Anthony Sowell
The Cleveland Strangler
Active for 3 years
(2007-2009) in United States
11
CONFIRMED
VICTIMS
11
POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 11 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 19 Books Written About Anthony Sowell
- 9 External References
- Internal References
Anthony Sowell (Anthony Edward Sowell) an American serial killer kidnapper, rapist and necrophile known as The Cleveland Strangler. He was arrested after the bodies of eleven women were discovered at his residence in 2009. Sowell was convicted of killing eleven women between 2007 and 2009. He was sentenced to death in 2011. In 2018, The City of Cleveland agreed to pay one million dollars to the families of six victims after a botched police investigation into a 2008 rape accusation which allowed Sowell to walk out of jail with no charges. He was suspected in another series of murders in the 1980s, but has not been charged.
Anthony Sowell Serial Killer Profile
Serial Killer Anthony Sowell (aka) The Cleveland Strangler, was active for 3 years between 2007-2009, known to have ( 11 confirmed / 11 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States
Anthony Sowell was born on August 19th 1959 in Cleveland, city in Ohio, United States. He was raised by his mother and her sister. Sowell had six brothers or sisters. His father, Thomas Sowell, absent throughout Anthony's childhood, deceased 2002, Anthony (Age 30/41). His mother, Claudia "Gertude" Garrison, a single mother. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems, including being teased or picked on.
Sowell a heterosexual African American male citizen of the United States of America. Sowell completed 11 years of school, received a GED. Sowell married Kim Yvette Lawson in 1981, Anthony (Age 22), Kim died in 1998 while Anthony was serving time in an Ohio penitentiary, Anthony (Age 38/39). He had at least one child.
Prior to his spree he had commited crimes, served time in jail, and served time in prison. He was known to abuse alcohol and drugs. He saw a psychologist.
In 2007 (Age 47/48) Anthony Sowell started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to commit acts of necrophilia, strangle, rape, mutilate, and murder his victims. He was known to kill victims at his own home. He would keep parts of the victims body after the crime. At least one victim was tied, bound, or otherwise restrained during the crime. At the time of his crimes he was living with with his stepmother/landlord, Segerna Sowell, at the home of his late father, 12205 Imperial Avenue, Mount Pleasant neighborhood Cleveland, Ohio, US, now demolished on the order of the city of Cleveland, where Sowell was known to work as a serial killer.
He was arrested on October 31st 2009 (Age 50), convicted on July 22nd 2011 (Age 51), sentenced to death at Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Union Township, Ross County, near Chillicothe, Ohio, US. Sowell was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime.
Anthony Sowell died on February 8th 2021 (Age 61), cause of death: terminal illness at Franklin Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, US.
Profile Completeness: 96%
serial killers by profile completenessAnthony Sowell has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 3 years ago.
Anthony Sowell a known:
( 651 killers ) SERIAL KILLER
The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.
( 308 killers ) RAPIST
Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.
( 60 killers ) NECROPHILIAC
Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia, is a sexual attraction or sexual act involving corpses. Serial Killer Necrophiliacs have been known to have sex with the body of their victim(s).
( 251 killers ) STRANGLER
Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.
Anthony Sowell
Serial Killer Profile:
Updated: 2021-03-05 Collected by Killer.Cloud
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Anthony Sowell |
| Nickname: | The Cleveland Strangler |
| Victims: | 11 - 11 |
| Years Active: | 2007 - 2009 |
| Ages Active: | 47/48 - 49/50 |
| Active Countries: | United States |
| Convicted Of: | murder |
| Life Span: | 1959 - 2021 |
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Ethnic Group: | African American |
| Gender: | Male |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Sexual Preference: | heterosexual |
| Astrological Sign: | ♌ Leo Jul 23 - Aug 23 |
| Birth Month: | August |
| Marital Status: | married Kim Yvette Lawson in 1981, Anthony (Age 22), Kim died in 1998 while Anthony was serving time in an Ohio penitentiary, Anthony (Age 38/39) |
| Children: | at least one child |
| Living With: | with his stepmother/landlord, Segerna Sowell, at the home of his late father, 12205 Imperial Avenue, Mount Pleasant neighborhood Cleveland, Ohio, US, now demolished on the order of the city of Cleveland |
| Occupation: | serial killer |
| Childhood Information | |
|---|---|
| D.O.B.: | Aug 19, 1959 |
| Family Name: | Sowell |
| Given Name: | Anthony |
| Birth Location: | Cleveland, city in Ohio, United States |
| Birth Order: | N/A |
| Siblings: | six brothers or sisters |
| Raised By: | his mother and her sister |
| Birth Category: | N/A |
| Mother: | Claudia "Gertude" Garrison, a single mother |
| Father: | Thomas Sowell, absent throughout Anthony's childhood, deceased 2002, Anthony (Age 30/41) |
| Cognitive Ability | |
|---|---|
| IQ: | N/A |
| Highest School: | 11 years of school |
| Highest Degree: | received a GED |
| Incarceration | |
|---|---|
| Arrested: | Oct 31, 2009 (Age 50) |
| Convicted: | Jul 22, 2011 (Age 51) |
| Sentence: | death |
| Prison Location: | Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Union Township, Ross County, near Chillicothe, Ohio, US |
| Executed: | N/A |
| Previous Crimes: | TRUE |
| Previous Jail: | TRUE |
| Previous Prison: | TRUE |
| Death Information | |
|---|---|
| Death Date: | Feb 8, 2021 (Age 61) |
| Cause of Death: | terminal illness |
| Death Location: | Franklin Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, US |
| Killed In Prison: | FALSE |
| Suicide: | FALSE |
11 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Anthony Sowell
The 11 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Anthony Sowell. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| Aug 19 1959 | Anthony Sowell was born in Cleveland, city in Ohio, United States. #19590819 |
| Aug 19 1979 (Age 20) | 20th Birthday |
| Aug 19 1989 (Age 30) | 30th Birthday |
| Aug 19 1999 (Age 40) | 40th Birthday |
| 2007 (Age 47/48) | Anthony Sowell started his serial killing spree. #2007 |
| 2009 (Age 49/50) | Anthony Sowell ended his serial killing spree. #2009 |
| Aug 19 2009 (Age 50) | 50th Birthday |
| Oct 31 2009 (Age 50) | Anthony Sowell arrested. #20091031 |
| Jul 22 2011 (Age 51) | Anthony Sowell was convictedand sentenced to death at Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Union Township, Ross County, near Chillicothe, Ohio, US. #20110722 |
| Aug 19 2019 (Age 60) | 60th Birthday |
| Feb 08 2021 (Age 61) | Anthony Sowelldied.cause of death:terminal illnessat Franklin Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, US. #20210208 |
Back to top Serial Killers Active During
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Anthony Sowell (2007-2009).
