Cleveland missing person, sex crimes committee meets for final time

CLEVELAND - The committee formed to assess Cleveland’s missing persons cases in the wake of 11 bodies found in an Imperial Avenue home has been disbanded.

The Special Commission of Missing Person and Sex Crimes Investigations made its final recommendations to Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson on Thursday.

Jackson appointed the six members of the committee after the remains were found in and around Anthony Sowell’s house on the city’s east side in October 2009. A Cuyahoga County jury found Sowell guilty of their murders nearly two years later. Many of the women were never reported missing.

The oversight commission recommended a missing person’s unit in the Cleveland Police Department, missing person’s reports on the city’s website and a Cleveland Rape Crisis Center advocate within the sex crimes unit.  According to a briefing by the commission, the advocated has met with more than 1,100 victims of alleged sex crimes since July 2010. Audio/video equipment will be put in the interview rooms at the sex crimes unit and a missing persons hotline at 216-664-4477.

“All members of the committee wish to thank the mayor, the public safety director, the chief of police, and all those involved with this initiative,” said oversight committee spokesperson Yvonne Triplett. “Throughout this time period, all inquiries, requests for information, various site visits, and the coordination of meetings were consistently satisfied cordially by all parties encountered.”

The city said 22 of the 26 recommendation have already been implemented and the other four are in progress.