CLEVELAND (AP) — One of the Cleveland area’s most infamous unsolved murder cases came to an end Wednesday
with a guilty plea in the 1984 beating death of a 14-year-old girl who was abducted on her way to
school.
Hernandez Warren pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated murder and rape in the death of Gloria
Pointer. The plea agreement allows him to avoid the death penalty.
Warren, 59, was arrested a year ago after the Cuyahoga County medical examiner’s office matched his DNA
to evidence found at the scene. Warren had lived in the same neighborhood.
Warren, wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, turned to the gallery during his court appearance and
apologized to Gloria’s mother, Yvonne Pointer, who after her daughter’s death became a nationally known
advocate for families coping with the unsolved murders of loved ones.
“I cannot express the depth of pain and sorrow I’ve caused for your family,” Warren said.
Earlier, Yvonne Painter told the Associated Press that she forgives Warren. She said she hoped other
families waiting for murders of relatives to be solved might take solace that her daughter’s case had
finally been resolved.
“I feel like I’ve run a marathon and I’m about to cross the finish line,” she said.
The DNA match came after a reporter for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, asked the medical examiner and
county Prosecutor Timothy McGinty to re-examine DNA evidence found on Gloria’s clothing.
Warren will be sentenced later.