposing body is something you never forget, how can you confuse it with a sausage factory? I mean, really. Second, this guy is a rapist! I'm sorry, but rapists and child molesters should have to go through EVERYTHING they put their victims through. Mercy is unjustified in a case like this. Give the bastard what's coming to him. Death is too good for him.

jay   November 3rd, 2009 9:29 pm ET

I'm sitting here watching nancy grace right now and they flashed pictures of missing women in ohio. now i'm not saying that all the women in ohio that are missing are black but all the women nancy grace just showed were black. and see i've been having some issues with her show as of lately. i live in north carolina and this year alone there are 10 black females either missing or killed in north carolina that i haven't heard a one reported on any news station. but my concern is why does it take this guy having bodies buried in his yard and bodies in his house for the missing person pictures to be flashed on tv and they are all black.

Mindy from Cleveland   November 3rd, 2009 9:30 pm ET

Nancy,
No one has mentioned anything about Sowell's aunt and uncle that own that home. Is there any word about their whereabouts?

Leslie D.   November 3rd, 2009 9:31 pm ET

I think that this is repulsive and i am sick to my stomach, knowing that sowell was a convicted rapisit in prision for 15 years, than there was conversation that he was able to recieve government assistance with a monthly check!!!!!!! HELLO PEOPLE WHAT IS GOING ON AND guess who pays for it????? TAX PAYERS.....

Keith   November 3rd, 2009 9:34 pm ET

The Cleveland PD is a disaster. Ten families are missing women and the Police can't put the picture together and do a serious investigation of all the missing women. It also takes them 2 months to arrest the sick murderer for rape? The Commissioner and Police Chief should resign.

texas   November 3rd, 2009 9:36 pm ET

thats why men like this belong in jail

Betsy   November 3rd, 2009 9:36 pm ET

Is Sowell in custody?! Why are people not talking about his where-abouts? Please say the police have him, and if not, why is there not more warnings for him being on the loose?

Julie   November 3rd, 2009 9:37 pm ET

No, say it ain't so? You mean tell me he went to jail for sex crimes and then upon release went on to commit even more heinous sex crimes? Surely he was rehabilitated while serving time? Hello, when are people and the "justice" system going to get a clue?

Angie C   November 3rd, 2009 9:38 pm ET

This happened in the worst part of town in Cleveland. Not in the suburbs like Nancy thought. My husband is a policeman who used to work that neighborhood and thank god he was able to transfer to the much nicer west side. This is unbelievable even for a bad part of town.I hope they can Identify those poor women soon for some closure

Mike   November 3rd, 2009 9:39 pm ET

That guy sucks. My heart goes to all the victims and their families

Matt   November 3rd, 2009 9:40 pm ET

Why is it so important to stress that he was an ex-Marine? Other that the possiblity that there may be undiscovered victims in NC or CA, what does his job that he had over 20 years ago have anything to do with this? You have repeated this so many times it seems that you are revealing some hidden mistrust or disgust of the military. We should honor the men and women that protect your right to free speach and lumping this animal with them is a disservice.

Jim from Cleveland   November 3rd, 2009 9:40 pm ET

Cleveland Police had a chance to investigate this guy back in the summer. They have the 911 tapes of guys calling for help when he and this naked woman fell from the house. They have the EMS report on the condition of the woman. But Cleveland Police never investigated once the woman refused to cooperate.

ST   November 3rd, 2009 9:41 pm ET

There is still another woman in 12/2008 that was raped by him and nothing was ever done:

CLEVELAND – Two women feel extremely lucky to be alive. Both women believe that 50-year-old Anthony Sowell would have killed them.

"He was gonna kill me. I have scars on my neck and nerve damage," said one of the victims. That woman, who asked not be identified, said, "I couldn't leave the house for months. I was afraid to go to the store. I could not sleep."

According to a police report, the woman was walking on Imperial Avenue, toward the bus stop, on Dec. 8, 2008, when she saw Sowell. He said, "Merry Christmas" and she replied, "same to you."

The woman claims Sowell asked her to "drink beer" with him and when she refused he "punched her in the face and dragged her to his house."

The woman fought back, "gouging his eyes" and "grabbing his genitals." She fell down several flights of stairs and then crawled outside to the driveway. Eventually, she flagged down a Cleveland Police cruiser.

Sowell was arrested for rape, kidnapping and robbery, but the case was dropped.

The victim believes that happened because she had a pending assault case against her at the time, and because Sowell claimed she assaulted him.

Ten months later, on Sept. 22, 2009, another woman was raped and strangled inside the house on Imperial.

The victim told police she passed out and woke up in her own urine and feces.

Sowell let that victim leave. She contacted authorities and on Thursday, Oct. 29, officers went to the house with a warrant for Sowell's arrest.

Sowell had fled the home, but inside investigators found six decaying bodies.

The victims who survived feel blessed, but also angry.

One of the women attacked said, "They let that man go and look what happened."

On Saturday, the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office confirmed that all six bodies appear to be women, and most had died of strangulation.

Cleveland Police Lt. Tom Stacho says that in an attempt to identify the bodies, they are focusing their missing persons search on women in the immediate area.

Police are urging anyone who might know of a missing person in the area, to please call their command post at (216) 310-4366 or (216) 310-4370.

Franklin   November 3rd, 2009 9:41 pm ET

In Philadelphia, PA in the 80's they had Harrison Marty Graham, who had at least this many woman in his 3rd floor apartment. This is so much like this case.

Diana   November 3rd, 2009 9:43 pm ET

They should check his DNA to the 6 bodies found near Rocky Mount NC. There are 3 more missing there as well

Angie C.   November 3rd, 2009 9:45 pm ET

I just wanted to clarify that this took place in one of the worst parts of cleveland not the suburbs. We live on the opposite side of town on the west and many parts of east are high crime. I just pray for all the families of the women that are missing that they get some answers soon. As a wife of a cleveland cop who worked in that neighborhood, They do everything they can with what little resources they have. Believe me this is not an image they want to take home with them.

Felicia   November 3rd, 2009 9:52 pm ET

Well i live in that cleveland area, and i have to say that the police in the area do not respond when you call. And i hate to play the race thing but i know first hand cause i live in the area, that cleveland police are not responsive to black cases as they are white cases, that is just the reality of the part of town we live in. The missing person's case's get put in the bottom of the pile and not played up until something like this happens and is put on CNN, MSNBC , FOX NEWS and other news channels, even our own news channels put missing cases of black people to the side, it's like there is no amount of importance for missing black women children and men. It is a sick individual that can kill and kill over and over again and they again where not reported because in that area we are not important if we go missing.

