CLEVELAND OHIO, DNA testing has confirmed that two young girls whose bodies were discovered inside suitcases buried in shallow graves in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood were half-sisters, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Officials announced Wednesday morning that forensic testing established the familial relationship between the victims. Authorities said the girls have not yet been positively identified by name, and additional details are being withheld as the investigation remains ongoing.
The bodies were discovered Monday evening in a field near East 163rd Street and Midland Avenue after a 911 call reported a possible deceased individual.
According to investigators, a man walking his dog in the area noticed the animal reacting to a scent near a fence line. When he checked the area, he found a suitcase partially buried in the ground and immediately contacted authorities.
Responding officers located a deceased child inside the suitcase, which had been placed in a shallow grave. As detectives secured the area and continued searching nearby, they discovered a second suitcase buried close to the first, also containing the body of a young girl.
Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd stated that investigators believe the remains had been at the location for a significant period of time.
Authorities estimate that one victim was between approximately 8½ and 13 years old, while the second victim is believed to have been between about 10½ and 14 years old.
Officials said there are currently no missing persons reports in Cleveland that match the girls’ descriptions. Investigators are expanding their search statewide and working with state and federal law enforcement partners to identify the victims and determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The scene is located near Ginn Academy in the South Collinwood neighborhood. Police stated that while the discovery has deeply affected the community, there is currently no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety.
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464. Tips may also be provided anonymously.
