Ohio Serial Killer Convicted of Murdering 11 Women

An ex-Marine and newly convicted serial killer who had the bodies of 11 women in his Cleveland home will face the death penalty. Anthony Sowell, 51, was convicted of aggravated murder after a three-day jury deliberation, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Now the trial moves into the mitigation phase during which defense attorneys will try to convince the jury not to impose the death sentence.

Prosecutors called 62 witnesses during the trial, and the defense called none. While there were no eyewitnesses to the killings, and no fingerprints or DNA evidence linking Sowell to the murders, the jury came back with the guilty verdict after 15 hours. Sowell was emotionless as the verdict was read, but the family of several victims present in the courtroom rejoiced. "I'm glad justice has been done," said one. "I'm glad it's over and he is getting what he deserves." (More Anthony Sowell stories.)