Several hundred people packed into the intersection of Imperial Avenue and East 123rd street to mourn the dead. There have been dozens of vigils for Greater Cleveland crime victims in recent years. Typically, a crowd holding candles gathers at the scene of a murder for: prayers, testimonials, and sometimes a song. But, there wasn't any singing last night. The mood was angry, and the words were bitter. There was a sense of rage over the fact that six women were apparently murdered and their bodies concealed in…and around… a house only a few hundred feet from this very spot.
Some claimed the police and city housing inspectors didn't follow-up on leads.
VOICE ONE: The inspectors need to come in and inspect every single solitary vacant house --- starting with this area, starting in this ward. Hold them accountable.
Others cast blame on community members who didn't report the suspicious activities of Anthony Sowell, who is being held on suspicion that he kidnapped, raped and strangled the victims.
VOICE TWO: If we as black men was standing in the gap, like we're supposed to be, this would have not happened. There ain't no where in the world that you're going to get some vagrant…some bum…walk up and down your street and terrorize your community.
Vigil organizer Judy Martin said there was plenty of blame to go around.
JUDY MARTIN: We need everybody's eyes and ears. Something like this is happening in plain sight.
After Martin lost her son to street violence 15 years ago, she started the organization Survivors/Victims of Tragedy. She said one of the biggest frustrations for families is the difficulty of getting and giving information. One solution, she suggested, would be to have a county-wide bureau that tracks missing people.
JUDY MARTIN: Because, as it is now, individual precincts handle missing persons cases. If I was to get information today, who would I call? And who will act on it? You have to call all around to find out who has the case. We need a centralized location.
Over the course of last night's vigil, Shannon Mason watched as family members vented their anger over the disappearance of his mother, Michelle, from the neighborhood over a year ago. Now, pending the coroner's report, maybe there will be some answers. Some closure. He was having a hard time processing it all.
SHANNON MASON: I'm mad about it…and then, I'm deeply troubled about it. I just want to know what happened to my mother --- that's all I know for sure.