Janelle   November 3rd, 2009 9:54 pm ET

Does anyone know if Anthony Sowell has ever lived homeless? I have served this population for years and in several cities;mainly Atlantic City, NJ; Nashville, Tn; and currently in Charlotte, NC. He looks very familiar. Is he also short in stature?

Dawn Sanders   November 3rd, 2009 9:55 pm ET

Nancy,do u think there will b more arest made n this case, Like the Parrol. officers, The people in charge of this Monster. He was n prison for 15 years as a sex affender. who was monering him, where is his aunt that owns the home? is she among the dead bodys?

ann   November 3rd, 2009 9:56 pm ET

This is a tragedy for women. The problem is that the Cleveland Police Department is still in the dark ages when it comes to violence against women. It does not even have a missing persons division, so no one could add up the details to even notice the pattern of missing women. The Cleveland Police are notorious for failing to even respond to calls. They do not take missing person reports seriously. Someone should investigate them. Shame on the Chief of Police for questioning the background of the victims.

As if that were not bad enough, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff was supposed to check up on this man because he was a registered offender. They did check on him but they did not follow up on the stench of the rotting bodies. I am sure that this is due to a decades old culture that was fostered by the former sheriff who was recently forced out of office. [He was collecting his check but never coming in to work for many months!!] Many County officials have recently been indicted for corruption. It is time that someone investigated them and their lack of responsibility toward the citizens of this City and County. If they had done their jobs, maybe some of the women would not have died. People here are absolutely outraged by the terrible job done by law enforcement.

Anissa G..   November 3rd, 2009 10:00 pm ET

This case is a copycat of the Kendall Francois case. A man who was convicted of killing eight prostitutes, from 1996 to 1998. He picked up women, took them home with him (he resided with his parents and sister at the time) Strangled them until their neck snapped and buried them in the back yard and in bags inside the house. This case is just like that.

Marilyn Holt   November 3rd, 2009 10:04 pm ET

This is about the missing 7month old baby.

Perhaps the parents names have not been released because they are in the witness protection program?

Also, the child went missing Halloween night – any cults in the area?

Deborah G   November 3rd, 2009 10:23 pm ET

Dear Nancy,
In these communities here in cleveland many incidents well lets be honest murders goes on here, with minimum to none investigation by our police departments. If families reported more than 3 women was missing within that neighborhood in a certain length of time it would had begun to raise questions to someone who was trained for these things. I will tell you it's purely there lifestyle these woman lived that made them not important enough to be looked into, but one thing that
is enough to make efforts toward these woman they where human and was entitle to make mistakes. Now this may not be the outcome for some of these victims they may have lived a full successful life until they meet this man. Some situation such as walking by, or taken from their enviroment was beyond there control so there is no reason to point fingers at lifestyle because we all have the right to live.

This man was release in 2005 from jail for rape, trained in the service how to kill but not for these purpose to harm woman in such manners.
The police department needs to check multiple habits and places he love to hang -out, find out from people he know the most intimate things he shared sometime a little would give alot.
Check cell phone records this man somehow communicated with someone at a point of time.
Check last known addresses
Check abandon homes in the area, even next door to his home this man was comfortable in this area because of the body count and he would had become obessed with thinking he has gotten away with these muders and continue on doing so in the immediate area.

Did he work alone is another big question, could it a possibility that someone could joined him in these killings.

DNA has come along way I'm sure he didn't get rid of every evidence.

The news say that he lived there with an aunt and uncle, one is in a nursing home and the other decease, the one who is decease what was their cause of death. If the living relative is able to answer questions ask them what this man was capable of they may had victimize by this monster also.

Thank you Nancy for your blog

For the love of Cleveland may GOD protect us

Nora   November 3rd, 2009 10:29 pm ET

Nancy,

This house is located in the 4th police district of the City of Cleveland, not a suburb of Cleveland.

Check the online Cuyahoga County deed transfers for that house. Pretty interesting reading if you enter just the last name. Where is the stepmother? Who has been paying the hefty mortgage payments?

Kelly   November 3rd, 2009 10:32 pm ET

Nancy, any updates on the Kristi Cornwell abduction?

Emilia Gomez   November 3rd, 2009 10:49 pm ET

I think that is time to start strictly enforcing the law with this criminals and stop giving them time sentence, they should never be release from jail, if is to expensive to keep them PLEASE! PLEASE! EXTERMINATE THEM ALL in the name of the LAW....

Helena Ferrell   November 3rd, 2009 11:25 pm ET

Hi Nancy. I have been following you for over a year now. I have just moved home to Cleveland from Ga in the last month, and I'm in fear.
My children have had to walk to school since we have moved here and I'm right down the street from where this maniack lived, my 12 year old daughter has told me she has seen that man walking the streets before. I tell you this " this situation is a eye opener." He should get a long painful death. Set on fire. He needs to get prepared for hell.

Heather   November 3rd, 2009 11:32 pm ET

Please stop calling this monster a former Marine!!! Are you trying to imply that the Marine Corps breeds rapists and murderers? This disgusting parasite in NO WAY represents our Marines or any other branch of the military.

Alyssa   November 3rd, 2009 11:37 pm ET

Why was this sick rapist released from prison in 2005?! There is no help for that monster. It's good that a woman he raped survived and was finally able to convince the cops to investigate him. The poor women he raped and slaughtered suffered tremendously. When the photos of a few of them were displayed on the show, their bright, beautiful smiles really touched me. Sowell deserved to rot in prison a very angry cellmate.

Jamie   November 3rd, 2009 11:44 pm ET

What happened to the death penalty for the criminal? Why do our tax dollars go to support this crap? I am so sick of the injustice and the pathetic attitude of system has of dealing with these offenders!

G.L. Rogers   November 3rd, 2009 11:51 pm ET

This story has captured my interest because 2 of the bodies discovered maybe my female cousins. One who has been missing over a year & the other has been missing over 4 months. They both were drug users & known to frequent this neighborhood. Don't they still matter? These women are human beings with families. Why hasn't outrage filled this neighborhood? Does not anyone there know the smell of sausage vs. the smell of death? There are also other women known to be missing that lived within a 3 mile radius of the suspect Are they part of those found? Does police have enough information to follow-up on this aspect? Were there any reports given to the police about these missing people? Does not the city of Cleveland have a missing person division? If not, why not? So many questions & so few answers. There are several abandon houses (800) in the area. Have they been checked for more bodies? Again, lots of questions, no answers. I pray that the families of these victims will have closure very soon.

