Nicole S. Thorpe, 36, was shot dead inside her Garfield Heights home on January 8, 2018. Police initially treated the death as suspicious. Her 16-year-old nephew, Alonzo Thorpe of Shaker Heights, was charged in the case after investigators say he had been babysitting his cousin that night while Nicole went out with a friend; she did not return until after 2:00 a.m., and Alonzo stayed overnight.

The next day the child’s father found Nicole’s body. Investigators say Alonzo later showed a friend the body and was found crying and unsure what to do. A handgun recovered from Alonzo’s room reportedly bore his DNA, and forensic testing linked that gun to the bullet that killed Nicole. He faced murder and felonious assault counts; a jury convicted him of reckless homicide and acquitted him of the other charges. Sentences included three years for the firearm specification and 36 months for reckless homicide.

The case attracted attention because the victim and the accused were family and because forensic evidence played a central role. If anyone knew Nicole, Alonzo, or was in the neighborhood that night, please share what might help the investigation.