The bodies of two young girls were discovered concealed in suitcases and buried in shallow graves near a Cleveland school on Monday evening, March 2, 2026. The disturbing find sparked a homicide investigation that has deeply unsettled the South Collinwood neighborhood as authorities work urgently to determine who the victims are.
A local man walking his dog near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue made the grim discovery around 6 p.m. when his dog became fixated on a mound of dirt at Saranac Playground, close to Ginn Academy, an all-boys public high school. What Phillip Donaldson found inside a partially buried suitcase shocked even the most seasoned investigators.
Donaldson told reporters that his dog continually sniffed at the dirt pile and wouldn’t leave, prompting him to take a closer look. He found a suitcase partially buried, opened it, and uncovered a child’s head. He called 911 immediately.
When officers arrived, they located the first girl’s remains inside the suitcase buried in a shallow grave. While searching the area along the playground’s fence line, police discovered a second shallow grave containing another suitcase with a second child’s body.
Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd addressed the media on Tuesday, March 3, about the heartbreaking case. She confirmed that both victims were young Black girls and that their bodies were intact, not dismembered, authorities said.
“It’s just a terrible, horrific situation,” Todd stated during the briefing.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office took possession of the remains and reported Wednesday morning, March 4, that preliminary DNA results indicated the girls were half-sisters. At that point, their identities had not yet been confirmed, and no missing children in the area matched their descriptions.
The cause of death has not been established. Todd explained that investigators believe the bodies had been there for some time, though the exact duration is unclear. Recent heavy snowfall may have concealed the graves.
The location is in a residential part of the neighborhood near the school, but Todd noted it’s not an area with consistent foot traffic. Donaldson said he had only recently resumed walking his dog there due to lingering snow, and it was his dog’s reaction that led him to the site.
The Cleveland Division of Police brought in multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Children and Family Services. Investigators checked with state and federal partners to determine if the victims matched missing children cases outside the Cleveland area.
On Friday morning, March 6, a 28-year-old Ohio mother was arraigned. The suspect, Aliyah Henderson, was officially charged Thursday with two counts of aggravated murder, according to the Cleveland Division of Police. A judge in Cleveland Municipal Court set her bond at $2 million.
The victims were later identified as eight-year-old Mila Chatman and 10-year-old Amor Wilson, both of Cleveland.
Cleveland police stated that detectives executed a search warrant at a residence near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue after canvassing the area, speaking with witnesses, and reviewing surveillance footage, according to WEWS.
A third child was found inside the home and was placed in the care of the Department of Child and Family Services.
Ward 10 City Councilman Mike Polensek, a lifelong Collinwood resident, told local media that he hasn’t been able to sleep since learning about the tragedy. Several families withdrew their children from Ginn Academy once the news spread.
Neighbor Cheryl Young, who has lived across from the playground for 26 years, said she is shocked and frightened. “It’s just frightening to think that something like that has happened that close to where you live,” she said.
Todd encouraged residents to check their home surveillance cameras for anything suspicious — anyone lingering in the area or behaving unusually. She emphasized that community members often notice details vital to investigators.
Cleveland police have set up a 24-hour tip line dedicated to this case. Anyone with information is urged to call the Cleveland police homicide unit at 216-623-5464 or provide tips to Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7463.