Laura   November 4th, 2009 12:00 am ET

This is a sick and disturbing case. Sexual offenders cannot be fixed or rehabilitated. Recitivism is almost always gonna happen with sex offenders. Where are his family members? The front sign says, "The Sowells", but he is the only one mentioned. I just know there are going to be many bodies found, and probably many of them not identifiable. More than likely, there will be bodies in NC and CA too. This is a very sad case and I feel for the family and friends of all the women, that hopefully will get names; and their families closure. The part about him being a marine, really should not be stressed either!! There are many men and women serving our country that do not deserve to be lumped in with him, just because he was lucky enough to serve his country, honorably, as a reminder.

Emma   November 4th, 2009 12:49 am ET

Imperial Avenue is in what is known as the "bad part" of Cleveland– the East side, near Kinsman. This area is predominantly blue-collar or poverty-level and African-American. It is right next to Shaker Heights, what is known as the "good part" of Cleveland– the first intentionally-desegregated suburb, predominantly upper-middle-class African-Americans and affluent college-educated whites.

This juxtaposition of race and class creates frequent crime in the area. For example: a year or two ago, an upper-middle-class white Shaker Heights lawyer (doctor?) was beaten by three poor African-American young men from East Cleveland, just a few blocks away.

While so far all of the victims seem to be African-American women, knowledge of the racial tensions in this area make me wonder whether he might be responsible for the disappearance of any women from the Shaker Heights/ Cleveland Heights area, which are fully accessible via the Rapid Transit train which is less than a mile from Imperial Ave.

TheOtherD   November 4th, 2009 12:50 am ET

You can bet that if someone "fell" out of my upstairs window, the local police would have had a look-see through the house. Their (Clevelend police0 level of ambivalence is staggering. Unbelievable! Necrophilia involved probably in this case...

June   November 4th, 2009 1:16 am ET

Is there any information that he may have been in other states besides NC and CA since his release? Did he have a job in which they would know if he was gone, for long periods of time, from work and could have been in other states? Have they been able to determine what race the victims were?

TWAN4RMamericus   November 4th, 2009 2:34 am ET

All i want to know is:
while these women were been reported missing in that area was he consider a suspect then since he was a sex offender

if he was been watched every 3 months did the police smell an odor?

Where is the stepmother?

Did the stepmother smell the odor if she was there?

did the neighbors notice him digging those graves?

were the weird noises coming from the house?

if the women stated that the raper stayed in this house what took so long?
Thats all i want to know:

jennifer   November 4th, 2009 2:54 am ET

i find it rediculous that no body knew that there was something wrong!! A dead body has a distinct smell and it doesnt smell like some damn sausage and cheese are u freakin kiddin me? and i completely agree with everyone about the system these freaks should never be let out....it makes me sick that children innocent pure children who deserve a happy loving comfortable are being repeatedly raped molested tortchered and even murdered for someones sick pathetic urges and women are being attacked by repeated offenders why is it that a drug deal gets put away for forever and a day but someone who violates that personal boundry and completely damages the way a person forever thinks and feels gets a measly slap on their wrist pretty much i mean what the hell is that matter

Wendy   November 4th, 2009 3:14 am ET

This is unbelievable. What a sicko. WHY does the justice system keep letting these sick, dangerous people back out on the street? Someone needs to get a clue. Have we not learned from others who have done the same thing, gone to prison, let back out only to do he same thing and sometimes even worse? People don't change. I think that someone needs to be held accountable for these predators when they are released from prison. In my opinion, they are aiding these people. Maybe if whomever it is that decides they can get out of prison are held accountable, they'd think twice about releasing them. ENOUGH! I've had enough. It's the same crap over and over and yet nothing changes. The laws have to change.

Frank   November 4th, 2009 4:23 am ET

Hi Nancy.
Can you imagine the horror these poeple went through as this man killed them in his home. For that matter any of the resent killings across the country. I am a Christian and very forgiving. However a detrurent law needs to be put in place. Upon a jury finding people such as this guilty – Immediate death sentence – carried out within 1 week of conviction.

Frank   November 4th, 2009 4:26 am ET

I have a wife and 2 children – God forbid they were found murdered in this guys house. I would have an insanity charge on me – nothing could stop me from finding this guy and eliminating all of his problems permanently.

Rosemary Ferguson   November 4th, 2009 7:51 am ET

Nancy, this is the perfect example of why we CANNOT CUT CORNERS with PROBATION AND CASE WORKERS. This guy obviously was not ordered to continue treatment for mental health after his release AND he was not monitored......but why he was released is another story!! Our Jurors....the people....must remain alert on cases that involve rapist, abusers, and murderers. This government needs to WAKE UP AND GIVE THE DAMNED FUNDING WHERE IT IS NEEDED......FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR WOMEN AND OUR CHILDREN!!!!! THESE RAPING, MOLESTING, ABUSING, MURDERING, AND DOWN RIGHT SPIT IN OUR FACE ACTS MUST STOP NOW. THE LIST JUST KEEPS GET LONGER AND LONGER. DO WE NEED TO MARCH ON THE WHITE HOUSE IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM BEING SLAUGHTERED? It appears to me that our Country's enemies don't even allow this to happen as they execute these devil's right from the start. NO SECOND CHANCES......JUST BYE BYE. WAKE UP AMERICA.....This is suppose to be the land of the free.....remember!?

crystal   November 4th, 2009 8:44 am ET

how do people get away with this. i think crazy people who do things like this should be sent to iraq on the front lines to fight and be killed. they don't care about life over their obviously this person doesn't either. my prayers go out to the families hopefully the can rest in peace.

Anonymous   November 4th, 2009 9:30 am ET

I am from Cleveland and in my opinion, a HUGE part of the problem is that of all the families that are now coming out stating that they've been looking for missing family members, only a FEW of them have ever taken the time to even report them missing to police. How on Earth do you ever expect the police or anyone else to help find your missing family member if you never report them missing??? Regardless if they did suffer from alcoholism, drug-addiction or anything else, they were still human and more importantly, a family member. Sure, the police and/or health department should have definitely looked into the terrible smell on that street but even back in the early 90's when my friends and family resided there, the neighborhood smelled bad. I read a woman's comment in the Plain Dealer just the other day that stated that Anthony Sowell was even up to no good, back in Junior High School. The woman stated that he attempted to rape her 8th grade sister.

Missy   November 4th, 2009 9:34 am ET

Have they check the home he was living in prior to this home?

April   November 4th, 2009 9:52 am ET

People are shocked that no one recognized the smell of decaying bodies, but that's not completely true. None of the residents knew the smell was dead bodies but they did complain about the smell. The city flushed the sewer lines and replaced sewer pipes thinking that was the smell. My question is if city officials, workers and police couldn't pinpoint the smell to decaying bodies, how were the residents to know? And who wants to think that the smell could be dead bodies in a house next door or across the street from you? Why when deputies went to check on Sowell, they didn't recognize the stench coming from the house. If these checks were to happen every 90 days, why did the smell go unnoticed?

