Ohio Sex Offender Captured After Bodies Found at His Home

Authorities in Ohio captured a convicted sex offender Saturday after the remains of six people were found at his home.

Anthony Sowell, 50, was caught walking down a Cleveland street just after noon, capping a massive manhunt for him in the area.

Sowell initially denied he was the man authorities were looking for but admitted his identity as officers began fingerprinting him, police said. He was wanted on felony rape and assault charges, though additional charges were pending Saturday, as investigators continued digging for more remains on his property.

Cleveland police went to check on reports of a rape at Sowell's house on Thursday. During their search of the premises, they found two badly decomposed bodies on the third floor.

A third body was discovered Friday afternoon in a shallow grave in the basement. The remains of three more people were found in Sowell's house and backyard.

Autopsies were done Friday, but because of the level of decomposition it will take time to determine the age, gender, race and identity of the victims and how they died.

Cleveland police set up a command post for anyone with a friend or relative who vanished since 2005, when he was released from prison after serving 15 years for a 1989 rape.

Teresa Hicks, 48, was among the neighbors who said they were relieved about the arrest but left with a heightened fear of crime. She said she has known Sowell since high school.

"He was crazy," she said from her porch Saturday. "Sometimes he would just go off if he didn't have his way."

Darren Dunlap, 38, frequently visits the neighborhood to see his brother or friends. He said Sowell was known for borrowing money and looking for scrap metal to sell.

Hicks said she didn't think Sowell had a job but understood from conversations with him that he lived on a monthly check. She said she didn't know its source.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.