Woman strangled in Shaker Heights, police work on new homicide investigation

CLEVELAND - Shaker Heights police are investigating the homicide of a 60-year-old woman, who was strangled in an apartment complex on Saturday.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office announced the preliminary results of an autopsy on the victim late Wednesday morning. The medical examiner said Sharon Anderson-Norfus died from asphyxia by strangulation.

Police went to the Oliver House Apartments, 3715 Warrensville Center Road, on Saturday afternoon.

A co-worker of Anderson-Norfus and the building manager went to check on her when she failed to show up at work at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beachwood, said Shaker Heights Police Chief D. Scott Lee early Wednesday afternoon.

The co-worker and manager found Anderson-Norfus unresponsive, and when police arrived, they considered it suspicious and called for backup, Lee said.

"She was a beautiful,nice person, real calm, down to earth, friendly, happy kept to herself," said Kelly Holliday who lives down the hall from Anderson-Norfus.
 
There are no suspects in custody, and Lee said detectives are actively seeking leads in this new homicide case, including the possibility of surveillance video. Lee would not say if someone forced their way into the building.

The murder has apartment residents on edge. "It's scary, a scary situation," said apartment resident Fred Battle.

The murder is the first in Shaker Heights since 2006.