Angela   November 4th, 2009 10:04 am ET

Monster!!! It's people like him who make me sick to my stomach!!!!! He needs to re-live all the pain he put them women through! Then,he needs to be put in a cell full of sex predators with no lights so he has no clue what's about to happen just as these women did!!!I He needs to rot in the worst way possible!!!!! "Always stay Alert Ladies,You can almost trust nobody these days!"

char   November 4th, 2009 10:13 am ET

kim, i agree where is his step mother? they said he was getting meanacing towards her too, and then suddenly had to take her to nursing home??? im afraid she isnt in any old-folks home...i hope she is, but i have that gut feeling she isnt. also what about missing people in NC and cali where he was supposed to been( marines related?)

christa   November 4th, 2009 10:58 am ET

I live in Cleveland and all I can say is, anyone who is a sexual offender should be castrated, especially someone like him. I also heared on TV that they gave some of these relatives a hard time, when they tried to tell police these women were missing. I guess when you in the streets, you are disposable for the police. But this is not just in our city, but in all cities in the US. Here in our country the killers, drug traffickers, and the white collar criminals like Madoff get away with so much, the laws are not for the law abiding citizens, but help the criminals. We need to change our laws, get tougher and if these sexual predator do not agree on castration, they should be kept for EVER in jail. It breaks my heart to see Mothers on TV, begging to get their children back and than these children are found in a landfill.

Christy Cook   November 4th, 2009 11:00 am ET

I concur. Convicted sex offenders should not be released. Sowell is a monster that had been caged for fifteen years for rape. Our justice system unleashed him, and these women are DEAD!!! They will never be alive again. I just don't understand what more has to happen to force law makers to realize the hard core truths about sex offenders? They are murdering innocent souls with their sick narcissistic sex acts alone. I am a survivor of twelve years of rape myself. My father, the rapist, never spent the first day in a jail for his transgressions. The person that I would have been had he not murdered my chances of a "normal" life, are dead and gone. However, at least I am still alive in the physical sense. These women have met an untimely demise for holes in a system that will not learn from its mistakes or short comings. My heart and prayers go out to the families of these victims. I am begging people to organize a stand against sex and other violent crimes. We need a better plan of action, one that better protects us and our children from these monsters.

enough-is-enough Austin, TX   November 4th, 2009 11:10 am ET

OK guys, how many more innocent children, daughters, wives and mothers have to be tortured, raped and killed before the "system" is changed...?? Seriously, how can any mother on this planet send their child into their own neighborhood without the fear of a "registered" sex offender abducting their child, only to take away their innocence, childhood and life? First of all, how can anyone in their right mind ever classify a sex offender as "rehabilitated”? Studies show that once a sex offender, always a sex offender. How many more times does history need to repeat itself before someone steps up to the plate and says, "enough is enough!” Clearly the way "we" conduct home visits to a registered sex offenders home isn't working, hey I know bring a cadaver dog to each home inspection, this way the dog will be able to sniff out the 10 bodies that have been buried in the back yard since 2005 when the registered sex offender was rehabilitated and let back on the streets to stalk our children.. Come on guys, get with the program and make the necessary changes to keep our children (including your own) safe!

Christena Dawson   November 4th, 2009 12:19 pm ET

I am from Cleveland, born and raised, lived here all of my life and the ppl here in Cleveland are OUTRAGED< I work about 2 1/2 miles from imperial ave. And I can tell EVERYONE first hand that the police district NEVER formally annouced that these women were missing, They NEVER publicized the FACT that these women ARE IN DANGER AND HAVE BEEN missing, I along with friends and family all confirmed we' never even knew that many WOMEN were missing. Secondly our warmest prayers and thoughts are with the familys of these victims, BUT pls dont let the media fool anyone into believing that these women who were missing had any type of investigations going on to find out their wereabouts.

Joannie   November 4th, 2009 12:57 pm ET

I have a teenager learning to drive right now. There is absolutely no hurry to turn her loose on her own and stories as sick as this one causes me to be nervous and somehwhat paranoid for her to have that much freedom. In todays time you never know when or to who some sick crime like this will happen. The man probably wouldn't make it to jail before my husband and I got a hold of him first.

Amy   November 4th, 2009 1:35 pm ET

This man is sick, and should have never got out in the first place!!!! My thoughts and prayers go out to the families that are involved. He should be killed immediately, suffer the way he did to the victims. This is HORRIBLE AND DISGUSTING!!!!

M. Eliza Harris   November 4th, 2009 1:35 pm ET

Although I do not live near a food processing plant, I do not understand how the residents confused the stench of death with the processing of sausage. Second, how did state employees that visited his residence miss the stench of death. Maybe every state employee that visited his residence should be questioned as to why they failed to report the stench. Afterall they stepped onto the porch, knocked on the door and possibly went inside the residence. Did they walk around the property perhaps to do a visual on the property.

Obviously the system had little reason to suspect and/or connect the missing persons with this particular residence and the perpatrator. Or they simply over looked it. I think after more details are reviewed and more facts are revealed a clearer picture will unfold hopefully with some answers to many questions.

N.S. - Indiana   November 4th, 2009 1:59 pm ET

Why is it that the authorities and we the people only learn of these vicious crimes after the fact? Ten women (and probably more) have been missing and murdered for years now. What in the hell is wrong? This is no different than a child or children ending up dead AFTER child welfare has supposedly made multiple visits to the home. Are these people (social workers, parole officers, child welfare) and whomever else truly checking up on these monsters? Think about it people. We hear about more and more of these stories each day. To say the least it's heart renching. I am just another fed up US citizen who is voicing her opinion. How long does this go on before people stop being lazy and do the job that they're getting paid to do. WAKE UP AMERICA. God Bless us All.

Adrienne   November 4th, 2009 2:08 pm ET

The last time this man was "checked on" was September 22, 2009. How can an officer (parole or any other) checking on this man not smell or see at least one of these bodies...excuse me ladies....that we're strewn everywhere around this house???? With the decomp being so bad on some that they can't easily identify the cause of death, these women had to have been in this house of horrors for months even years. No one can tell me that the smell from a sausage factory compares to rotting human remains!

Kansan   November 4th, 2009 2:25 pm ET

I would be curious to see a list of missing women from that area, I'm sure this will clear up a lot of those and for the sake of their families I hope it is quickly. I agree with the person who stated that there were an awful lot of missing persons for the police not to wonder what was going on. I would hope that where I live if there were that many missing persons that there would be a full investigation.

jane   November 4th, 2009 2:52 pm ET

Ten missing women in 4 years and all probably have common characteristics and nobody was investigating? Sounds to me like the person in charge should be removed immediately if for nothing else, deciding that these women's disappearences were not worth investigation. Unbelievable!

Stephanie   November 4th, 2009 3:33 pm ET

Who are these woman? Don't it seems strange that that many woman have been missing in the area in the last 4 years and nobody thought to question a convicted rapist?

DJ   November 4th, 2009 4:06 pm ET

This is another example of how complaints and concerns are just ignored by the people hired to do jobs. People complained about the smell in the neighborhood and complained, the health department was called and the sewer system was checked. Officials blamed the stench on the factory next door to his home-which processed pork, if the factory smelt that bad the health inspectores should have shut it down. Once it was determined it was not the plant nor the sewer system-why no further follow-up. I bet if it stunk like the neighbors state in a more affluent neighborhood something would have been done prior to 10 women losing their lives. He's crazy and the the way this situation is unfolding is crazy.

Linda in Los Angeles   November 4th, 2009 4:26 pm ET

Angie C and others need a new point of view: people among us would not get away with horrendous crimes if we lived in community, knew each other, watched over the hood, communicated etc. Angie's hubby fled the hood like others did (ref closed up boarded up houses). From neighbors to business to cops to parole officers, everyone dropped the ball on this one. Why? no one really wants to be bothered until and unless it becomes a personal issue (hits the pocket book or whatever). Everyone here is aghast and has an opinion: but it counts for naught. It is up to those in that hood to band together and become a working body to deal with the negative in their part of that city. Why did they not to begin with? Putting the blame elsewhere is so lame and a cop-out. Each one is equally to blame along with the accused for seeing an irregularity, but doing nothing.

Alicia   November 4th, 2009 5:23 pm ET

I couldn't sleep last night thinking about this whole situation, it is horrible!!!

BLastelic   November 4th, 2009 6:20 pm ET

Why didn't they use cadaver dogs to search the neighborhood for the foul smell. I thought that a decaying human body smell is very distinct from anything else and that is what a cadaver dog searches for. This is a neighborhood that was definitely neglected and the police and the community need to take some responsibility for this to have continued so long. Any other neighborhood would have done more snooping and testing of the air. The police did not seem to care...

sharon   November 4th, 2009 7:46 pm ET

Very strange indeed, in the first photos of Anthony Sowell, he looked janundiced (meaning yellow pigment in his skin) and also stated was that he was classified as a sex offender tier III, there has to be a link in Sowell, Harrison Graham, and Ted Bundy. Be it mental or physical or both, something is definitely amiss. I wonder how many more sex offender III's are in the USA and what are these men up to? I suspect that there is a sex offender III in the state of Florida thus we have had child killings the latest being Somer Thompson, and we have to do a backlog check on the ones that have been "let out of prison there in that state, and find out what kind of life style they are living, and what are they doing. This checking and finding these types of killers is a hard job, but time is of the essence, as we don't want it to happen again. So if you see anything suspicious call the police, you could be a hero and save the life of a woman or child. Also women every where do not tolerate abuse from men in any way shape or fashion at any time. Move out, go home, get on your feet and move away, and find "peace".

Angela   November 4th, 2009 8:34 pm ET

More bodies found today how much more horrible can this get and I know people want to blame the police but if you only knew what little resources they have to work with. We don't have David Caruso here and the fancy labs like on tv.the first women I'd'd was from a suburb so I bet Cleveland didn't even know about her. If anyone's besides Sowell is to blame, blame the lack of resources and equipment they have and also lack of officers on the street.my husband and all his co-workers are not lazy, nor like to look the other way. My husband was shot in that same neighborhood on the job. Believe me they try to make a difference its just hard when you have uncooperative witnesses & so many other things that can happen

BAT   November 4th, 2009 9:06 pm ET

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT THIS GUY IS REALLY SICK

Carol Lauer   November 4th, 2009 9:09 pm ET

I used to live two streets away from that house. Those houses are so old that none of them had any kind of insulation. My dad used to drop newspapers from the attic down the wall space for insulation. This is a blighted area, which is a shame. It used to be a very solid ethnic community. This guy needs to be hung by the neck and no appeals permitted!!

Regina Alston   November 4th, 2009 9:16 pm ET

I would like to know if he was on parole at any point during this killing spree. If he was, what was his parole officer doing. Are they required to conduct searches of the home periodically?

Regina
Nashville, TN

JD   November 4th, 2009 9:19 pm ET

Question?...

The people waiting outside home...to find out if any of their loved ones are amongst the dead...
Are they all from the same immediate neighborhood area/s ????
I mean...how many people have gone missing in this area, over time????

Jose From Cleveland   November 4th, 2009 9:28 pm ET

This clown dragged a women into his house and was arrested and charged with rape, kidnapping and robbery not too long ago. The charges were dropped with the victim saying she felt they were dropped because she had an assault case pending.

The Cleveland Police has failed all of us....

Carlad   November 4th, 2009 9:31 pm ET

Thank you Nancy for giving this story coverage, Black women are always feeling like we don't count, and when we are missing we never make the 6:00 news. Thank you for taking time out to care, To all the Michelle Obama around the world see someone cares
Thank U

Carol   November 4th, 2009 9:35 pm ET

Nancy,when are we as a society going to wake up and realize there is no treatment nor cure for sex offenders?The only way to stop it is to keep them locked up for life or give them the death penalty!I prefer the death penalty for sex offenders and child molesters.AREN"T OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN WORTH IT?I know in this case,no children have been found,at least not yet,but I won't be surprized if there are.

Rob   November 4th, 2009 9:36 pm ET

You mentioned that this location was a Cleveland suburb, it is actually the inner-city, on Cleveland's south east side.

truthseeker   November 4th, 2009 10:05 pm ET

This is how I see it, if we would just learn that these people cannot be rehabilitated in prison or any other means then the problem would be aout half solved. After proven guilty of a crime such as this jerk was he should have just been sent to the death chamber, PERIOD! Why should tax payer dollars pay any further for his issues? They are his issues make him pay.Thats whats wrong with the justice system bad behaviour is given a slap on the wrist and a second chance,what does the victim get? A eye for an eye people.

Kyle   November 4th, 2009 10:26 pm ET

So i heard Anthony Sowell is pleading insane? Is this true? He is a full pledged cold blooded murder, I dont know if i stand alone on this but if he raped and told that lady in 1989 he was going to kill her why would we let someone like that run loose after 15 years? And if there is a registered sex offender living anywhere why cant we be publicly notified that they do live 2 houses down from us? esspecially a convicted rapicst!! My heart goes out to the families of the so far 11 victims, but how can we not notice or overlook the smell of death for 3 years? But these are just my oppinions and the courtroom handles things there way, even though i dont agree with there ways some of the time. the law needs to open there eyes and realize or ask themselves why do we let sex offenders loose? i know peeing in public can get you on the list and them people are not who im talking about its the child molesters, and rapicst they are adults and they know what they are doing. enough said

Mary   November 4th, 2009 10:40 pm ET

I once reported a horrible odor coming from a house&the Police found a decaying body under it. That odor is much worse&different than that of a decaying animal&can be detected blocks away and with that many decaying bodies, neighbors would have had to smell it, why didn't they report it and if sowell opened the door for the ones supposedly checking to make sure he lived there or even without him opening the door, they had to smell that horrible stench&that would have been enough probable cause for a search warrant. Was any one really going &making sure he lived there? There such a thing as being just plain evil, so enough with the crazy act!!!!!!!!

Vince   November 4th, 2009 11:26 pm ET

ALL sex offenders,child molesters should all be put to Death im sorry but thats the way I feel and maybe these violent acts will stop if they know what will happen to them.Putting them in Jail is not going to solve anything.And letting them out of jail is just asking for more trouble as you can see.

TexMexVet   November 4th, 2009 11:30 pm ET

Nancy, please, please, please don't call this creature a Marine. "Call him anything negative" but please don't call him a U. S. Marine.

Love your show.

TexMexVet

Sabrina   November 4th, 2009 11:31 pm ET

This is a sad and sick situation. It doesn't matter he is an ex-Marine. There was something wrong with him then, but it was not detected. People don't wake up one day and decide to become a killer rapist. As far as checking in, it's ridiculous that he was not checked on a daily basis. He should have been locked up, but since he was let out, he should have been on an electronic and video monitor parole FOR LIFE!!!

I also think that with the breakdown of our relationships...people don't talk to each other and get to know their neighbors like they used to, it's very easy for someone like this man to live in a community and not be bothered by neighbors. It's something that is happening all over.
The smell of death and decay of a human body cannot be compared to sausage. SOMEONE saw, heard, smelled something wrong.

I hope they don't use the insanity defense to get this person off. HOW can anyone get behind this man and DEFEND him? He may not have done it and can claim someone else did it? GIVE ME BREAK!! That still makes him an accessory and a candidate for the death penalty.
Be careful.Watch and pray, everyone.

Ben   November 4th, 2009 11:36 pm ET

Something should be done to the people running this judicial system.I know it is time for A Change.If you have dead bodies and everyone smells them and nothing is ever done about it what is going on.I feel so bad for the woman found there .And I also feel bad for the victoms family when they find out if it was one of their loved ones.As a country we should all pray.

Judie cole   November 4th, 2009 11:37 pm ET

Nancy,
are the Cleveland police aware that Sowell also lived at 3855 116st in Cleveland? There may be bodies there as well.

Ben   November 4th, 2009 11:55 pm ET

I think everybody should should start putting GOD back into there life.Go to church .Read your bibles.Pray.Teach kids about the bible . make it a part of your life.Take it to the streets.there is a war going on right now for your soul.You might think this has nothing to do with this topic but I think it has something to do with every topic.Thank you and may GOD bless all of you who read this.With GOD all things are possible.

Ashley   November 5th, 2009 12:52 am ET

Maybe this sad and disturbing discovery will shed light on the reality of United States service members who leave the military with no record of the sexual assaults they have been involved in. Women in the military are more likely to be sexually assaulted by a subordinate than killed in combat. From personal experience....many, many, many women never even breath a word of such incident for fear of the commonly observed outcome of being involuntarily "other than honorably" discharged from service. Misdiagnosed as not having the mental or emotional well being to continue on active duty, women are out....while the sexual predator is free to roam and leave the military with a clean bill of health. Honorably. See some statistics at http://www.stopmilitaryrape.com/facts

belladonna5@verizon.net   November 5th, 2009 1:31 am ET

Wasn't his mo, punch, gag, rape & then strangle? I hope in prison that he will get punched, gaged & raped everyday for the rest of his miserable rotten life!!!!

alanna   November 5th, 2009 2:05 am ET

Cleveland is not a small town, so 11 women reported missing over a period of 4 years is not a large number...if they were all even reported missing. As of now only 5 families have given DNA to help try to identify if one of their own are among the victims of this horrific crime. Sowell is a monster. It is not time to blame the police...blame him – he is the one that perpetrated the crimes. The Cleveland Police get a bad rap, and there are some that still love to play the race card. Yes, Imperial is in a very bad area of Cleveland. Yes, it was probably easier for him to pick some of his vicitms as some of the missing are being reported as drug users. He picked up some of his victims by asking if they wanted to drink with him. None of this is the fault of the police. It is the fault of one very sick individual.

Sowell was arrested in 2008 and charges were dropped because he was assaulted as well. He got lucky, and that woman lived...she was lucky too. Another woman jumped out of his window, police investigated – Sowell told the police that they were partying together. The woman did not do anything, what can the police do? He raped another woman, she filed charges – the bodies were found because of her...they were FINALLY able to enter his home because they were able to get a warrant.

He was being checked on by the county because he was a sexual offender. If they could not pinpoint the smell to his house specifically – as no one could, (hence the reason they flushed the sewers and blamed Ray's Sausage all those years) what should they have done? Dahmer lived in an apartment building...yet no one knew of his business either. Yes it is sad and unfortunate, but the police are not to blame in this case. Blame the criminal, that's where the blame belongs.

Diana   November 5th, 2009 3:15 am ET

FYI-the murders are NOT in the suburb East Cleveland. They are on the eastside of the city of Cleveland, which simply means east of the street Ontario, or in general east of the Cuyahoga River.

Cathy Stramel   November 5th, 2009 6:00 am ET

Our government seems to 'find' money to bail out these dishonest bankers to the tune of millions of dollars. Where are our priorities, people? In most areas of government, beit local or national, we see waste. We see 3 people doing a job suited for 1 person. Except when it comes to funding programs that will keep us safe, We need more people policing individuals like this monster. Time and time again we hear stories and ask 'how could this have happened?' How much of our tax dollars are wasted on studying the sex lives of ants and flies?Personally I feel that the NASA program is over-funded. The time to study life on other planets is after we clean house on our planet earth.,

Paula   November 5th, 2009 9:03 am ET

Perhaps there needs to be sense of outrage over the fact that minorities go missing ALL THE TIME and nobody cares. As soon as an attractive young white woman disappears, every morning show in this country takes up the case. But let a black woman, especially one who may have made some mistakes disappear and nobody cares.

The victims in Ohio were mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and they were loved and missed. Their lives were valuable and they deserve justice. The only way justice will truly come in this case is not through the torture and death of Anthony Sowell, but through a very indepth investigation of the Cleveland PD who don't care about the many missing minorities in their community.

awalsh   November 5th, 2009 12:12 pm ET

PLEASE Someone let NANCY know, this horror house
IS NOT in the SUBURBS BUT IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND

That is HUGE

michelle   November 5th, 2009 1:22 pm ET

Nancy, just wanted to take a moment to let you know how awesome we think you are at our house.You have the absolute best show on television, and you are our hero. In fact we believe that you are a real life superhero, because what you do you do it wholeheartedly, and you have helped so many victims in your quest for justice.You my dear are a real American hero. Please keep doing what you do. We love you,and wish a happy birthday to the twins.

Stormy   November 5th, 2009 1:48 pm ET

With this kind of evidence there is no reason tax payers should pay for this thing to sit in jail for any legnth of time. The death penalty should be inforced. Not in 5, 10, or 20 years. A speedy trial ( save more tax payer $) and it's over. Thousands of $$$ are spent to keep these things in jail every year. I for one am tired of paying for people that do not deserve to live...

maria   November 5th, 2009 1:59 pm ET

the systems to blame for letting these sickos get out of jail they should let them rot in hell for what they done to all these ppl and kids they should be put to death all these sex offenders they shouldnt see the light or day ever again the comment that angela made fuck u to bitch this is why u see these kids missing more these days because these guys are getting out when they should be put to death row for killing these kids this is why im working so hard to become a judge i am put all these sickos to death row never again they will hurt any other kid out there

Jann in Denver   November 5th, 2009 2:33 pm ET

We all know that there is no cure or effective treatment for rapists, pedifiles or serial killers, therefore our only viable and safe option is to keep them in prison. The publics safety should be our first priority; not the rights of incurable criminals.

Kathy   November 5th, 2009 3:14 pm ET

Years ago when I was a teenager, my friend was kidnapped and murdered. Some stupid judge let the guy go on a "technicality" and he went on to kill other women.

NOW this lumatic in Ohio is a CONVICTED sex offender who is out roaming the streets killing innocent women. What the hell is going on with the justice system that these lunatics are not locked away for the rest of their pathetic lives. The cannot be rehabilitated and do not deserve to be.

Kimberley   November 5th, 2009 3:19 pm ET

Hi Nancy! I love your show. I'm from a Cleveland subburb but work in downtown Cleveland (the House of Horrors is just east of downtown Cleveland) and cannot believe that this was going on so close to where I work. Why did this go unnoticed for so long? When someone calls and reports strange odors coming from a home for years or someone calls and reports a naked woman falling out of a window why didn't the police immediately go and check out this convicted rapists home? I place the blame on the Cleveland Police Department. They need to be more responsive with complaints coming from a RAPISTS home! I don't care if this is in a bad neighborhood. Not everyone is bad in bad neighborhoods and they need protection too. Just because its a poor black community does not mean that we should not care about missing people. I think every convicted rapist that is out of the slammer should be thoroughly checked up on on a regular basis. More than what they are doing already. It's getting out of hand everywhere.

Annette   November 5th, 2009 5:45 pm ET

I live in Canada with some family living in the United States.
This is disgusting and revolting.
The thing I can't believe while reading this messages, is how people are worried about pointing out where the house was and who these victims were.

Revolting is revolting now matter what neighborhood you live in and a woman victimized and killed is sad no matter what she did while she was living.

My heart goes out to the families and the victims.

May god bless you and keep you.

c   November 5th, 2009 5:54 pm ET

ive never lived near meat processing plant, nor have i personally smelled a dead body( and pray i never have to) my dad told me once( he was in vietnam army, had to go traipsing thru jungles looking for dead soliders/ bring home for burial in states) he said a dead body sitting in hot jungle few days, smell reminded him of saurkraut, but like 5 times more intense...unbearable...
im amazed that the neighbors didnt raise ( more) cain when things checked out( sewage system,ect) but the stench still lingered..
i worry about his mom( or step mom?) too....

carmen in california   November 5th, 2009 8:13 pm ET

He is an ex-marine.....

Hello you call them how you see them..

Maybe not the best marine, but hey not all men just because they serve in our armed forces maybe them the best men of all men. Their our men that serve in the armed forces that abuse their power, beat their wives, and god knows what else. And besides we're all different, maybe one of you marines might be superb, doesn't mean that this one was.

And yeah this guys is looney, and looks very scary. I suggest give him the death penalty, but please don't let him sit in a cell for five years, have him sit in a cell for a couple months...

Alexa   November 5th, 2009 8:24 pm ET

Obviosly guilty. No expensive jail for this creep! And, no expensive
death! Chain his feet and arms and secure him against a concrete
wall. Then have the Army ( who would love the target practice)
shoot him with a .25 cent bullet!! I doubt he is even worth that!

Leonard Sitongia   November 5th, 2009 9:22 pm ET

Is the sausage factory next door being searched for human DNA? Bodies may have been disposed in the meat grinders.

Sgt. 1st Class Felix Figueroa   November 5th, 2009 9:54 pm ET

What is this world coming to? It seems Americans have lost their way. This is truly a gruesome act against humanity. I would also like to add, that it is a slap in the face to the U.S. Military when you keep referring to this trash as a former Marine. I ask that you and other media representatives stop referring to this guy as a former Marine please. Our service members have sacrificed enough and don't need to be associated with this scum as he is no longer associated with us and has not been for a long, long time.

Respectfully,
Sgt. 1st Class Figueroa
U.S. Army

Kim & Bob   November 5th, 2009 11:59 pm ET

We're wondering why this guy was not checked out when these woman were first reported missing?? Isn't he a registered sex offender?? Seeing that some of these woman lived nearby, one would think that they would look at him first.

Roseanne   November 6th, 2009 6:24 am ET

This case is eerily similar to one that happened in Poughkeepsie NY near the Vassar College campus. Kendall Francois killed 8 prostitutes between 1996 and 1998. He cut up some of the bodies and placed them in crawl spaces and buried others in the yard. He received a life sentence.

george collins   November 6th, 2009 10:12 am ET

i am so sorry for your lost. a person who committed this crime deserves to fry i wish that i was pullin the switch.he's not even a man he's lower then and animal.just keep your head up high and believe in god.right now i feel your pain i am hurting for you and the families of the missin. may god bless you all.

