The Cuyahoga County coroner's office said Wednesday that a skull found in a bucket in Anthony Sowell's basement belonged to a body they have not yet found.
Authorities also say they have identified one of the victims as 53-year-old Tonia Carmichael, who disappeared a year ago.
Police Chief Michael McGrath says her remains were buried in the back yard and had marks indicating she was strangled.
Carmichael's daughter Markiesha Carmichael-Jacobs says her mother struggled with drug addiction and frequented Sowell's neighborhood.
He appeared in court under tight security, wearing a blue paper jumpsuit typically used when an inmate might be a suicide risk. His wrists and ankles were manacled, and he walked into court staggering slightly.
Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Brian Murphy called Sowell "an incredibly dangerous threat to the public" and said he could face the death penalty if convicted of the charges – five aggravated murder counts for the victims whose cause of death has been ruled strangulation. In addition, he faces charges of rape, felonious assault and kidnapping for a Sept. 22 attack on a woman at his home.
Public defender Kathleen DeMetz told the judge that Sowell has medical problems, including a heart pacemaker and cardiac medication. He was laid off two years ago and receives unemployment compensation.
The case now goes before the county grand jury.
