CLEVELAND -- A man who once owned a convenience store across the street from where six bodies were found says the man who lived there would come into the store often to buy garbage bags.

Assad Tayeh said Anthony Sowell stopped by the store almost every day since getting out of prison four years ago.

Tayeh said Sowell would disappear down the aisle searching for garbage bags, specifically asking for extra-strength, heavy-duty bags, and a lot of them, reported NewsChannel5's Ron Regan.

"And he used to tell me, 'Can you get me the heavy duty garbage bags?' I told him next time I order my groceries I get you a box for the store. So one time, I will never forget, he bought five boxes of Glad trash bags. I told him, 'Why you buying so much garbage bags, my God?' He said, 'Oh, I am going to be cleaning around the house,'" said Tayeh.

Tayeh also said a woman told him that Sowell allegedly tried to strangle her. She escaped but was afraid to call police because she had an outstanding warrant on unrelated charges, Tayeh said.