Serial Killers By Active Year
| 40 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial Killer Boolean Questions: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killer Question | Killer Answer | Total Answered | ||
| problems in school | TRUE | 221 | ||
| teased in school | TRUE | 218 | ||
| drug abuse | TRUE | 226 | ||
| alcohol abuse | TRUE | 226 | ||
| psychologist | TRUE | 258 | ||
| previous crimes | TRUE | 367 | ||
| previous jail | TRUE | 352 | ||
| previous prision | TRUE | 336 | ||
| kill at killers home | TRUE | 320 | ||
| used weapon | TRUE | 453 | ||
| rape | TRUE | 453 | ||
| bound | TRUE | 406 | ||
| strangle | TRUE | 443 | ||
| sex with body | TRUE | 430 | ||
| mutilated | TRUE | 447 | ||
| totem body part | TRUE | 365 | ||
| living with children | FALSE | 268 | ||
| suicide | FALSE | 225 | ||
| killed in prison | FALSE | 218 | ||
| father drug abuse | FALSE | 192 | ||
| mother drug abuse | FALSE | 195 | ||
| xyy | FALSE | 81 | ||
| physically defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| speach defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| head injury | FALSE | 299 | ||
| physically abused | FALSE | 231 | ||
| psychologically abused | FALSE | 224 | ||
| sexually abused | FALSE | 226 | ||
| forensic hospital | FALSE | 257 | ||
| previous killed | FALSE | 208 | ||
| kill at victims home | FALSE | 323 | ||
| used gun | FALSE | 451 | ||
| torture | FALSE | 426 | ||
| stalk | FALSE | 418 | ||
| blindfold | FALSE | 363 | ||
| ate part of body | FALSE | 451 | ||
| drank blood | FALSE | 442 | ||
| posed body | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem personal item | FALSE | 354 | ||
| robbed | FALSE | 418 | ||
Books that Mention Anthony Sowell
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Thomas Sowell
Economic Facts and Fallacies
Thomas Sowell
A Conflict of Visions
Anthony Flacco
The Road Out of Hell
Thomas Sowell
Late-Talking Children
Robert Sberna
House of Horrors
Steve Miller
Girl, Wanted
19 Books that mention Serial Killer
Anthony Sowell
Anthony Edward Sowell (born August 19, 1959) is an American serial killer known as the Cleveland Strangler. He was arrested in October 2009 after the bodies of eleven women were discovered by police investigators at his Cleveland, Ohio, duplex at 12205 Imperial Avenue in Mount Pleasant neighborhood.
External References
- Q93877 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 15, 2018.
- Anthony Sowell on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Dec 11, 2018.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, Anthony Edward SOWELL on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Dec 11, 2018.
- State v. Sowell, Ohio No. 2011-1921, 2012 on supremecourt.ohio.gov, Retrieved on Dec 11, 2018.
- State v. Sowell, Ohio No. 2011-1921, 2014 on supremecourt.ohio.gov, Retrieved on Dec 11, 2018.
- ODRC# A604609, ODRC Anthony Sowell Offender Details on appgateway.drc.ohio.gov, Retrieved on Dec 11, 2018.
- Cory Shaffer, victims families reach $1 million settlement with Cleveland on www.cleveland.com, Retrieved on Dec 11, 2018.
- State v. Sowell, 148 Ohio St.3d 554, 2016-Ohio-8025 on www.supremecourt.ohio.gov, Retrieved on Mar 14, 2019.
- Eric Heisig, Cleveland settles lawsuit with living victims of serial killer Anthony Sowell on www.cleveland.com, Retrieved on Jun 20, 2019.
Internal References
Anthony Sowell is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database
- #8 of 40[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in August
- #9 of 46[ Page 1 ] of Leo Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #24 of 60[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killer Necrophiliacs sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #53 of 327[ Page 4 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
- #61 of 250[ Page 5 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #81 of 307[ Page 6 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #129 of 651[ Page 9 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #151 of 651[ Page 11 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #396 of 651[ Page 27 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- #561 of 651[ Page 38 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
- Statistics:
- Serial Killers Statistics, charts Anthony Sowell is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Highest Degree Achieved, Sexual Preference, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
- Years Active: