Woman says she survived assault by murder suspect
By The Associated Press
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Published: November 6, 2009
CLEVELAND — A Cleveland woman said Thursday that she was choked and threatened this year by the man now charged with murder after the remains of several people were found on his property — and that she feelsguilty for not speaking up earlier.
Tanja Doss told
The Associated Press that if she had quickly gone to authorities, her best friend,
Nancy Cobbs, might not be missing.
She believes Cobbs might be among the 11 victims whose remains were found at Sowell’s home.
Police have recovered 10 bodies and a skull from the home and yard of 50-year-old
Anthony Sowell, a sex offender who moved to his family’s house in 2005 after serving 15 years in prison for attempted rape. He is being held without bond on five counts of aggravated murder.
Of the bodies found at Sowell’s home, only one victim has been identified so far — 52-year-old Tonia Carmichael of
Warrensville Heights.
Area pastors urged the families of missing people Thursday to provide DNA samples that could help the coroner’s office identify remains.
Doss, 43, said she met Sowell in 2005. In April this year, she said, he invited her over for a beer.
"And then he just clicked,” Doss said. "I’m sitting on the corner of the bed, and he just leaped up and came over and started choking me.”
Doss didn’t immediately report the incident because she had done time and felt police wouldn’t take her seriously.
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