2 more bodies removed from Ohio home

CLEVELAND — Two more bodies were removed Tuesday from a convicted rapist’s home where police recovered the bodies of six women last week, a television station reported.

The bodies were removed after investigators excavated the yard of the home where 50-year-old Anthony Sowell lives, WKYC-TV of Cleveland reported on its Web site. Two coroner’s vans arrived shortly before the remains were removed, the report said, and the bodies were being taken to the Cuyahoga County coroner’s office.

Cleveland police Lt. Tom Stacho could not confirm that additional bodies had been recovered. He said more details would be provided at an evening news conference with Police Chief Michael McGrath.

A coroner’s spokesman also could not confirm the report.

Investigators have brought lights and heavy equipment to the home and are putting a tent around the yard, WYYC reports.

Police discovered the six bodies Thursday and Friday after a woman reported being raped at Sowell’s home. The coroner is attempting to identify the bodies found last week through DNA and dental records. All six women were black, and five were strangled.

Sowell is being held in jail on an arrest warrant, but he hasn’t been charged in the rape investigation or in connection with the bodies.

He is a registered sex offender.