Missing Ohio woman found dead with signs of torture; 3 arrested and others wanted

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (TCD) -- Three suspects are in custody and others remain wanted in connection to the suspected abduction, torture, and murder of a 22-year-old missing woman whose body was found Tuesday.

According to WJW-TV, Alishah Pointer was last seen on Nov. 4, and her family reported her missing the next day. East Cleveland Police announced Pointer’s body was discovered in the basement of a burned-out abandoned home on the 14500 block of Savannah Avenue. According to WJW, her body showed signs of torture before her death.

East Cleveland Police said they arrested Nathaniel Poke on Wednesday, but they continue to search for Hakeem Ali Shomo, as well as with other suspects. East Cleveland Police Chief Scott Gardner said in a press conference Wednesday the list of suspects "seems to be growing by the day."

Gardner said in the press conference he is withholding information on two suspects but shared information about four of them. Along with Poke, Destiny Henderson and Portria Williams were taken into custody.

WKYC-TV reports Henderson is 17 years old and her charges include murder, aggravated murder, and kidnapping.

According to WJW, police believe the suspects allegedly kidnapped Pointer for revenge for another crime in the area. Cleveland.com reports Pointer was the girlfriend of a man suspected of killing Aminjas Shomo in Cleveland on Nov. 2.

Gardner told WJW, "This was a horrific crime and started when another victim was lured from her home here in East Cleveland and used by the suspects to abduct Ms. Pointer."

Gardner said the Cleveland Division of the FBI has been "instrumental" in the investigation, along with Secret Service and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley.

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