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.