Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The problem was everyone assumed that the horrible stench was coming from somewhere else. People had been blaming the bad smell coming from Anthony's house, and also from Anthony himself because, dude, wreaked as well, but they had been blaming it on a bunch of things, like body odor, garbage. The fact that the house became essentially a drug den over the years." — Brit
"I read this one AP article published in the Lansing State Journal that describe Anthony's Mount Pleasant neighborhood as 'the type of place where women can disappear almost in plain sight,' end quote, where homes like his are interspersed with boarded up in abandoned ones where drugs are readily available and most importantly, where no one asks questions." — Ashley Flowers
"And the attitudes towards substance use and sex work are evolving, at least in the conversations I'm having, there is still so much stigma and so much fear and so much distrust out there, especially between marginalized communities and the police who serve them." — Brit
This episode recounts the disturbing case of Anthony Sowell, known as the Cleveland Strangler, who murdered at least 11 women in his Cleveland home. The narrative begins with the initial police investigation prompted by a sexual assault report, which quickly escalated when officers discovered multiple bodies within the property. The transcript details the squalid conditions of Sowell's home and the overwhelming stench that neighbors had attributed to various non-criminal sources, including a neighboring business.
The investigation revealed a series of missed opportunities and systemic failures. Sowell, a registered sex offender, had a history of violence, yet multiple reports of assaults and suspicious activity were either not adequately investigated or dismissed. The episode highlights how the vulnerability of the victims, coupled with societal stigma and a lack of trust between marginalized communities and law enforcement, allowed Sowell to continue his crimes for years. The discovery of the bodies, including those buried in the backyard and hidden within the house, unfolded over several days, requiring the assistance of specialized units like the FBI and cadaver dogs.
Ultimately, Anthony Sowell was convicted of 82 of 83 charges, including murder, and sentenced to death. He died of an undisclosed terminal illness while on death row in 2021, two years after the demolition of his infamous house. The episode concludes by emphasizing the ongoing issues of stigma, fear, and distrust, urging listeners to believe women, especially those from marginalized groups, as a crucial step in building trust and preventing future tragedies.