EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — Four people accused in connection with the death of Alishah Pointer have each been indicted on two counts of aggravated murder, as well as one count of kidnapping.
The body of the 22-year-old North Randall woman was discovered in the basement of a burned-out home on Savannah Avenue in East Cleveland last Tuesday, four days after Pointer's twin sister reported her missing.
On Monday in East Cleveland Municipal Court, Nathaniel Poke Jr., Portria Williams, Brittany Smith and Anthony Bryant were each arraigned on one count of murder. That day, Williams was indicted on two counts of aggravated murder, kidnapping and having a weapon while under disability in connection with Pointer's disappearance and death.
On Thursday, Poke, Smith and Bryant joined Williams in being indicted on two counts of aggravated murder and one count of kidnapping.
In court Monday, a defense attorney told the judge Bryant is an 18-year-old high school senior who had been preparing to graduate. Now, he's one of two teens charged in the murder. A 17-year-old girl faces aggravated murder, kidnapping and other charges in juvenile court. Records show her criminal history began when she was 14-years-old.
Police have not said what role each suspect allegedly played in Pointer's kidnapping, torture and murder.
Investigators said her attackers believed she had information connected to an unrelated deadly shooting in Cleveland days earlier.
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