Jury Recommends Death for Mass Murderer Anthony Sowell, Community Reacts

CLEVELAND— After deliberating for a total of about seven hours, a jury recommended the death penalty for convicted serial killer Anthony Sowell.

The verdict, read in open court on Wednesday afternoon, was to recommend separate death sentences for each of Sowell's deceased victims.

The jury, which consists of seven women and five men, deliberated for three hours on Tuesday and four more on Wednesday. It resumed deliberations at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and worked through lunch with no break.

"It screamed death penalty. I know that the jury worked hard and it was a difficult decision, but at the end of the day, they followed the law," said Assistant County Prosecutor Pinkey Carr. "They may not have liked the position that they were put in, but they worked hard and this is what justice is all about."

Jurors had two options for its recommendation: the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Judge Dick Ambrose will impose the final sentence. He does not have to follow the jury's recommendation, though it's quite likely that he would.

"We accept the decision of the jury and that's the end of our... Friday will be the end of our involvement with the case," said defense attorney Rufus Sims.

Sims would not elaborate what he discussed with Sowell following the death penalty recommendation.

Ambrose did not immediately sentence Sowell after the jury's recommendation was delivered. The official sentencing will occur in court on Friday. Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

Sowell, 51, was convicted of aggravated murder in the deaths of 11 women found in and around his Imperial Avenue home in June of 2009. He was also convicted on numerous other charges, including the attempted murder, assault, kidnapping and rape of three women who survived his attacks.

Sowell was acquitted of only one aggravated robbery charge.

Defense attorneys had argued that Sowell's mental state and abusive upbringing are reasons he should be spared from the death penalty and given life in prison.

Prosecutors attempted to prove that he is not mentally ill and that he should be executed.

Fox 8's Kevin Freeman reports that more than 20 witnesses testified in the penalty phase of the trial. A vast majority of them were defense witnesses.

Residents who live near Sowell's home on Imperial Avenue had been anxiously awaiting the recommendation.

According to Fox 8 News' Suzanne Stratford, neighbors' reaction was swift and unanimous, especially from one neighbor who is also one of the victims' mother.

Yvonne McNeil-Williams, Tishana Culvers' mother, told Stratford that despite her Christian beliefs, she is pleased with the jurors recommendation of death.

"I would tell Judge Ambrose I'm happy with the [recommendation] and yes I recommend the death penalty, because he lived in prison and he knows how to maintain," said McNeil-Williams. "Yes I want the death penalty and I hope it's not 28 years from now. I hope I'm still living so I can see him executed."

According to Stratford, many residents in the neighborhood now would like to see one lasting memory of Sowell's crimes erased.

"I'm glad he got the death penalty, now I hope they tear that house down," said area resident Dexter Hale.