Crime

Robert Lee

Chicago, IL

53

comments

‘House of Horrors’- Victim’s Family

November 4, 2009 - 4:55 PM | by: Robert Lee

CLEVELAND OHIO- UPDATE - Five days after news broke of bodies found in a convicted rapist’s home,  the identity of one of the victims has been confirmed.

Tonia Carmichael vanished a year ago from the area, and her daughter Donnita says officers came to her front door today to deliver the news the coroner positively identified her Mother Tanya Carmichael was indeed one of the victims found at the house.

Jamie Colby had spoken with Donnita, her sister and Tonia's mother this morning as they came to Sowell's house praying today would be the day they'd gain closure on what had happened after Tonia disappeared. Watch her interview here.

WhoSignedMeUp1

When hell is full, the dead shall walk the earth. What a true piece of garbage. I hope there's a special torture chamber for him in the deepest, darkest corner of hades.

November 5, 2009 at 3:08 PM
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Mary

I am unable to figure out why if this man had alredy been known as a convicted rapist and spent time in prison and was out of jail now but there were poice ir parole officefs that say they cheked on him at regular times and visited his home, why then did they not smell the same awful smell that the neighborhood people had to endure?? it does not add up!!!!!!

November 5, 2009 at 2:26 PM
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Keith

Consider the millions of dollars that will be spent on his trial and appeals. Then add in the costs to keep him in jail if he gets life. His victim's families will have to pay to keep him alive. That is just adding insult to injury. He probably shouldn't have been released, but we can't afford the costs associated with keeping everyone deserving in jail. SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY!!!

November 5, 2009 at 2:12 PM
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llp

read the comment by vicky

November 5, 2009 at 1:34 PM
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Murray

My prayers go out to the families of these poor victims. This man was pure evil and should suffer the same fate that he made others suffer. But I feel that blaming the cops or the system is wrong. I hope that these people don't look for a handout in the name of their suffering. If anyone wants restitution it should be the sausage factory that had to endure countless fines and inspections that the neighbors instigated. If the people would give their suffering to God they will gain a reward beyong what any city official could give.

November 5, 2009 at 1:22 PM
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Tripwire

Elijah Cherkez - "Another example that the justice system alone is not enough to reconcile a person to the society. We neet to integrate "sex-offenders anonnymous" with bible studies and church programs. What is in the heart will come out unless the heart is changed." Aothough I am Catholic, I tend to disagree with you on that. Not everyone wants to be saved, and not everyone CAN be saved. If they could, there would be no reason for the belief in "Hell". Had Charles Manson read the bible, well, I'm sure the murders would have gone on anyways... same with this guy. Some people are just too far gone to be able for society - or religion - to bring them back.

November 5, 2009 at 12:56 PM
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danielle - ohio

he is a very sick man

November 5, 2009 at 11:44 AM
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Jaclyn

He wasn't even on parole....!!!!

November 5, 2009 at 11:24 AM
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tadchem

The purpose of the 'Justice' system is (or should be) to protect the innocent from those known to be dangerous. It is not supposed to be about punishment or vengeance. The government has the Constitutional *obligation* to protect and defend the people. Turning proven violent felons loose on the world is criminally irresponsible. THAT is how 'Justice' has failed in this and every other case nvolving 'rescidivists.' Violent felons should be locked away from society until they can be proven to be no longer dangerous, and whomever provides such 'proof' should be held responsible for their subsequent behavior.

November 5, 2009 at 11:19 AM
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Cathy

The law needs to be changed. Violent criminals who are either paroled or served their time must not have the right to refuse any search of their homes for any reason! If that one law was changed, maybe some of these women would still be alive.

November 5, 2009 at 10:52 AM
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Loretta

I'm shocked at the blaming of the victims here. Did anyone hear Russ Parr & woman who spoke to Robin Simone? This man could have killed hundreds of women & the breakdown in the system of parole in this country is astounding. Police can't bust down someone's door just because of a bad smell, come on now - we have a constitution in this country! But for the parole officers who were to monitor this "person" to not go inside is unforgivable. Wake up people and stop blaming the victims!

November 5, 2009 at 9:56 AM
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Vicki

I believe he should be strangled almost to death for each of the women he killed. Then he should be sent to prison where he will hopefully be raped one time for each of the women he killed. Then he should be placed in the gas chamber and given enough gas to make him ill but not killing him until he has been gased one time for each of the women he killed. On the final gassing it should be reduced levels that will kill but kill slowly. I believe if the justice system would start dealing out the same treatement the victims received, we would start seeing less of these violent crimes. God bless the families of these women, surely there is a place in heaven for them.

November 5, 2009 at 9:34 AM
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p.c brady

My heart goes out to the family of this woman and I pray that they now have some Closure and GOD gives them comfort and justice. Know there is a Heaen and she is there with wings on...god bless that family...

November 5, 2009 at 9:18 AM
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Phil Ocala

When you place 100% of your trust and faith in government agencies, you are bound to be let down. Police can only do so much and judges, well you have good and bad and the bad ones keep enduring. Also, these poor women...were any of them carrying their own firearm at the time? A single woman without a firearm is prey. God rest their souls and bless their families. He should be publicly executed.

November 5, 2009 at 8:46 AM
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OMG

not many people have their facts straight on this one. First off, The authorities were called to the neighborhood about the smell, the people who called and complained blamed a sausage factory that was located in the same area....not the cops fault. Secondly, the women that he preyed on had a HUGE history of drug addiction and unstable living...again not the cops' fault. Drug addicts are hard to predict, and to be quite honest, its not uncommon for them to go missing and then show up yrs later. Everyone is blaming the system, stop it! its not the systems fault, this guy just knew who to stalk and how to fly under the radar. we all have this preception that cops are super human crime fighters with superior knowledge in everything, but in all reality THEY ARE JUST WORKING CLASS INDIVIDUALS LIKE OURSELVES!

November 5, 2009 at 8:24 AM
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Jeano

Listen, it's not about any justice system letting anyone down. This is about a freak of a human being who was able to conduct a semi-normal life right under everyone's nose. This is a defective unit we're talking about here. He buried 11 people in his yard and house.

November 5, 2009 at 3:15 AM
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Elijah Cherkez

Another example that the justice system alone is not enough to reconcile a person to the society. We neet to integrate "sex-offenders anonnymous" with bible studies and church programs. What is in the heart will come out unless the heart is changed. My prayers are with the families.

November 5, 2009 at 2:36 AM
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Lawrence

An absolutely horrible event. As if the working class communities don't have enough to endure with all the crime from rampant gang banging and drug culture, they have a dangerous sex offender murdering helpless women right in their own back yard. It broke my heart to see the face of that sweet lady he killed, and to know that she had loved ones who will now suffer her loss in sadness and terrible dreams for a long time to come. The devil is an equal opportunity destroyer of peace. He preys on people of all colors, races, creeds, and enjoys every bit of misery he can inflict. My prayers and deepest sympathy go out to all the victims and their families. Peace be with you.

November 5, 2009 at 2:20 AM
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Amanda

I have a question, he was supposedly drinking beer with his buddies on the front porch of his home quite often. Were they in on this too? They had to have known about it if they were in the home and the bodies apparently werent hidden from sight that well, will they be charged with anything?

November 5, 2009 at 1:29 AM
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BC

Man, I hope he wasn't cooking up people at his bar-b-q's! Dear Lord, deliver that neighborhood from evil.

November 5, 2009 at 12:50 AM
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