CLEVELAND (AP) — Ohio authorities have announced that they’ve solved the long-standing case of the fatal stabbing of Aliza Sherman, a nurse at the Cleveland Clinic. The recent development includes murder charges against her former divorce attorney, Gregory J. Moore, who previously served time in jail for lying during the investigation.
On Friday, October 27, 2023, the arrest of 51-year-old Moore marked a significant breakthrough in a case that had stumped investigators since 2013. Aliza Sherman, who was 53 years old at the time of her death, was found stabbed more than ten times on a sidewalk in downtown Cleveland. This location was reportedly near where she was supposed to meet Moore to discuss her divorce.
Moore has officially been indicted on several serious charges, including murder, aggravated murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy. He was apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Texas, where he remained in custody as of Sunday. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley expressed the family’s decade-long wait for answers and noted that extensive investigative work had resulted in compelling evidence against Moore, indicating he had orchestrated and participated in the brutal murder.
Gregory Moore is not unfamiliar to law enforcement. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to charges of falsification for providing misleading statements about his whereabouts during the time of Sherman’s death. Additionally, he admitted to making bomb threats in 2012 in an attempt to postpone trials. Following these incidents, his law license was suspended in 2017, and he resigned it the next year after serving six months in jail. Moore had publicly expressed regret for his previous actions.
The details of the indictment allege that Moore had formulated a plan to kidnap Sherman as a strategy to delay her upcoming divorce trial. Evidence presented includes communications between Moore and Sherman, suggesting that he lured her to his locked office where she waited for over an hour before proceeding to her vehicle. The indictment alleges that during this interval, an individual, identified as either Moore or an accomplice, attacked Sherman from behind, stabbing her multiple times.
Following the incident, Moore reportedly swiped into his office later that day and sent messages intended to mislead investigators. Currently, he does not have any publicly listed attorney and did not respond to an email inquires. Prosecutors have indicated that he will appear for arraignment at a later date. The Cold Case Unit of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation took over the case in 2021, leading to renewed efforts and collaboration with the FBI, which ultimately led to Moore's arrest.
Aliza Sherman was remembered fondly as a devoted mother of four and a respected fertility nurse. Her tragic death prompted numerous rallies and vigils held annually in her memory. In a statement released through her attorney, her daughter Jennifer Sherman expressed gratitude towards law enforcement officials for their persistent commitment to seeking justice for her mother. She requested privacy for their family during this especially challenging time.
Harry Czinn, Sherman’s brother, also shared his feelings about the recent developments, expressing a mix of shock and relief after so many years. He described his emotions as bittersweet, feeling glad that a suspect has finally been identified but simultaneously grappling with the painful memories of his sister’s untimely death.
