Cord around necks of bodies in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Cord was found around the necks of seven of the 11 dead women found at a Cleveland home owned by a convicted sex offender, officials said.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer said Wednesday some sort of cord was found along with seven of the black females found strangled inside a local home where Anthony Sowell lived.

Sowell, who is facing five counts of aggravated murder, served 15 years in prison for attempted rape.

To date, at least 10 bodies and a skull have been found on Sowell's Cleveland property and one victim was identified as Tonia Carmichael, 53.

Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller said the items recently found around some of the victims' necks were ligatures. Police said they suspect Sowell used a necktie and an extension cord in the other killings.

The Plain Dealer said Sowell, 50, was denied bond Wednesday in Cleveland Municipal Court after Assistant County Prosecutor Brian Murphy portrayed him as a significant risk to the general public.

"The state believes he is an incredibly dangerous threat to the public, not only in Cleveland, but beyond the city's limits," Murphy said.