Anthony Sowell, Cleveland rapist and serial killer who was discovered with the bodies of almost a dozen women in his house was indicted today. From the Cleveland Plain Dealer

A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Anthony Sowell today on multiple counts of aggravated murder and charges related to two other attacks on women, setting the stage for a trial that could lead to his execution.

Prosecutor Bill Mason and other law enforcement officials announced the charges at an afternoon news conference.

Sowell, 50, of Cleveland, faces 85 counts in total, including aggravated murder, attempted murder, gross abuse of a corpse, felonious assault, rape, attempted rape, kidnapping, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.

The charges carry the death penalty.

He was arrested Oct. 31, two days after police discovered two decomposing bodies at his house while investigating a rape complaint. After thoroughly searching the Imperial Avenue property, investigators recovered 11 decomposing corpses.

Ten of the victims have been identified: Tonia Carmichael, 52; Nancy Cobbs, 45; Tishana Culver, 31; Crystal Dozier, 38; Telacia Fortson, 31; Amelda Hunter, 47; Michelle Mason, 45; Kim Yvette Smith,44; Janice Webb, 49; and Leshanda Long, 25.

You already know where I’m at as far as Sowell’s discovery being a procedural boondoggle, but when I hear this guy is up on 85 charges–including eleven murders–I can’t help but get that creeping mob feeling.

As a Black person, I’m basically required to really, really, really believe in due process and rail against any attempts to deny a person that right, but eleven decaying bodies makes me feel as though you’ve waived your rights and wouldn’t want to be so disrespectful as to waste the court’s time and taxpayer dollars. Not saying it’s right; it’s just how body collecting serial rapist-murderers make me feel.

I can’t say I want to see Sowell die in a capitol fashion–I’m very much on the fence on that issue–but certain crimes make me wish we could skip the charade and throw people beneath the jail.

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