By
Peter Krouse, The Plain Dealer
The Plain Dealer
on October 30, 2012 at 8:00 PM, updated October 30, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Brought to you by
Anthony Sowell
CLEVELAND, Ohio — A pencil drawing of eleven tombstones said to be created by Cleveland serial killer Anthony Sowell was recently posted for sale on a website that peddles crime-related memorabilia.
The site, serialkillersink.com, offers collectibles associated with a number of infamous criminals, including Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy.
The drawing of the eleven tombstones was one of seven items attributed to Sowell and listed for sale on Monday.
It seemed particularly disturbing to Andy Kahan, a victim’s advocate in Texas who monitors what he calls “murderabilia” websites, because Sowell was convicted of murdering eleven women at his Imperial Avenue home.
An email message from the Plain Dealer to Serial Killers Ink seeking comment was not returned. Shortly after it was sent all seven items attributed to Sowell were taken down from the site.
Several of the headstones in Sowell’s drawing said “RIP” on them, while others had crosses. One listed the years in which a victim was born and died. No names were included. Standing among the headstones was a grim reaper.
The front of the drawing also included Sowell’s thumb print, while the back had a copy of a photograph of Sowell as an infant, as well as his signature, according to the website.
“Nothing like the content in this piece has been done by Sowell up until now making this piece highly collectible and great for display,” read a description of the artwork.
The item was listed for sale at $175 with one in stock.
A screen capture of a photocopy of Anthony Sowell’s art as advertised for sale on the Internet. The actual color artwork has since been removed from the web site.
The operator of Serial Killers Ink is Eric Hollar, who goes by the name Eric Gein, said Kahan. He said six such “murderabilia” sites operate in the United States. The owners generally initiate communication with the criminals in prison, sometimes visiting them in person, letting them know they have a business proposition that will benefit both of them.
“This is an insidious, despicable industry,” Kahan said of the memorabilia sites, with Sowell “trying to capitalize on his infamy that he achieved by killing eleven women.”
Kahan said its rare for a notorious killer to create a piece of art that appears to specifically address his victims.
State laws would restrict Sowell from profiting from his artwork, but would not necessarily prevent a third-party seller from doing so, said Ian Friedman, a local defense attorney.
Attempts to pass federal laws that restrict all profiting from heinous crimes have failed on more than one occasion, he said.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty issued a statement saying prisons should “severely restrict” murderers’ access to the outside world and that any money they receive should go toward restitution to the victim’s families.
One of Sowell’s attorneys, assistant Cuyahoga County Public Defender Erika Cunliffe, said she had heard rumors about Sowell’s artwork being posted online, but didn’t know anything about it.
Kahan said the fact that the items disappeared from the website shortly after Hollar was contacted by a reporter suggests to him that Hollar did not want to get Sowell in trouble with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for selling the items.
He said prisons are often “clueless” to the fact that this type of profiteering is going on behind bars.
Robin Knab, regional director for the office of prisons, said she had never heard of an incident like this happening before. She said prison policy allows inmates to create art in prison and send it to family and friends, but that the inmates are not allowed to profit from it.
She said prison officials do not ordinarily monitor outgoing mail, but may begin doing so if they suspect an inmate is profiting in some way from items that they make in prison.
Serial Killers Ink previously had peddled dirt from Sowell’s house, where the bodies of his eleven victims were found, as well as a polo short advertised as having been worn by former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora.
Dimora was sentenced earlier this year to 28 years in prison for corruption-related crimes.
Serial Killers Ink isn’t the only business with an interest in Sowell crime-related memorabilia. An Akron-based heavy metal band with an album inspired by images of Sowell gave away bags of dirt from killer’s front yard to about 100 fans who bought the album.
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