A suspect is in custody in East Cleveland, Ohio now that the bodies of three women have been discovered wrapped in layers of trash bags since Friday. The suspect, a 35-year-old registered sex offender, was arrested following a confrontation with police on Friday, according to Mayor Gary Norton. Norton added that the suspect may have been inspired by Anthony Sowell, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 2011 for murdering eleven women in Cleveland.
The first body was dicovered on Friday inside of a garage. The second and third were found yesterday, one in a backyard and the other in a vacant home's basement. According to the Associated Press, the bodies—each of which were in the fetal position—were 100 to 200 yards apart and authorities say they are all African-American women killed within the last six to ten days.
During police interviews, the man made comments which suggested there could be more bodies. "The person in custody, some of the things he said to investigators made us go back today," Norton told the Associated Press. Local police, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department and the FBI will resume their search today. The suspect remains in custody, but has yet to be charged.
Just two months ago, Ariel Castrowas arrested for holding Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus captive in his Cleveland home for a nearly a decaide. He's been charged with 977 counts of kidnapping, rape and aggravated murder, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
[via Associated Press]
