|
 Serial Killer Anthony Sowell appears in court Anthony Sowell victims were remembered in a candlelight prayer vigil last night in Cleveland, Ohio. Community residents gathered together in the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church to offer support to the victims’ families as well as to band together and ensure that something good can come out of this horrific tragedy. Approximately 500 people were assembled singing, praying and worshiping before embarking on a candlelit journey to Anthony Sowell’s house of horrors. The grief is still overwhelming for many in the community as victims continue to be identified.
In addition to last night’s candlelight prayer vigil, a rally was scheduled for tonight by the Black on Black Crime Survivors and Survivors Victims of Tragedy. The groups planned to tie yellow ribbons around poles in memory of the victims. For more information on groups or events sponsored by the organizations, please visit their websites.
The response to the memorials and rallies haven’t all been favorable, however. Many are still dealing with the outrage of feeling that their communities let them down and neglected to investigate the ‘Anthony Sowell House of Horrors’ from the first signs that something was wrong. Some believe that the community support and rallies come too late, that the community suffers from greater evils, such as drug addiction, that aren’t being adequately treated and that authorities let the community down.
For grieving families, however, many are too emotionally wiped out to remark upon the organizations and support. Many are dealing with the new revelations that their children, despite their past substance abuse or issues with the law, are never coming home. They were led like lambs to Anthony Sowell’s slaughter, and nothing is going to bring them back.
For Inez Fortson, mother of Telacia Fortson, the grief is so great that she has become numb. As reported to WOIO, Inez Fortson stated, “Whenever I see him on TV or think about him, I have to pray. I believe that one day, I’ll have to forgive him for what he’s done. But right now, I can’t, because I’m numb.”
Earlier today, a Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Anthony Sowell on charges of rape, felonious assault, attempted murder and kidnapping to engage in a sex act. Today’s indictment is in addition to the five counts of rape and aggravated murder that he is facing.
|
