Anthony Sowell - Case Study
Criminological Theory: Week 5 (Case Study)
ENF 393 Criminal Nature:
Submitted by
Nicole Bailey
Donald Kalamas, Instructor
Cohort # 14
July 20, 2011
Anthony Edward Sowell was supposed to be a low risk inmate after his release from prison in June of 2005. He had served 15 years in prison for rape. Anthony Sowell moved in with family directly following his release. He moved into a Cleveland home on Imperial Avenue. Soon, residents started to complain about a pungent odor coming from Anthony’s home. Sowell blamed the source of the odor on a nearby sausage factory, and a new sewage pipe that had just been put in. Police then began to get reports of missing women, all from around the same area. Police received reports of a naked woman falling from the house, assault, and attempted rape. Finally, on Halloween 2009, Anthony was arrested after a third complaint of assault was filed. Police officials went to Sowell’s house and unearthed the bodies of 11 women. Anthony Sowell’s first appearance in trial was on May 2nd. 2011. Sowell’s case is still under review to date. Many people believe police overlooked many of the complaints and red flags. Spectators believe that early signs could have prevented the release of such a lethal sexual predator. Anthony Sowell was born in East Cleveland on August 19th. 1959. He was born into a working class family. His father worked in the construction field and his mother worked at a local dry-cleaner. Anthony’s father soon abandoned the family but nonetheless, Anthony still saw constant violence as a norm in his family. Anthony’s seven cousins soon moved in after the death of their mother. He watched his twin cousins be forced to strip down. They then were tied up with an extension cord and whipped with the end of it. As Anthony grew older, he was teased and bullied by his friends. It is reported that Anthony did not get involved in any organized sports or extra curricular activities. As a preteen, Sowell would repeatedly
ENF 393 Criminal Nature:
Submitted by
Nicole Bailey
Donald Kalamas, Instructor
Cohort # 14
July 20, 2011
Anthony Edward Sowell was supposed to be a low risk inmate after his release from prison in June of 2005. He had served 15 years in prison for rape. Anthony Sowell moved in with family directly following his release. He moved into a Cleveland home on Imperial Avenue. Soon, residents started to complain about a pungent odor coming from Anthony’s home. Sowell blamed the source of the odor on a nearby sausage factory, and a new sewage pipe that had just been put in. Police then began to get reports of missing women, all from around the same area. Police received reports of a naked woman falling from the house, assault, and attempted rape. Finally, on Halloween 2009, Anthony was arrested after a third complaint of assault was filed. Police officials went to Sowell’s house and unearthed the bodies of 11 women. Anthony Sowell’s first appearance in trial was on May 2nd. 2011. Sowell’s case is still under review to date. Many people believe police overlooked many of the complaints and red flags. Spectators believe that early signs could have prevented the release of such a lethal sexual predator. Anthony Sowell was born in East Cleveland on August 19th. 1959. He was born into a working class family. His father worked in the construction field and his mother worked at a local dry-cleaner. Anthony’s father soon abandoned the family but nonetheless, Anthony still saw constant violence as a norm in his family. Anthony’s seven cousins soon moved in after the death of their mother. He watched his twin cousins be forced to strip down. They then were tied up with an extension cord and whipped with the end of it. As Anthony grew older, he was teased and bullied by his friends. It is reported that Anthony did not get involved in any organized sports or extra curricular activities. As a preteen, Sowell would repeatedly
Cited: Baird, Gabriel., Plain Dealer staff. (2010). Imperial Avenue Uncovered: Anthony Sowell and the deaths of 11 women. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/10/covering_anthony_sowell_a_look.html Dillon, Loretta. Cleveland.com. (2009). The Anthony Sowell Murders: And Then There Were 10. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/the-anthony-sowell-murders-and-then Miller, Mitchell J., C.J. Schreck & R. Tewksbury. (2011) Criminological Theory: A Brief Introduction. New Jersey: Pearson Education. Wikipedia. (2011). The Free Encyclopedia: Anthony Sowell. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Sowell