7 Cleveland Bodies Identified

Authorities ID 7 of 11 Victims Whose Remains Were Found at Home of Accused Killer Anthony Sowell

(AP)  Authorities have identified seven of 11 victims whose remains were found at the Cleveland home of Anthony Sowell, who has been charged with five counts of aggravated murder.

• Tonia Carmichael, 52, of Warrensville Heights, was the first victim identified. Family members say they feared the worst when the first bodies were discovered in the home and backyard. Carmichael was last seen nearly a year ago after telling a friend she was going out for some fun. Her family says she was a crack cocaine addict and claim police didn't pursue her disappearance because of her drug history.

• Telacia Fortson, 31, of East Cleveland, disappeared in June. She had three children, but lost custody because of drug use. She still spent time with them and when she didn't show up to braid their hair, family members became alarmed. Fortson also liked arranging flowers and attending church.

• Tishana Culver, 31, of Cleveland, lived a few houses away from Sowell on Imperial Avenue. The mother of four was last seen by her family in June 2008. She had several drug convictions and worked as a beautician.

• Nancy Cobbs, 43, of Cleveland, disappeared in April around the time of her birthday. She had four children and was living with a daughter about three blocks from Sowell's house. She was a familiar face in the area and had a history of drug abuse.

• Amelda Hunter, 47, of Cleveland, was a mother of two sons and a daughter. Family members say she vanished last April. Hunter's brother says he had dropped her off in Sowell's neighborhood several times and knows that she drank beer with him in his house. Known to friends as Amy, family members say she loved to read, watch television and work crossword puzzles.

• Crystal Dozier, 38, of Cleveland, was last seen two years ago in October 2007. She lived a few miles away from Sowell's house on the city's east side, but a few years earlier had lived on the same street as the suspect.

• Michelle Mason, 45, of Cleveland, lived near Sowell's neighborhood and rarely went longer than two days without talking to her family. They went to police after not hearing from her for a few days in October 2008. Her sister says police didn't take it seriously because of her arrest record, even though she had stopped cashing her Social Security checks. Police say they conducted dozens of searches, including near her home and at hospitals.

[Hatethesecreeps]

If you don't think race is the main reason that these women's disappearance wasn't taken serious, then you are lost my friend. I feel sorry for this country for all of us are the victims of this terrible crime. If even ONE white woman disappears in a "high class" white neighborhood the police will flood the streets DAY AND NIGHT until she is found!!!! The white father said his son flew away in a friggin balloon and it was national news!!!!!! NATIONAL!!! THE SON GOES ON TV THE NEXT DAY AND SAYS "IT WAS FOR THE SHOW"......MAYBE WE SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THOSE POOR DRUG ADDICTED SOULS THAT WE JUST WRITE OFF!!!! MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE.

LOVE

[Merie93]

They could have looked harder for the women

[rafaeldrc]

From the surface of the evidence revealed, in regard to the effort that police made to connect the dots, it seems to me they weren't even investigating. Had the FBI looked over the data, they would have seen a pattern immediately. The Cleveland Police - in my opinion - are responsible for half of the murders for having done little, or nothing. The fact that someone uses drugs or has been convicted of possession has nothing to do with the police department's responsibility and obligation to act diligently and professionally when someone is reported missing! When a person goes missing, detectives are obligated to conduct a thorough search. The community pays them for that work.

[differnet]

I understand this from both sides. The police could have looked harder for these women. The police already overwhelmed trying to deal with the chaos on the streets know that lots of drug addicts die and are killed, so rather than look, they wait for a body to turn up. That's why serial killers prey on women who are drug addicts and prostitutes. It makes them easy pickings. I've long told anyone who will listen that drugs and alcohol are the scourge of society. They will take everything you love from you.

[sallychicago]

They all had one common thread: known or convicted drug users and I'm sure when the family was interviewed that came out and the police didn't care. However, there seems to be a pattern and somebody should have seen the pattern of missing women.

