A Cleveland man who was on death row for killing 11 women died of natural causes in a prison hospital on Monday, a report said.
Anthony Sowell, 61, nicknamed the “Cleveland strangler” for the murders, was convicted of the murders in 2011. He had terminal illness and died at Franklin Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, an official told WJW.
Relatives of Sowell’s victims were relieved to learn of his death.
“I’m glad he’s dead,” Donnita Carmichael, daughter of victim Tonia Carmichael, told the network.
God made it happen. I’ll never ever forgive him, ”she said.
Joann Moore, whose sister Janice Webb was murdered by Sowell, told the outlet, “We can keep going because he’s dead. We don’t need to hear about him anymore. “
The remains of the 11 women were found by police in Sowell’s home in Cleveland.
The first two bodies were discovered in October 2009 when police were investigating Sowell for a rape case, the report said.
Sowell had repeatedly appealed his conviction and death sentence, alleging that he had not been brought to trial and that his attorneys were ineffectively representing him during the penalty phase.
With pole wires