When I'm feeling a little self absorbed, which can lead to melancholy, I usually happen upon an article or three that make me grateful for my life and for who I am. This is the first headline I read tonight, and it didn't take me but a second to say, "Wow.... the things we inflict on each other as humans. I'm so grateful to be where I am tonight, safe and warm, with two amazing children and many loved ones in my life."
Cleveland to demolish serial killer's home
By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 8:59 PM EST, Mon December 5, 2011
Eleven bodies were found in and around Anthony Sowell's house in Cleveland, Ohio.
(CNN) -- The city of Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday morning will demolish the house where serial killer Anthony Sowell hid the bodies of his victims, officials said.
A jury convicted him in July for kidnapping, abuse of corpses and the aggravated murder of 11 women around Cleveland from 2007 to 2009. In August, he was sentenced to death.
The convictions ended a saga that began in October 2009 with the discovery of the first two victims' remains in Sowell's home in Cleveland. He eventually was accused of killing at least 11 women ranging in age from 25 to 52.
Sowell's inconspicuous two-story home sat in a dilapidated Cleveland neighborhood known as Mount Pleasant. A stench hovered around the area, but no one initially realized it was the smell of decaying human flesh, instead assuming that it was a byproduct of a nearby sausage factory.
In a letter to the families of Sowell's victims, Blaine Griffin, executive director of the Cleveland Community Relations Board, said the demolition "is an important step in helping our community heal and move forward."
"In order to prevent actions that would be disrespectful to the memory of your loved one, your family and our community, the demolition will be performed in such a way that no piece of the property will remain," Griffin wrote in the letter.
CNN's Maggie Schneider contributed to this report.
Reprinted courtesy of CNN.com
I have to take a moment to think about the horrific tragedy the victims and their loved ones experienced. I think it's a great gesture to destroy the house in its entirety. After all, even if it was in liveable shape, who would want to live there?
The lessons in how little control we have over the actions of others and how destructive some of those actions are always make me uncomfortable. I don't like thinking about the lack of empathy, humanity, or love that so many people demonstrate - from small things to big, terrible things like murder.
And yet, for all of the "evil" and bad, there is so much good.
There is a benefit at work for my former coworker who was diagnosed with cancer. We have all volunteered to assemble inspirational tea-light candles. We are all working a shift in the skyway to "sell" them, and we have all bared our creative souls by making posters or writing a story for the online work newsletter. And, even more touching, will be the outpour of donations we receive. People have already responded so positively to the newsletter.
And for these victims of a mind boggling serial killer, their city is demolishing the scene of the crimes... as if to say, "The place of these horrific events doesn't deserve acknowledgement."
For the families of the victims, I hope this provides some amount of peace and closure.
Good Night.
