More Bodies Identifed, Search Continues

Monday,  November 9, 2009 6:38 AM

Updated: Monday,  November 9, 2009 5:55 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland police on Monday confirmed the identities of the eighth and ninth victim in the Imperial Avenue slayings, reported ONN Affiliate WEWS-TV.

Homicide Unit detectives and members of Mental Health Service's Violent Loss Response Team made notifications to the families of 48-year-old Janice D. Webb and 44-year-old Kim Yvette Smith, both of Cleveland.

Webb lived in the 9800 block of Manor Avenue in Cleveland. Webb was reported missing to Cleveland Police on August 2, 2009. She was last seen on June 3, 2009.

Although Cleveland Police checked with friends and relatives, at area hospitals and shelters, and at the morgue following Webb's disappearance, no further leads or information was found regarding her whereabouts.

SLIDESHOW:  Images From Scene  

Smith lived on Shaker Boulevard and was not reported missing to Cleveland police until November 2, 2009. She was last seen on January 1, 2009.

Cadaver dogs were used Monday afternoon to search a vacant home and a closed school in connection with the Imperial Avenue slayings investigation, reported ONN Affiliate WEWS-TV.

It's unclear what prompted investigators to search the home and Lafayette Elementary School, located at East 125th Street and Abel Avenue. Investigators did not find anything at the old school.

Anothy Sowell's house is becoming Cleveland's 'House of Horrors'

Reggie Turner stopped by a growing memorial to 11 victims of an alleged serial killer because he knew one of the women. Michelle Lee came to pay her respects as a mother and grandmother. Mark Mason and two buddies rode their motorcycles to just take a look.

The street corner opposite the home has had visits from mourners, well-wishers, politicians and the curious.

 "We wanted our children to understand what has occurred, to understand how people go missing," said Cliff Westwood, who brought his 9-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son by the house late Saturday afternoon.

Police discovered the first two bodies and a freshly dug grave Oct. 29 at the house on the city's east side. By Oct. 31 six bodies had been identified. The number grew to 11 by Tuesday.

Additionally, FBI spokesman Scott Wilson said Monday that the agency would investigate any leads in the case against Sowell.

Sowell served in the Marines from 1978 to 1985 and was stationed at various times at Parris Island, S.C.; Cherry Point, N.C.; Okinawa, Japan; and Camp Pendleton, Calif.

In the first few days, there was no memorial, no outward expression of grief. Even after five bodies were unearthed from Anthony Sowell's backyard Tuesday, only a few candles flickered on the sidewalk across from the house.

The missing board went up late Wednesday afternoon. It stayed empty for a few hours. The next morning there were about a dozen names and faces, mostly women and mostly black. A few were white or Hispanic.

Some fliers carry the names of women - "Amy," "Nancy," - whose remains have been identified. Others beg for news about people long missing and unlikely to be among Sowell's alleged victims, all of whom were black. "Missing Person-Christina Adkins," one says. "Last Seen on January 10, 1995."

Many people wrote notes on the board. "God Bless," "R.I.P.," "We die young cause we living fast."

Yellow police tape stretches across Sowell's house and the abandoned house on the left. A police cruiser sat outside the house Sunday, part of an around the clock presence, though authorities say they have no immediate plans to go back inside and search.

City council members visited the corner Thursday. Mayor Frank Jackson was there Friday.

Lee made the 25-minute drive from suburban Highland Heights to the scene because she couldn't stop thinking about the victims.      

"It could have been my mother. It could have been my sister. It could have been my grandma. It could have been my daughter," said the 47-year-old Lee, a caregiver. "I feel this connection to come down and just show my love and support."

Turner, a chef, said he knew victim Nancy Cobbs well and last saw her April 24, his 57th birthday. He came to see if he knew any other faces on the board.

All seven of the victims identified so far battled addictions with drugs or alcohol, according to their families and court records.

Two lived on the same street as Sowell. The rest either lived in the neighborhood or hung out there, often to get high.      

The pile of mementos by the memorial board rose on Sunday - at least seven bouquets of flowers; more than two dozen stuffed animals, mostly bears, and a Raggedy Ann doll. The flames of several candles flickered weakly in the morning light.

Michael Beard, a 46-year-old Chicago factory worker with cousins in the area, drove six and a half hours Saturday to see the scene.

"This is history, basically," he said Sunday.

Gary Goins, 44, a machinist who lives nearby, bought a $3 brown-and-white stuffed dog to put on the fence above the board. He said the news was hard because he has a female relative with a drug addiction whose behavior reminds him of Sowell's alleged victims. She's not among the missing.

Some visitors made no pretenses about their curiosity. Mason and two friends, trying to figure out where to ride on a beautiful day Saturday, decided on the Imperial Avenue crime scene.

"When you go for a motorcycle ride, you need a destination. We're like, where should we go to?" said Mason, 32, who knows the poor neighborhood well through his job repossessing houses. "It's always more fun when you have somewhere to ride to."

PREVIOUS STORIES:

November 8, 2009: Alleged Serial Killer Rare, Even Among Mass Killers

November 7, 2009: More Bodies Identified From Sowell House

November 5, 2009: First Body Identified
November 4, 2009: Rapist With 10 Bodies At His Ohio Home Denied Bond
November 3, 2009: More Bodies Pulled From Cleveland Home
November 3, 2009: Coroner Working To ID Bodies
November 2, 2009: Probe Focusing on 8 or 9 Women
November 1, 2009: Coroner: 6 Bodies Found At Home
October 31, 2009: Sowell In Custody After 6 Bodies Found At Home
October 31, 2009: Bodies Found In Home

 

 



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