Vigil held for Cleveland homicide victims

CLEVELAND, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A group of African-American clergy held a prayer vigil Sunday near a house in Cleveland where police say a sex offender kept the remains of 11 homicide victims.

The victims were discovered at the home of registered sex offender, Anthony Sowell, who was arrested after the bodies were discovered last week, CNN reported. Six were found inside the home, five outside.

A skull stuffed into a bucket was all that remained of one victim. All of the alleged victims were African-American women from Cleveland, investigators said.

Sowell faces five counts of rape, kidnapping, aggravated murder and felonious assault. He was denied bond at a hearing Wednesday, CNN said.

Sowell's public defender, Kathleen DeMetz, asked that he be placed on suicide watch. He has been held in a solitary cell wearing a white paper gown and is checked by a guard every 10 minutes, Cuyahoga County Jail Warded Kevin McDonough said.

Sowell was released from prison after serving time for a 1989 attempted rape conviction. In prison he completed programs such as "Living without Violence," Positive Personal Change" and "Cage your Rage," CNN reported.

Shortly before his release, court documents stated Sowell "would be likely to re-offend because he still denies the rape."