Coroner: 1 Victim Identified, 11 Victims Pulled From Cleveland Home

CLEVELAND (WKYC) -- The Cuyahoga County Coroner says that, as of Wednesday afternoon, 11 victims have been recovered from the Imperial Avenue home where Anthony Sowell, who was convicted of attempted rape previously, lived and one victim has been positively identified.

At a Wednesday afternoon news conference, Dr. Frank Miller said seven of the victims died of ligature strangulation, one died from manual strangulation, two bodies are too decomposed to ascertain exactly how they died, and one victim is currently being autopsied.

Dr. Miller confirmed six of the bodies were found inside the Imperial Avenue home and five were found outside.

One of the victims now has a name: Tonia Carmichael.

The 52-year-old was reported missing on Nov. 10, 2008, in Warrensville Heights. Carmichael's family was notified of the findings Wednesday afternoon before the information was given to the media.

"There is still a lot of work that needs to be done and a lot of unanswered questions that need to be addressed. Until the family of the victims get the closure they seek and ultimately the justice they deserve, this case will continue to be our focus. My thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to the Carmichael family, friends and relatives," said Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson.

Dr. Miller's office has received five "reference" DNA samples from family members of missing women. That is how Carmichael was identified.

He urged families of other missing women to contact his office and provide DNA samples. Miller's office can be reached at (216) 721-5610.

Cleveland police have also taken DNA evidence from Anthony Sowell and will enter it into the national DNA database and Sowell's DNA will be compared against known suspect DNA profiles to determine whether or not he is a suspect in any other criminal matter.

Join us at 6 p.m. for expanded coverage and at 7 p.m. for a half-hour special on the murders and the investigation.