Ohio Woman Tipped Cops to Sowell Last Year

Said she fought, fled his attack; allegations were dismissed

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 17, 2009 12:04 PM CST

(Newser) – A Cleveland woman says she was assaulted by accused murderer Anthony Sowell last December in a struggle that left her blood at his house—but after she narrowly escaped and went to the police, authorities believed him instead of her. In the ensuing months, five more women went missing. Wade says a police detective was skeptical of her allegations because she herself had a pending assault charge.

At the time, Sowell claimed that Gladys Wade was trying to rob him, and “it was my word against his,” she tells the Plain Dealer. “I was devastated. It was like a slap to my face.” Cleveland police say they brought the case to a prosecutor who declined to move forward because of a lack of evidence. The prosecutor says police indicated Wade was not credible. “All those women that might be alive if these people had only believed me,” she laments.

Anthony Sowell is led into court for arraignment on rape, kidnapping, attempted murder and felonious assault charges. (AP Photo)

Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath. (AP Photo)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 7 comments

bewilderbeast

Nov 18, 2009 12:40 PM CST

What an incredible breakdown in police relations with the public they are meant to protect! Also, shouldn't the rotting corpses lying openly in his house have led to investigations? Any chance of a deep look at themselves and their actions by Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath? Maybe SOME good can come of this?

Cailtach

Nov 18, 2009 3:30 AM CST

@ blackgrl - No, I don't think it was supposed to be humorous, what gives you that impression?

Cailtach

Nov 18, 2009 3:29 AM CST

I'm sorry about your friend.

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Cleveland Plain Dealer (Source Grid »)

Crime & Courts • US

Cleveland • murder • Ohio • assault • serial killers • allegations • rapist • Anthony Sowell

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(NEWSER) - Cleveland rapist Anthony Sowell is a monster who brutalized women and murdered 11 of them, a prosecutor said yesterday. He announced an 85-count indictment against the suspected serial killer, including 11 counts of murder and multiple counts of assault, kidnapping, rape, and abusing a corpse. Police found a skull and the remains of 10 women in his home after Sowell's arrest in October, the AP reports. More»

Police Find 11th Body at Rapist's House

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(NEWSER) - Cleveland police found another body at the home of convicted rapist Anthony Sowell, bringing the total to 11. Law enforcement also identified the first victim found as 53-year-old Tonia Carmichael, who went missing last November. "We expected the worst when these bodies starting popping up," a relative tells the Cleveland Plain Dealer . "We knew she could be one of them.” All the victims are black females, and at least five were strangled. More»

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Anthony Sowell now faces the death penalty

(NEWSER) - An ex-Marine and newly convicted serial killer who had the bodies of 11 women in his Cleveland home will face the death penalty. Anthony Sowell , 51, was convicted of aggravated murder after a three-day jury deliberation, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer . Now the trial moves into the mitigation phase during which defense attorneys will try to convince the jury not to impose the death sentence. More»

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(NEWSER) - All six bodies found in the Cleveland home of a convicted rapist were female, and all were apparently strangled, police say. None of the victims found at the home of Anthony Sowell has been identified, a coroner's spokesman said today, and relatives of missing women have been coming forward to share and seek information. One of the bodies could be that of Sowell's sister, WTAM radio reports. More»

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Ohio Woman Tipped Cops to Sowell Last Year

Said she fought, fled his attack; allegations were dismissed

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Cleveland • murder • Ohio • assault • serial killers • allegations • rapist • Anthony Sowell

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Cleveland's 'Monster' Rapist Indicted in 11 Murders

Prosecutors plan to seek death penalty for Anthony Sowell

Police Find 11th Body at Rapist's House

First victim identified, a 53-year-old woman missing for a year

Ohio Serial Killer Convicted of Murdering 11 Women

Anthony Sowell now faces the death penalty

Rapist Lived Openly Among Rotting Victims

Anthony Sowell reeked

Six in Rapist's House Were Murdered, Women: Coroner

Still no IDs, partly due to advanced decomposition

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Ohio Woman Tipped Cops to Sowell Last Year

Said she fought, fled his attack; allegations were dismissed

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Cleveland • murder • Ohio • assault • serial killers • allegations • rapist • Anthony Sowell

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Cleveland's 'Monster' Rapist Indicted in 11 Murders

Prosecutors plan to seek death penalty for Anthony Sowell

Police Find 11th Body at Rapist's House

First victim identified, a 53-year-old woman missing for a year

Ohio Serial Killer Convicted of Murdering 11 Women

Anthony Sowell now faces the death penalty

Rapist Lived Openly Among Rotting Victims

Anthony Sowell reeked

Six in Rapist's House Were Murdered, Women: Coroner

Still no IDs, partly due to advanced decomposition

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Newser By Users

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What is Newser?