Cleveland’s House of Horrors: The Forgotten Victims of Anthony Sowell
The stench of death clung to the air around Anthony Sowell’s Cleveland home, thick and putrid, seeping through the neighborhood like a sinister whisper. For years, residents dismissed it as coming from a nearby sausage shop. No one suspected that behind those doors, a nightmare was unfolding.
Between 2007 and 2009, Sowell—a former U.S. Marine and convicted sex offender—lured women into his home with promises of alcohol and drugs. Once inside, he brutally raped and strangled them, stashing their decomposing bodies in shallow graves in his yard, in trash bags, or even inside his own home. By the time authorities uncovered his grisly secrets, he had claimed the lives of 11 women.
His capture on October 31, 2009, came after one brave woman, Vanessa Gay, managed to escape and alert the police. What they found inside his house of horrors was beyond comprehension—a bucket containing a skull wrapped in a paper bag, bodies hidden in corners, and a home so saturated with death that the walls themselves seemed to reek of his crimes.
Despite Sowell’s brutal reign of terror, his victims were largely ignored. Many were struggling with addiction or mental health issues, and when their families reported them missing, authorities were indifferent at best and dismissive at worst.
The Women the World Forgot
Crystal Dozier A devoted mother of seven, Crystal Dozier, 38, disappeared in May 2007. Once described as the responsible “mother hen” of her family, she turned to drugs after the tragic death of one of her children. When she went missing, her family pleaded with police for help, but they were ignored. It wasn’t until 2009 that her remains were found beside a fence in Sowell’s backyard.
Tishana Culver Tishana Culver, 33, was rebuilding her life after years without stable housing. Her family remembers her kindness—always making sure others had food, even when she had little herself. She vanished in 2008, and her worst fears were confirmed when her remains were identified in Sowell’s home in November 2009.
Leshanda Long At just 24 years old, Leshanda Long was the youngest of Sowell’s victims. A mother of three, she struggled with drug addiction but was known for her fiery personality. When authorities uncovered the remains in Sowell’s home, only her skull was found—the rest of her body remains missing to this day.
Michelle Mason A woman who once sought adventure in New York and New Jersey, Michelle Mason eventually returned to Cleveland, battling addiction but fighting to regain control of her life. She vanished in October 2008, but her family’s efforts to get police to investigate went largely ignored. Her remains were among those discovered at Sowell’s residence.
Kim Smith Described as an artistic soul who loved to sing, Kim Smith, 44, went missing in early 2009. Despite her struggles, she remained devoted to caring for her disabled father. No one reported her missing until bodies were discovered in Sowell’s home.
Nancy Cobbs Nancy Cobbs had spent time in prison but dedicated her later years to making amends and raising her five grandchildren. She vanished in April 2009, her body later unearthed in Sowell’s home. Her family had searched abandoned buildings, filed reports, and hung flyers, desperate for answers.
Amelda ‘Amy’ Hunter A mother of three and a talented beautician, Amy Hunter, 47, was an avid reader with a love for classic literature. She disappeared in the spring of 2009, but like so many others, no one reported her missing until Sowell’s secret horrors were revealed.
Tonia Carmichael Tonia Carmichael, 53, was the first victim identified. She had worked hard for most of her life, earning multiple professional licenses. But after battling addiction, she became vulnerable to Sowell’s predatory nature. She disappeared in the fall of 2009, leaving her daughters devastated.
Janice Webb Known as the “family prankster,” Janice Webb, 48, was a woman full of life and laughter. But after a trip to Los Angeles, she fell into addiction. Even as she struggled, she remained a pillar for her family. She vanished on June 3, 2009, and was found dead months later inside Sowell’s home.
Telacia Fortson Abandoned as a child, Telacia Fortson carried that pain throughout her life. Addiction took hold, and she was arrested multiple times. But just as she was turning her life around, she disappeared in early June 2009 at the age of 31. Her body was among those found in Sowell’s home.
Diane Turner A mother of six, Diane Turner spent years battling addiction, cycling through rehabilitation programs in an effort to get clean. Despite her struggles, those who knew her described her as a kind-hearted soul. She was Sowell’s final victim, murdered in September 2009. Her body, found on the third floor of his home, was among the last to be identified.
A Monster Meets His Fate
After years of terror, Sowell was finally convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 2011. But he never faced execution. On February 8, 2021, he died of a terminal illness in the Franklin Medical Center’s end-of-life care unit.
For the families of his victims, justice was bittersweet. The women he preyed upon were ignored, dismissed, and forgotten—until their bodies could no longer be hidden. They were more than victims of a serial killer. They were mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends—each with a story that deserved to be told.
