
CLEVELAND -- The eighth and ninth victims in the Imperial Avenue murders have been identified. Cleveland police say that the families of Janice Webb, 48, and Kim Yvette Smith, 44, have been notified. Webb has been missing since June 3. That makes nine of the 11 victims identified so far.
Webb, who lived in the 9800 block of Manor Avenue in Clevalnd, was reported missing to the Cleveland police on Aug. 2.
Smith lived in the 12700 block of Shaker Boulevard in Cleveland. She was not reported missing to Cleveland police and was last seen on Jan. 1.
The first victim to be identified was Tonia Carmichael, 52, of Warrensville Heights. The second was Telacia Fortson, 31, of East Cleveland. The third was Tishana Culver, 31, of the 12300 block of Imperial Avenue.
The fourth was Nancy Cobbs, 43, of Griffing Avenue, in Cleveland.
Over the weekend, the Cuyahoga County Coroner identified the fifth, sixth and seventh victims found at 12205 Imperial Avenue. They were Amelda Hunter, 47; Crystal Dozier, 38; and Michelle Mason, 45, all of Cleveland.
The suspect in the case, Anthony Sowell, 50, is in the Cuyahoga County Jail, being held on $5 million bond.
He has been charged with five counts of aggravated murder and the rape and kidnapping of another woman.
Late Monday afternoon, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason announced that a grand jury has returned an indictment against Sowell for assaulting and raping a 36-year-old woman on Sept. 22.
In that case, Sowell faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The victim saw Sowell, 50, walking near East 116th Street in Cleveland.
Sowell took the victim back to his home and became violent and raped the victim. While raping her, he strangled her with a cord until she lost consciousness.
When she regained consciousness, he led her out of the house. She was treated the following day at the hospital.
Cleveland Police responded to the hospital and began an investigation.
In that case, Sowell was indicted on one felony count of attempted murder; two felony counts of rape; two felony counts of kidnapping; and two felony counts of felonious assault.
Those charges carry specifications that include: notice of prior conviction, repeat violent offender, sexual motivation specification, and sexually violent predator specification.
"This case led to the search warrant that culminated in the finding of 11 victims at the Imperial Avenue home. The investigation into those homicides continues," Mason said.
"Upon completion of the investigation, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, working with the Cleveland Police Department, will present evidence to the grand jury seeking the death penalty for these heinous murders committed by Sowell."
© 2009 WKYC-TV
Updated: 11/10/2009 9:47:17 AM Posted: 11/9/2009 4:23:16 PM







