CLEVELAND (TCN) — A 28-year-old woman has been taken into custody and charged in connection with the deaths of two half-sisters found buried in suitcases by a man walking his dog.
On March 2, Phillip Donaldson was walking his dog through an area known for illegal dumping when he found a half-buried suitcase. The bodies of two half-sisters were then found in shallow graves, and Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd said she was working with state and federal partners to determine the children’s identities.
On March 5, Cleveland police detained Aliyah Henderson, 28, according to WOIO. She was charged with aggravated murder and child endangering in connection with the case, per the outlet.
WJW reports police confirmed Henderson is the mother of the girls, identified as 8-year-old Mila Chatman and her half-sister, 10-year-old Amor Wilson, by WOIO.
Mila Chatman’s father, Deshaun Chatman, told WOIO, “I’ve been looking for my daughter for five years. I’ve been calling CPS, going to the courts, trying to get emergency custody, calling the police for welfare checks. But they denied all access.” He alleged the girl’s mother had been avoiding him by moving around, and he said the last time he saw his daughter was when he helped buy her clothes for kindergarten.
According to WOIO, he is working with detectives to prove he is Chatman’s father by submitting DNA samples.
WOIO reports a third child was found at Henderson’s home when a search warrant was executed and has been taken into the custody of child protective services.
WJW reports autopsies have been conducted on both girls, but officials have not yet released their causes of death.
MORE:
