CLEVELAND, OH — A neighborhood is reeling after a resident walking a dog made a gruesome discovery on Monday, March 2, 2026. In a wooded field near Ginn Academy, specifically near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue, the bodies of two young girls were found concealed in separate suitcases and buried in shallow graves.
By Thursday, March 5, the investigation shifted from a missing persons search to a high-profile homicide case. Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd confirmed that while the girls have not been officially identified, DNA testing has revealed they are half-siblings.
A "Long Night" for Discovery
The horror began at approximately 6:00 p.m. on Monday. A local man walking his dog noticed something unusual in a field near a residential area.
- The Discovery: Upon investigating, the man found a suitcase containing human remains. When Fifth District officers arrived to canvas the area, they discovered a second shallow grave nearby, also containing a suitcase with a second body.
- The Victims: The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office estimates the first victim was between 8 and 13 years old, and the second between 10 and 14 years old.
- Timeline of Death: Authorities noted there were no clear indicators of how long the girls had been at the location, but Chief Todd emphasized it was "some time" and not a recent occurrence.
48 Hours to a Suspect
Following a "tireless" search for leads, Cleveland Police announced a major breakthrough on the morning of Thursday, March 5, 2026.
- The Suspect: A 28-year-old woman was taken into custody after detectives executed a search warrant at a residence in the 700 block of East 162nd Street. Her identity is being withheld pending formal charges.
- The Evidence: Police stated that "substantial evidence" related to the case was recovered during the search.
- The Rescue: Inside the suspect's home, officers found another child who appeared to be in good health. That child has since been placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
Identifying the Unidentified
Despite the arrest, the "Legal War" for justice is complicated by the fact that neither girl matches any active missing persons reports in Cleveland or the surrounding tri-state area.
- Statewide Search: Investigators are currently working with federal and state partners to cross-reference DNA with national databases of missing children.
- Cause of Death: As of Thursday, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has not released a cause of death, leaving a critical gap in the prosecution’s upcoming case.
- The Privacy Statute: Law enforcement is being "methodical and discreet" with information to protect the integrity of the judicial process, a strategy often seen in high-profile cases involving minors.
"Two Young Lives with Entire Futures Ahead"
Chief Dorothy Todd’s address to the media on Tuesday was heavy with the weight of the tragedy. "These were two young lives," she said, stressing that the department has made this case its absolute priority.
The resident who found the bodies described it as an "extremely long night," reflecting the trauma that has rippled through the Collinwood neighborhood. For the community, the arrest provides a sliver of relief, but the goal remains the same: identifying these girls and ensuring that their names and their stories are not forgotten.