Confirmed: Cleveland Strangler Victims Identified

Confirmed: Cleveland Strangler Victims Identified

Investigation Timeline    Investigation Homepage

Posted by Web Staff - email | Facebook | Twitter

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - The Cuyahoga County Coroner has identified ten of the eleven victims from the Imperial Avenue investigation.

So far, eleven bodies were found at 50-year-old convicted sex offender Anthony Sowell's home. All are African-American women - most had been strangled.

The bodies were recovered between Thursday, October 29th and Tuesday Nov. 3rd. Five bodies were found buried in the Imperial Avenue home's backyard and four bodies along with one skull were found inside of the home.

The identified victims:

1. Tonia Carmichael: 52-years-old
2. Telacia Fortson: 31-years-old
3. Tishana Culver: 31-years-old
4. Nancy Cobbs:  43-years-old
5. Amelda Hunter: 47-years-old
6. Crystal Dozier: 38-years-old
7. Michelle Mason: 45-years-old
8. Janice Webb: 48-years old
9. Kim Yvette Smith: 44-years old
10. Leshanda Long: 25-years-old

Tonia Carmichael of Warrensville Heights, 52-years-old was the first victim removed from Sowell's backyard and was identified through DNA.

Telacia Fortson of East Cleveland, was 31-years-old and was last seen in June 2009. Fortson had three children

Tishana Culver of Cleveland, 31-years-old, had not been reported missing and is survived by seven children.

Nancy Cobbs, 43-years-old of Cleveland, was reported missing on June 11th 2009 and had not been seen since April 2009.

Amelda Hunter, 47-years-old of Cleveland was last seen in April 2009 and was reported missing on Nov. 3rd, 2009.

Crystal Dozier, 38-year-old from Cleveland, was not a reported missing person and was last seen in October 2007.

Michelle Mason, 45-year-old of Cleveland, was reported missing in October 2008. Mason was bi-polar and Cleveland Police held dozens of searches for her and checked hospitals.

Janice Webb, 49-years-old of Cleveland, was reported missing on August 2nd, 2009. Webb was last seen on June 3rd, 2009 and has two children.

Kim Yvette Smith of Cleveland, 44-years-old, was not reported missing to Cleveland Police until Nov. 2nd, 2009. Smith was last seen on January 1st, 2009.

Leshanda Long, 25-years-old was not a reported missing person but was last seen in 2008.

Anthony Sowell - who is currently unemployed and wears a pacemaker for a heart condition - is being held without bond at the Justice Center. He's charged with aggravated murder, rape, felonious assault and kidnapping.

Sowell could land on death row if convicted of the charges filed against him.

The Coroner's Office has one body left to identify.

©2009 WOIO. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.