Onlookers visit victims' memorial

11 bodies found at house in Cleveland

Associated Press

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CLEVELAND -- Reggie Turner stopped by a growing memorial to 11 victims of an alleged serial killer because he knew one of the women. Michelle Lee came to pay her respects as a mother and grandmother. Mark Mason and two buddies rode their motorcycles to just take a look.

The street corner opposite the home dubbed Cleveland's "House of Horrors" buzzes with visits from mourners, well-wishers, politicians and the curious.

"We wanted our children to understand what has occurred, to understand how people go missing," said Cliff Westwood, who brought his 9-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son by the house late Saturday afternoon.

Police discovered the first two bodies and a freshly dug grave Oct. 29 at the house on the city's east side. By Oct. 31 six bodies had been identified. The number grew to 11 by Tuesday.

In the first few days, there was no memorial, no outward expression of grief. Even after five bodies were unearthed from Anthony Sowell's backyard Tuesday, only a few candles flickered on the sidewalk across from the house.

The missing board went up late Wednesday afternoon. It stayed empty for a few hours. The next morning there were about a dozen names and faces, mostly women and mostly black. A few were white or Hispanic.

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