[nicoleleamon]

I think it's "nice" talk to remind people who you have no idea of their experiences when and where they should not be permitted to talk and OPENLY discuss those experiences. You are part of the vast majority who want to "sweep the issues under the rug" because doing so makes YOU feel better. This is what should not be tolerated! As it certainly does NADA to not recognize it and/OR find SOLUTIONS!

It's also "nice" how you chose to turn the tide on the blogger's comments (which I never read as of yet and you didn't bother to quote), pointing the finger at those who are obviousLY the VICTIMS in this case (those horrendously murdered and the community at large)! Your blatant uncaringness that their police department IS overwhelmed by drug and substance abuse problems is just a covert attempt at racial throwback. You are NOT concerned in the least about actual justice and such comments boldly lie and uncover any illustration of your last comment: "This country is really trying to let go of its past racism and you do not help one bit." No community should have to deal with the obvious patterns associated in this case. So the only person holding up consciousness here is Y-O-U!

So here, let me help you attain balance with the DRUG card...you know the one that was put their in the 60's and 70's by our wonderful CIA! Yeah, that one that tricked out both black and white citizens to do its dirty work to reduce productivity in fear the inner city of this great nation might through efforts of sticking together, just might overcome and demand equality on all levels. Guess you hiding in your closet didn't permit you to hear about the public apology for that one either. I suppose you also believe simple, everyday folk should have done the jobs we pay taxes to hire trained experts for to stop the flow of licensed narcotics that run rampant still. Come on, I suppose you live with M. Redneck nee Idaho in a perfect world where a little HUMAN COMPASSION is unheard of, of course...that is unless you are colorless! Sweetie, get a grip, open your mind, read some books and stop hanging out with people who smoke corn in their pipe!

Oh, Murray_99205, honey it's ok to dream the impossible dream. It's likely the garden will grow, but not through ignorance. In order to grown a garden of magnificent foliage you must understand how each plant species survives and flourishes to begin with. It doesn't grow by the gardener subjugating genetic variations and differences to unethical treatment.

Gardens and laboratories are extremely different environments.

Certain neighborhoods are treated as though they have nothing to offer in effecting the beauty in a garden (the world or greater community). Such environments are offered nothing but laboratory induced subjugations: Police turn their backs and DO NOT TREAT THOSE HUMANS who live there like a flower that needs nourishment and tending.

I hope you follow me.

More programs need to be implemented to turn these ground zero labs back into gardens of blossoming lives. How? Treat the citizens like humans, no matter what.

Gimme an f**ing break!

[nicoleleamon]

That last line ("Gimme an f**ing break!") was directed at the incredulous spin factor M. "Nice" tried to unload. People who are not ashamed of the past their ancestors have had in this country aren't afraid to face the facts about the consequences of intentional racism. Now if you didn't commit the atrocities, you ought not have any difficulty, since you care sooooo much, in helping those affected overcome!

[SAMTORRES66]

clear and simple, Cleveland PD dropped the ball....

[bluedenmant]

to phdiva-2009: if you think the revelation of what happened in Cleveland hasn't affected everyone, white, black or otherwise, you would be very mistaken. I was very shocked and saddened by this horrific news. However, you have to pay attn. to what happens here. Yes, it might be a black neighborhood. I keep reading that the police did conduct initial investigations into this. Maybe the could have done more. I don't think it's a lack of concern because of the race of these women, as much as the Cleveland police having their hands full with all the crime that permeates Cleveland neighborhoods that are low-income, crime-ridden and drug-infested places people live. You also have to remember, if you want to play the race-card, that there are plenty of black police officers in Cleveland and Ohio. From what I've read and seen on the news, this man's neighbors could have done a LOT more than they did in bringing this to the attention of the police. A lot of people in that particular neighborhood could smell the stench of death, had family members missing. Seems to me, through the gossip mill and banding togehter, that they should have collectively brought this to the attention of maybe Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Senator Obama, etc. and persevered until they got a better response. But they did not. Why, because all these women had drug histories and probably were known to be gone from their families for days, weeks, even months at a time. Everything was "normal" to these family's. Please think through before you start playing the race card. All you do here is cause old stereotypes to fester. This country is really trying to let go of its past racism and you do not help one bit.

[murray_99205]

I believe you are on target. Bless you. I have been grieving for all of our citizens who have lost their lives the past few days. Again, thank you. I live in a red-neck are of N. Idaho, but I do not feel that race is important. People are like a beautiful flower garden. The garden would be so awful without flowers of every sort. I have friends of many colors and beliefs. Again, thank you.

[nicoleleamon]

I think it's "nice" talk to remind people who you have no idea of their experiences when and where they should not be permitted to talk and OPENLY discuss those experiences. You are part of the vast majority who want to "sweep the issues under the rug" because doing so makes YOU feel better. This is what should not be tolerated! As it certainly does NADA to not recognize it and/OR find SOLUTIONS!

It's also "nice" how you chose to turn the tide on the blogger's comments (which I never read as of yet and you didn't bother to quote), pointing the finger at those who are obviousLY the VICTIMS in this case (those horrendously murdered and the community at large)! Your blatant uncaringness that their police department IS overwhelmed by drug and substance abuse problems is just a covert attempt at racial throwback. You are NOT concerned in the least about actual justice and such comments boldly lie and uncover any illustration of your last comment: "This country is really trying to let go of its past racism and you do not help one bit." No community should have to deal with the obvious patterns associated in this case. So the only person holding up consciousness here is Y-O-U!

So here, let me help you attain balance with the DRUG card...you know the one that was put their in the 60's and 70's by our wonderful CIA! Yeah, that one that tricked out both black and white citizens to do its dirty work to reduce productivity in fear the inner city of this great nation might through efforts of sticking together, just might overcome and demand equality on all levels. Guess you hiding in your closet didn't permit you to hear about the public apology for that one either. I suppose you also believe simple, everyday folk should have done the jobs we pay taxes to hire trained experts for to stop the flow of licensed narcotics that run rampant still. Come on, I suppose you live with M. Redneck nee Idaho in a perfect world where a little HUMAN COMPASSION is unheard of, of course...that is unless you are colorless! Sweetie, get a grip, open your mind, read some books and stop hanging out with people who smoke corn in their pipe!

Oh, Murray_99205, honey it's ok to dream the impossible dream. It's likely the garden will grow, but not through ignorance. In order to grown a garden of magnificent foliage you must understand how each plant species survives and flourishes to begin with. It doesn't grow by the gardener subjugating genetic variations and differences to unethical treatment.

Gardens and laboratories are extremely different environments.

Certain neighborhoods are treated as though they have nothing to offer in effecting the beauty in a garden (the world or greater community). Such environments are offered nothing but laboratory induced subjugations: Police turn their backs and DO NOT TREAT THOSE HUMANS who live there like a flower that needs nourishment and tending.

I hope you follow me.

More programs need to be implemented to turn these ground zero labs back into gardens of blossoming lives. How? Treat the citizens like humans, no matter what.

[curiously1]

Well...what can I say? If you wanna live long, stay home with your family, go to school and quit pissing your life away on drugs and alcohol.

[ubrew12]

You can apologize to the undeserved dead. And to a black community that saw its women dismissed as 'crack addicts' unworthy of further investigation.

[phdiva-2009]

So I guess if Black women disappear, the police don't even bother to conduct a cursory investigation, much less inform the community that there's a serial killer. If this had been a white community, this guy would have been found a long time ago. It sounds like even a basic investigation could have revealed this guy long before some of these women had died.

The Cleveland PD should be ashamed of themselves, and the black community there should be up in arms about this.

[SmallTownCelebrity]

It has nothing to do with being Black women...you think stuff like this doesn't happen in "white" communities? You're ridiculous phdiva. It has to do with police and parole officers doing a terrible job without suffering consequence.

[erichsh]

by SmallTownCelebrity November 8, 2009 8:37 PM EST
It has nothing to do with being Black women...you think stuff like this doesn't happen in "white" communities?

You forgot to capitalize the "W" in "White".

[Sloughfoot]

With a black mayor and 30 % of the dept. being black, why not play the racecard - cause its the only card you got.