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CLEVELAND -
The state will be seeking the death penalty against accused serial killer Anthony Sowell. Sowell was supposed to be in court on Thursday, but a pre-trial hearing was delayed until December 2nd.
"It take peoples a long time to heal and that's the process, the healing process," said Sheaillivee Cade who lives on Imperial Avenue. "It's gonna take time for a lot of people to get over this."
Three weeks of police activity likely ended for good on Wednesday with an eight hour search of Sowell's house and property. It has been a difficult time for the community, where many want Sowell to pay for his alleged crimes.
"He will get his just do," said Brenda Lampkin. "There's no justification for this, I mean, how could you pay for something like this? This tragedy has touched too many people."
Sowell's canceled hearing Thursday was on the attempted murder, rape and kidnapping charges against him. That is the case that first sent police to his house on October 29th, when they then found the bodies of eleven women.
According to the FBI, Cleveland Police are in charge of the full investigation after they removed all their evidence from inside Anthony Sowell's house. But the FBI does still have one agent assigned to the case locally who is investigating similar unsolved crimes across the country in places Sowell has lived before.
"What could make him do something like this? That's what I want to know," said Sheaillivee Cade who lives on Imperial.
Lawyers for both sides say they expect additional charges soon and all the eventual cases could be combined against Sowell who will likely face the death penalty.
"That'll be the easy way out for him probably, I'd let him suffer in jail around some inmates."
Sowell's lawyer says he has met with his client and they're working on building a rapport. He also acknowledged the possibility for a change of venue request which he said is normal in high-profile cases.
Investigators dug in several locations in the backyard and removed bags of possible evidence on Wednesday. Police say they did not find any additional bodies, but they gathered more evidence against Sowell.
The bodies of 11 women were found in and around his house almost three weeks ago.
Joanne Moore's sister Janice Webb was one of the women found inside the home.
"When they pulled the first three out I thought nothing about it," said Moore, " afterwards it was always a possibility."
Investigators arrived Wednesday morning with shovels, rakes and gloves to search the yard.
They also conducted another search inside the home where an examination of walls and voids in walls was conducted using the Bomb Squad's X-ray machine and miniature probing cameras.
"It's scary, that this could happen right here in this city around other people and nobody said anything, no one did anything," said Moore.
Anthony Sowell's case is back in court for a pre-trial hearing on Thursday.
"I hope they don't find anymore bodies in there," said Earl Foster who works near Sowell's house. "Close this thing down and tear these two houses down."
Also on Wednesday, funeral arrangements were announced for four more murder victims found inside the home of Anthony Sowell on Imperial Avenue.
All the funerals will be held on Saturday, November 21st. The times and locations are listed below:
Tonia Carmichael - 9:00 a.m. at Mt. Zion Church, Oakwood Village
Amelda Hunter - 9:30 a.m. at The Word Church, Warrensville Heights
Crystal Dozier - 10:00 a.m. at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church
Leshanda Long - 11:00 a.m. at Christian Fellowship Center
"It take peoples a long time to heal and that's the process, the healing process," said Sheaillivee Cade who lives on Imperial Avenue. "It's gonna take time for a lot of people to get over this."
Three weeks of police activity likely ended for good on Wednesday with an eight hour search of Sowell's house and property. It has been a difficult time for the community, where many want Sowell to pay for his alleged crimes.
"He will get his just do," said Brenda Lampkin. "There's no justification for this, I mean, how could you pay for something like this? This tragedy has touched too many people."
Sowell's canceled hearing Thursday was on the attempted murder, rape and kidnapping charges against him. That is the case that first sent police to his house on October 29th, when they then found the bodies of eleven women.
According to the FBI, Cleveland Police are in charge of the full investigation after they removed all their evidence from inside Anthony Sowell's house. But the FBI does still have one agent assigned to the case locally who is investigating similar unsolved crimes across the country in places Sowell has lived before.
"What could make him do something like this? That's what I want to know," said Sheaillivee Cade who lives on Imperial.
Lawyers for both sides say they expect additional charges soon and all the eventual cases could be combined against Sowell who will likely face the death penalty.
"That'll be the easy way out for him probably, I'd let him suffer in jail around some inmates."
Sowell's lawyer says he has met with his client and they're working on building a rapport. He also acknowledged the possibility for a change of venue request which he said is normal in high-profile cases.
Investigators dug in several locations in the backyard and removed bags of possible evidence on Wednesday. Police say they did not find any additional bodies, but they gathered more evidence against Sowell.
The bodies of 11 women were found in and around his house almost three weeks ago.
Joanne Moore's sister Janice Webb was one of the women found inside the home.
"When they pulled the first three out I thought nothing about it," said Moore, " afterwards it was always a possibility."
Investigators arrived Wednesday morning with shovels, rakes and gloves to search the yard.
They also conducted another search inside the home where an examination of walls and voids in walls was conducted using the Bomb Squad's X-ray machine and miniature probing cameras.
"It's scary, that this could happen right here in this city around other people and nobody said anything, no one did anything," said Moore.
Anthony Sowell's case is back in court for a pre-trial hearing on Thursday.
"I hope they don't find anymore bodies in there," said Earl Foster who works near Sowell's house. "Close this thing down and tear these two houses down."
Also on Wednesday, funeral arrangements were announced for four more murder victims found inside the home of Anthony Sowell on Imperial Avenue.
All the funerals will be held on Saturday, November 21st. The times and locations are listed below:
Tonia Carmichael - 9:00 a.m. at Mt. Zion Church, Oakwood Village
Amelda Hunter - 9:30 a.m. at The Word Church, Warrensville Heights
Crystal Dozier - 10:00 a.m. at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church
Leshanda Long - 11:00 a.m. at Christian Fellowship Center
