Australia, November 10: A Woman who lived for years with an alleged serial killer said she never suspected the putrid smell at their Cleveland, Ohio home came from decomposing bodies, after being told the stench came from a sausage factory.
Police have unearthed the remains of 11 women in and around the house where Lori Frazier lived with Anthony Sowell, who was indicted today in the case that led to the discoveries of the bodies.
“I just wondered why, why would he do this,” Ms Frazier told WOIO television news. “He took care of me, good care of me, and I never thought no bodies were in the house.”
Ms Frazier, the niece of Cleveland’s mayor, told the station that she began her relationship with Sowell a few weeks after he was released from prison in 2005 after serving 15 years for attempted rape.
She moved out about a year ago because she wanted to get away from their habit of doing a lot of drugs together, Ms Frazier told the station.
“Yeah, I smelled stuff, but he told me at first it was his stepmother downstairs and then I guess after she left he told me it was Ray’s Sausage”, a factory next door, Ms Frazier said.
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson told the station that his niece was lucky to have survived a relationship with Sowell.
“My niece would probably fit the same profile as many of the victims and so she’s fortunate. She’s very fortunate,” Mr Jackson said.
The bodies were discovered October 29 after a woman told police that Sowell had lured her to his house, raped and strangled her with a cord and then let her go when she regained consciousness.
Police investigating the allegations reportedly found four bodies rotting in the back garden with other remains inside the house. Investigators unearthed four more bodies and a skull at the property last week.
“The investigation into those homicides continues,” Prosecutor Bill Mason said after Sowell was indicted on rape, kidnapping and assault charges in the first case.
He has already been charged with five counts of murder and is being held without bail pending trial.
“Upon completion of the investigation, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office working with the Cleveland Police Department will present evidence to the grand jury seeking the death penalty for these heinous murders committed by Sowell.”
Nine of the victims have now been identified, officials said today. Police used cadaver dogs to search other areas in the neighbourhood today, including in and around a neighbouring vacant home, commercial dumpsters, and an old elementary school slated for demolition.
—Agencies