CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) -
Justice was served Friday as jurors found Anthony Sowell guilty of murdering 11 women in Northeast Ohio.
Jurors found Sowell guilty on 84/85 charges. He was found not guilty of aggravated robbery, the final charge.
In October 2009, 11 bodies were discovered on Anthony Sowell's east side Imperial Avenue property. Several bodies were found inside of the home, the rest were discovered buried in the backyard.
Jurors were given the case on Wednesday, July 20th and had reached a verdict by 2:15 p.m. Friday, July 22nd.
The death penalty phase will start on Monday, August 1st.
There was a brief delay delivering the verdict. Once the jury foreman handed Judge Ambrose the forms, he called for a brief recess so he could review the forms and make sure they were properly filled out.
The jury had pages of forms and counts to sift through before reaching a decision in the high-profile case.
Sowell showed no emotion as the judge read the jury's verdict.
"My hope is that this verdict brings the family and friends of the victims closure and some measure of peace. Today marks the end of their wait for justice," said Mayor Frank G. Jackson
The first phase of the Anthony Sowell trial has concluded and as a result of the hard work by the Cleveland Division of Police Homicide Unit and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office a guilty verdict was handed down. The Cleveland Division of police would like extend our sincerest condolences to the families of the victims.
Respectfully,
Michael McGrath, Chief
Cleveland Division of Police
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