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Anthony Sowell, also known as The Cleveland Strangler, is featured in Very Scary People season 6 episode 1, on Investigation Discovery. The episode, which was released on December 15, 2024, narrates the shocking crimes Anthony Sowell committed, which were first brought to light in 2009 when Cleveland authorities found the remains of eleven women inside his house.
The series intends to look at the tragic stories of his victims, his manipulation of trust within the community, and the factors that allowed him to evade capture for years. Sowell's case has chilling details with tragic consequences, shedding light on systemic issues such as how marginalized communities are often overlooked.
Who was Anthony Sowell?
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Anthony Edward Sowell, later infamously nicknamed The Cleveland Strangler, was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, on August 19, 1959. He was raised in a chaotic and abusive household, marked by extreme hardship and trauma. Anthony was one of seven children raised by his single mother, Claudia Gertrude Garrison.
After the passing of her daughter, she also took in her seven grandchildren, creating an overcrowded and emotionally volatile household.
Garrison was known to be abusive, often punishing the children harshly. According to Sowell's niece, Leona Davis, the abuse in the home was severe. In one disturbing incident, Garrison publicly humiliated Davis by forcing her to strip in front of others before physically punishing her. Sowell's early environment was deeply dysfunctional, with reports of neglect and harm shaping his formative years.
Sowell also contributed to the cycle of harm within the household. Being raised in a toxic environment replete with violence, dysfunction, and trauma coupled with failure to intervene, placed him on his later pathway.
Anthony Sowell's unsettled days post-prison
In 1989, a woman who visited Anthony Sowell's home experienced a harrowing ordeal when she tried to leave. He restrained her and choked her, leading her to fear for her life. This incident resulted in Sowell being charged with multiple serious offenses in 1990. He pled guilty to an attempted offense and served 15 years in prison before being released in 2005.
After his release, Sowell worked briefly in a factory before transitioning to collecting scrap metal for income. Neighbors began complaining about a foul odor in the area, which he attributed to a nearby sausage shop. Meanwhile, he joined an online dating platform, presenting himself in a manner that reflected his unsettling preferences.
During this period, Lori Frazier, a relative of Cleveland's mayor, lived with Sowell in his home. She reported noticing unpleasant smells but accepted Sowell's explanations. She moved out by 2008, distancing herself from his increasingly troubling environment. These years marked the escalation of behaviors that would later bring him infamy.
The investigation and arrest of Anthony Sowell
In September 2009, Latundra Billups faced an encounter at Anthony Sowell's home. She said she had been invited to smoke and soon was assaulted by Sowell, hitting her and rendering her unconscious. On October 29, police visited his residence with an arrest warrant, but he wasn't there. He was arrested two days later.
The investigation led to the discovery of two bodies buried in the basement, and other remains were hidden throughout the house, including crawlspaces and the third floor. Other bodies were found in the backyard, bringing the total to 11 victims. Most of them had evidence of strangulation, while others were restrained or gagged.
Sowell had been living in the home for four years. His trial was initially set for 2010 but was delayed several times because of the volume of evidence and legal preparation, and it finally started on June 6, 2011.
Anthony Sowell's trial and legal appeals
Anthony Sowell was charged with 11 counts of aggravated murder and 74 other charges, including assault and evidence tampering. Though he initially pleaded insanity, he later changed to not guilty.
In 2011, he was convicted of the murders of 11 women along with other charges. The jury recommended the death penalty, which was upheld by the judge, and Sowell was placed on death row at Chillicothe Correctional Institution. His lawyers filed numerous appeals, alleging that the trial was unfair because of excessive media attention, the closure of courtroom sessions, and inadequate legal representation.
They also argued that the public was denied access to pre-trial hearings and that his trial lawyers had failed to negotiate a plea to avoid the death penalty. However, the Ohio Supreme Court affirmed his convictions and death sentence in 2016.
The U.S. Supreme Court denied his appeals, and Anthony Sowell died in prison on February 8, 2021, from a terminal illness at the age of 61, according to CNN.
Watch Very Scary People on Investigation Discovery.
