Divorce lawyer for Aliza Sherman, murdered in Ohio in 2013, arrested over her killing
Jewish community had pressed for answers in cold case following shocking death of mother of four; suspect Gregory J. Moore has already served time for lying during investigation
Ohio authorities said they’ve solved the more than decade-old fatal stabbing of a Cleveland Clinic nurse, announcing recent murder charges against her former divorce attorney who already served jail time for lying to police during the investigation.
Friday’s arrest of 51-year-old Gregory J. Moore marked the latest twist in a cold case that stumped Ohio authorities for a dozen years. Aliza Sherman, a Jewish mother of four, was stabbed more than 10 times, her body found on a downtown Cleveland sidewalk near where she was set to meet Moore to discuss her divorce.
Moore was indicted on charges of murder, aggravated murder, kidnapping and conspiracy, according to unsealed documents. He was arrested by US Marshals in Texas, and remains in custody.
Sherman was killed the night before Passover in 2013, sending shock waves through the Jewish community. Frustrated by the initial failure of police to solve the case, a month after her murder, Sherman’s friends and family raised $23,000 as a reward for information leading to an arrest.
Dani Horwitz, a Cleveland native whose family was close to Sherman, then organized a march attended by more than 200 people designed to keep attention on the unsolved murder.
“We need this to stay in the news, and we need this to be a priority for the mayor and the chief of police,” Horwitz said at the time. “We’re encouraging people to keep calling the police and to keep calling the mayor. This case can’t go cold.”
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley announced Moore’s arrest in a statement Monday.
“The Sherman family has waited over a decade for answers regarding their mother’s homicide,” O’Malley said. “Through the tenacious work of multiple law enforcement agencies, evidence was accumulated that paints the unmistakable picture that Gregory Moore orchestrated and participated in the brutal murder of Aliza Sherman.”
Moore is not a stranger to authorities.
In 2017, he pleaded guilty to falsification for statements he made to police about his whereabouts during Sherman’s killing. He also admitted to calling in bomb threats in 2012 as a way to delay trials. His law license was suspended in 2017 and he resigned it the following year. He served six months in jail.
At the time, he said that he regretted his past actions.
According to the indictment, Moore allegedly planned to kidnap Sherman as a delay tactic for her upcoming divorce trial. The unsealed documents include messages between Moore and Sherman showing how he called her to the office, which was locked. She arrived and waited over an hour before deciding to return to her car, according to the indictment.
“During this timeframe, an individual who was either Moore or an unknown co-conspirator approached Sherman … circled behind her, chased her … and then stabbed her over 10 times,” the indictment reads.
Moore swiped into the office later that evening and messaged Sherman to mislead investigators, according to the indictment.
Moore did not respond to an email message. Court records did not list an attorney. A defense attorney who previously represented Moore did not respond to a phone message.
Moore is expected to be arraigned at a later date, according to prosecutors who said teamwork with the FBI led to the arrest. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation took over the cold case in 2021.
Sherman, 53, has been remembered as a beloved fertility nurse. Rallies and vigils to honor her memory have been held on the anniversary of her death.
Her daughter, Jennifer Sherman, thanked authorities “for their unwavering dedication in seeking justice for Aliza,” according to a statement issued through her attorney, Adam Fried. “This is an exceptionally difficult time for the family, and we kindly request privacy during this period.”
“I’m in shock because after 12 years, you don’t expect it,” Harry Czinn, Aliza Sherman’s brother, told Cleveland Jewish News. “The best word to sum up my feelings at this point would be bittersweet — glad they got the person, but the memories are painful.”
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