An attorney who police believe orchestrated his client’s murder to avoid a court appearance is on his way back to Ohio.
Gregory Moore, 51, was arrested in Texas after being indicted on murder and kidnapping charges and is being extradited back to Ohio. Cleveland 19 reported that the charges stem from Aliza Sherman’s murder in downtown Cleveland in March 2013.
Sherman, 53, went to Moore’s law office on Erieview Plaza after Moore contacted her and invited her to visit. An unknown assailant chased her outside the office and down the street, stabbing her ten times. She died from her wounds.
According to the indictment, Moore planned the attack on Sherman to avoid having to stand trial because he was unprepared.
“The purpose of Aliza Sherman’s kidnapping was to obstruct Judge Rosemary Grdina Gold from conducting the trial in the divorce case,” according to the arrest warrant. “This goal was designed to be achieved by causing Aliza Sherman to be unavailable to attend the proceedings due to serious, serious physical harm and/or death.”
Moore, according to the indictment, had a history of taking drastic measures to avoid court appearances. At the time of Sherman’s murder, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office was investigating a series of bomb threats made over the phone to courthouses on days when Moore was scheduled to stand trial. The bomb threats were made over the phone in January, May, and July of 2012.
Much of the indictment details Moore’s communications with Sherman on the day she died. Moore texted Sherman at 2:31 p.m., asking her to arrive at his office around 4:30 p.m. According to the indictment, Moore disconnected from the Verizon cellular network between 4:23 and 7:32 p.m.
Once disconnected from the network, prosecutors believe Moore continued to text with Sherman via the law office’s hotspot. Sherman and Moore’s texts reveal Sherman’s confusion as she waits outside the law office doors to be admitted.
Sherman texted Moore at 5:13 p.m., indicating that she was outside and asking when he would arrive. Moore responded, “Been here.” According to the indictment, this response was intended to keep Sherman waiting by the door.
Sherman’s sent a text message at 5:22 p.m., asking, “If you are here, why do not you let me in?” I suppose I will go back to my car.Too cold…text me when the door is open, please.” According to the indictment, during this time period, someone who “was either Moore or a co-conspirator” approached Sherman from behind, chased her down the street, and fatally stabbed her.