‘Garden of 11 Angels’ memorial unveiled for victims of Cleveland serial killer Anthony Sowell

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The Cleveland community on Saturday remembered the 11 women murdered by serial killer Anthony Sowell.

The victim’s remains were discovered inside his home and buried in his yard in 2009.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held and a stone monument was unveiled on the same land where Sowell’s house was torn down. It’s part of the “Garden of 11 Angels” memorial.

The black granite monument is inscribed with the names of the 11 murdered women and an angel.

It’s a reminder of the brutal killings and the lives that were lost in the Mt. Pleasant and Buckeye-Shaker neighborhoods around 12 years ago.

Several family members cried as the structure was unveiled, and one said, “That is so beautiful isn’t it?”

Florence Bray told the people gather only lost her daughter Crystal Dozier to Sowell’s cruel brutality, but she also grieves the murder of niece Amelda Hunter to Sowell.

“I had two in this house that’s gone and it hurts. There’s a special place in hell just for him,” Bray said.

But with the demolition of the home years ago, this land at East 123rd and Imperial Avenue where the remains of 11 women were discovered back in 2009 can be sowed into something good.

“I’m the granddaughter of Tonia Carmichael. This has been the most trying time for our family. I want to thank each and every last one of you. They have shown that we can overcome a whole lot.”

The tragedy that rocked the community can be transformed into a celebration of life, the 11 women remembered eternally by families, friends and neighbors forever bonded through tragedy and now healing.

The memorial garden is located at 12115 Imperial Avenue near East 123rd Street. It occupies Sowell’s former property, which was cleared in 2011, as well as seven adjoining properties.

Sowell died at the age of 61 in February while imprisoned on 81 convictions for crimes that include murder and kidnapping between June 2007 and September 2009.

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