Joi   November 6th, 2009 12:37 pm ET

I think that the parole/probation officer that did the home visit in Sept. should be FIRED A.S.A.S.P. because that was a lie told when he said he did a home visit. You can't smell death from a home visit. The officers that never patrolled that area (unless they also can't smell death). No one was checking the web sites he was/had visited. There is shame on this city, but it's not just with Sowell. Sorry neighbors that you pay taxes and were not served by your officials.

robert henry walker   November 6th, 2009 2:16 pm ET

i am the father of Gloria V. Walker that has been missing since may 20 2007. case#2007-00186890 TEScase# 07-719. I would realy appreciate any assistance my finding out if my daughter is one of the victims of this CREATURE!!! my call # 973-477-7464

BJ   November 6th, 2009 4:23 pm ET

Way to go Alexa. I wholeheartedly agree with you. Why should the taxpayers have to put up with this monster.

MICHELLE   November 6th, 2009 5:22 pm ET

THIS MAN WILL BE BURNING IN HELL FOR 1000 YEARS HE'S SICK

KATHY   November 6th, 2009 10:35 pm ET

This is one of the scariest stories out there right now!!!!! The city of Cleveland needs to get it together....People calling in saying the stench in the air smelled like bodies, nothing done. People reporting family membes missing and being told, "Oh, they'll come back when the drugs are gone." WHAT KIND OF SHIT IS THAT????!!!!!!!!!!!! There are only 80 something parole officers for like 3400 parolees...there will be a lot of crimes going on unnoticed. The murderer deserves to be strangled with a cord around his neck.....I'M GLAD I DON'T LIVE IN CLEVELAND!!!! OHIO FOR THAT MATTER!!!!

Mik   November 6th, 2009 11:01 pm ET

Can we say a Modern John Wayne Gacy!!!!!

Stacy   November 6th, 2009 11:40 pm ET

I just don't understand our system. Question, What do we do with animals that have rabbies? And what do we do when a dog has mauled a person? We put it to death!!!!!!!!!!! No trial, no jury, no waiting in a kennel for 20 years until we get to you. I'm all for public hanging. Time our president declare OUR OWN COUNTRY an emergency.! Put our troops on our STREETS, at our SCHOOLS, BUS STOPS.
It's about time and past time that we watch out for each other and pick up our phones and report any suspious activity going on, we need to band together in our neighbor hoods much like we are doing now in these comments post. We have terrorist in our own neighbor hoods, towns, city's killing our woman and children everyday. we can not go out side unless we are grouped with 3 or 4 more people. our kids can not walk to there bus stops with out getting kidnapped. we can not sleep peacefully ino our homes with out being robbed , murdered, killed. Yet we fight in other country's to bring peace to them. Well Obama we want PEACE too!!!! Watchya gonna do for US?

NiKoLe StIcH   November 6th, 2009 11:48 pm ET

Nancy- What a horror! Its very sad! My heart is broken for those women; its hard to even wrap my brain around their final moments and the fear!! The children that were left behind! My prayers go to the confusion and shock! Its a sad fact as well and very unrealistic that he will die in the same manner he killed these beautiful women. But I have extreme faith that when he dies his hell will be lived over and over and over replicating what he did to these women. Our justice system cant punish him well enough! Their inadequet. So allow them to be ignorant and "play fair" since they feel everyone EVEN CAUGHT RED HANDED deserve a "fair trial".....wah wah wah.....and let Satan take his soul through the gates of hell. Satan would love to do to him what he has done to these women!
P.S. I LOVE YOUR SHOW

Lisa   November 7th, 2009 9:57 am ET

well nancy I love U and the twins,But until the the juustice system starts doing the very same thing to them that they do to everyone else it will continue to happen BOTTOM LINE.WHY OH WHY DO THE PEOPLE HAVE TO SUFFER AT THE HANDS OF THIS ASS HO WHO SHOULD STILL BE IN PRISON?i ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWERE THE BLEEDING HEART GOVERNMENT.

Robert   November 7th, 2009 9:09 pm ET

I now know that the Ohio sex offender/mass murder Anthony Sole is a former Marine. I know this because in the first five minutes of your weekend edition you said "former Marine" no less than 5 times. My question is, what does his former military status have to do with his current sex offenses?

Sincerely,
Robert (Former Marine and non-sex offender)

Robert   November 7th, 2009 11:16 pm ET

I like to say my heart goes to the families who lost due to this Sicko. Nancy your comments of him as a former Marine is disturbing it's like you link him with those that earn that title! You are very wrong in your word of former Marine with that Sicko.

tabitha bateman   November 8th, 2009 2:11 am ET

hi nancy i whatch your show every night this man should get tortured just like what hedid to those innicent people . god bless those families.

patricia biggers   November 8th, 2009 2:36 pm ET

how is it that tis man got away so long with out the law being aware of his activitys, what is the world coming to, when were not safe in our communittys.my heart goes out to the family whos soon to find out that some of the victims were their own family memembers.i find that people who committe peittie crimes are treated horrilble,and hard criminal get off much to easly.where i live i know people who have suffered so bad, all because thay lack money, if you have money your good. may God help you if you dont. what ever happen to the truth will set you free,i know it dont work however i will always continue to tell the truth,because one day the law will right the wrong.i pray to see that day.may God Bless You Nancey. YOU are love by many.

quierra gibbs   November 8th, 2009 10:00 pm ET

i dont know if anyone has made this same comment but i believe that the free bbq that sole was giving away to the neighborhood was possibly the bodies of the other 14 women that are missing.it just doesnt make sense for someone to just give away free bbq like that.i think this is definitely something the investigators should look into

Patricia   November 9th, 2009 9:24 am ET

This man is a convicted SEX OFFENDER, I cannot believe that IF any one paid this creep piece of Crap a visit they could not smell the rotting decay of humans, or was it like every other story we hear of convicted registered sex offenders that he fell on the wayside. We always hear that the system is too short of money and people to go out and pay these sicko a visit, well Mr. President, I think along with thousands of others this sex offenders list and the men and women responsible for doing a COMPLETE CHECK, should have more money and people out there paying very very close attention, their homes and past addresses should be checked from top to bottom, also an officer should go with them to help chek, maybe a homicide office, one trained in these situations. Can we wake up and stop these sickos from repeating what they did in the beginning, he should have never been released into society, now look how many families have lost their love ones, all behind the famous words we hear on all of these stories, WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HIRE ENOUGH PEOPLE, What is the cost of a love one anyways?

K   November 9th, 2009 1:57 pm ET

I used to live on the next street and I know that this house is a two family structure. A lot of those houses even had third floor apartments. Was anyone else living in the house during the time these murders were occurring? And where is his stepmother? She has not come forward (not even to refuse to comment) since this has happened. She was supposedly living in the house when he first took residence there. Is she a witness or a victim?

According to a recent article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer the mayor's neice lived with Sowell for several years and found him to be very caring. She is apparently not a victim, but was aware of the smell in residence. According to the story she was told that the smell was from the stepmother and the sausage company. Perhaps, this was partially true–was the stepmother decomposing in the house?

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