CLEVELAND -- A judge has dropped one aggravated murder charge and one kidnapping charge in the trial of an Ohio man accused of killing 11 women and dumping their bodies around his home.
Judge Dick Ambrose on Monday dropped the charges related to the death of Leshanda Long, whose skull was found in a bucket in the home of 51-year-old Anthony Sowell. Ambrose ruled that, without Long's body, prosecutors do not have enough evidence to prove Sowell held Long against her will.
The aggravated murder charge was based on the assumption that Long was killed during a kidnapping. Sowell is still charged with one count of aggravated murder in her death.
Sowell has pleaded not guilty to killing the women. Closing arguments are expected Wednesday.
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