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Donnie Wahlberg is back to host another chilling season of Investigation Discovery’s Very Scary People, including Anthony Sowell's case. The new season features eight episodes, digging into the darkest corners of human behavior. Premiering on December 15, 2024, at 9 pm ET, the episode titled The Cleveland Strangler focuses on the notorious serial killer Anthony Sowell.
As stated by Fox News, on February 8, 2021, at the age of 61, Anthony Sowell died on death row at Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Ohio. His terminal illness was the reason behind his death in prison, where he awaited execution for all his crimes. A decade-long legal battle ended with his death.
Anthony Sowell was known for his brutal Cleveland murders. Sowell, known as The Cleveland Strangler, reportedly lured women to his home and committed crimes. This episode details one of Cleveland's most feared criminals' lives, crimes, and victims' deaths.
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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from Very Scary People. It also includes descriptions of r*ape, assault, and murder. Reader's discretion is advised.
Exploring Anthony Sowell's early life
Anthony Sowell was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, on August 19, 1959. He was one of seven children raised by a single mother, Claudia "Gertrude" Garrison.
Claudia raised seven children, including Anthony Edward Sowell. After Sowell's sister's chronic illness-related death, her children moved in.
As per cleveland.com's report on August 3, 2011, according to Sowell's niece, Leona Davis, Garrison allegedly physically abused them while her own children watched from adjacent rooms. Garrison once forced Davis to undress in front of the other children and beat her with electrical cords until she bled.
It mentions,
"Sowell's niece, Leona Davis, 50, testified that she had lived with him, his mother and grandmother as a child after her own mother died and told a sad story of constant physical abuse by both the adult women in the house."
Another report by the publication on August 02, 2011, mentioned that Sowell r*ped his niece almost daily for two years, starting when she was 10.
Military service
At 18, Sowell joined the Marine Corps on January 24, 1978. He became an electrician and worked at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and Marine Corps Base Camp Butler in Japan.
During his seven-year military service, Sowell received a Good Conduct Medal, Certificate of Commendation, and other awards. He was honorably discharged on January 18, 1985.
Criminal history
Cleveland.com reported that Anthony Sowell reportedly attempted to kidnap and r*pe a pregnant woman in 1989, resulting in charges the following year. He pled guilty to attempted r*pe and served 15 years, being released in 2005. After his release, Sowell worked in a factory until 2007, then sold scrap metal while posing as a "master" on online dating sites.
The same news outlet stated that in April 2009, Anthony violently attacked Gladys Wade. Sowell invited Wade for a drink. But when she declined, he allegedy grabbed her by the neck and dragged her upstairs. She tried to scream, but he punched her and forced her to undress. She ran but fell through a glass door.
As stated by NBC News on November 7, 2009, Neighbors reported foul smells from his home. In 1989, Sowell allegedly took a 21-year-old woman to his house, where he tried to choke her and told her no one would hear if she screamed.
He s*xually assaulted her twice, threatened to kill her, and restrained her with a necktie. Due to the severity of the crime, the parole board denied his release multiple times.
The bodies were discovered in October 2009, hidden in shallow graves in his basement, third-floor crawlspaces, and backyard. One victim’s skull reportedly was found wrapped in a bucket, highlighting the gruesome nature of his crimes.
It also mentioned,
"Sowell's home on Imperial Avenue now ranks among the deadliest crime scenes in Cleveland history."
As per NBC News, published on November 7, 2009, Leshanda Long, Tonia Carmichael, Telacia Fortson, Crystal Dozier, Tishana Culver, and Michelle Mason were some women he hurt. He reportedly used his charm to get these women to come to his house, where he r*ped, tortured, and killed them. Officials collected DNA samples from the missing women's families.
Another report from NBC News on June 30, 2011, stated further details. In Anthony Sowell's trial, a woman described her terrifying September 2008 experience. The 37-year-old woman sobbed while stating to jurors that she was brutally r*ped for hours and saw a decapitated body at Sowell's Imperial Avenue home, where 11 women's remains were found.
She stated that she met Sowell while looking for drugs on the street, and he reportedly invited her home. Sowell allegedly assaulted her inside after using a crack pipe. Sowell punched her face and made her undress.
Sowell allegedly r*ped her for hours and threatened to lock her in a closet if she refused. While torturing her, he said she was unique. Her screams were ignored. Later, she tried contacting the police, but her words were seemingly ignored.
The woman became hysterical when Prosecutor Richard Bombik asked her to describe a disturbing sight as her testimony became more emotional. She mentioned that she saw a decapitated body in a plastic-lined room while using the bathroom. Sowell remained silent throughout the testimony.
Trial and conviction
According to a report by Fox News on November 04, 2009, Anthony Sowell faced 11 aggravated murders and 74 r*pe, kidnapping, and evidence tampering charges. At first, he pled "not guilty by reason of insanity" but then decided to plead "not guilty."
As updated by Cleveland.com, on August 10, 2011, Sowell was convicted on all but two counts on July 22, 2011. Judge Dick Ambrose upheld the jury's August 10, 2011, death penalty recommendation. The death penalty was imposed on Sowell.
Another report from cleveland.com on May 06, 2010, stated that Anthony Sowell's trial was initially set to begin on June 2, 2010, but faced multiple delays. It was first postponed to September 7 to allow his attorneys more preparation time, then to February 14, 2011.
Another report from the same outlet mentioned that further delays moved the start date to May 2 for reviewing thousands of records and surveillance footage. The prosecution later requested another postponement due to scheduling conflicts. Ultimately, Sowell's trial commenced on June 6, 2011.
Life on death row and death
Sowell repeatedly appealed his death sentence on death row. Reportedly, his lawyers claimed that his trial was unfair.
As mentioned on Cleveland.com, on Dec. 08, 2016,
"The Oho Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an appeal from Anthony Sowell, affirming his aggravated murder convictions and death sentence for killing 11 women and burying their bodies at his Imperial Avenue home."
After Anthony Sowell's July 2011 conviction, the city demolished his former home at 12205 Imperial Avenue in December 2011 to remove it from his gruesome crimes. This decision was part of a larger effort to help the community recover from Sowell's actions.
After his sentence, Anthony Sowell was sent to Chillicothe Correctional Institution. He received end-of-life care at The Franklin Medical Center in Columbus on January 21, 2021, for an unspecified terminal illness.
The Franklin Medical Center treated Anthony Sowell until his February 8, 2021, death.
Anthony sent a letter to Clevelanders via Serial Killers Ink in November 2012. In this letter, he criticized former trial judge and newly elected Cuyahoga County prosecutor Tim McGinty and discussed his artwork sent to the website owner. This letter revealed Sowell's post-conviction thoughts.
The community created the Garden of 11 Angels to honor Sowell's victims. July 16, 2021, marked the memorial's groundbreaking on the former Sowell property. The victims' families and friends can reflect in the Garden of 11 Angels, dedicated on November 6, 2021.
Five women who survived Anthony Sowell's kidnappings appeared on Oxygen's Snapped episode Notorious: The Cleveland Strangler on July 24, 2021. Their accounts revealed Sowell's manipulation and violence, emphasizing his victims' fear.
Very Scary People episode, titled The Cleveland Strangler, premieres on December 15, 2024, on Investigation Discovery.
