CLEVELAND OHIO, Authorities are asking for the public’s help after the bodies of two unidentified young girls were discovered inside separate suitcases buried in shallow graves Monday evening on the city’s East Side.
Police said the victims are believed to be between approximately 8 and 14 years old. As of Tuesday, investigators reported there were no active missing persons reports in Cleveland that match the children’s descriptions, and their identities remain unknown.
The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.
The discovery occurred shortly after 7:00 p.m. near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue in a field adjacent to Ginn Academy.
According to investigators, a man walking his dog in the area noticed his dog pulling toward a fence line near a playground. When he investigated, he saw a suitcase that appeared partially buried in the ground. After opening the suitcase and seeing what appeared to be a child inside, he immediately contacted authorities.
Officers with the Cleveland Division of Police responded and confirmed the presence of a shallow grave containing a suitcase with a deceased child. While processing the scene, detectives located a second shallow grave nearby containing another suitcase with the body of a young girl.
During a news conference, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd described the situation as tragic and said the discovery has had a significant emotional impact on both officers and the community.
Investigators have not yet determined how long the bodies had been buried. Authorities indicated that the deaths likely did not occur recently, though the timeline remains under investigation. Police also stated there is currently no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety.
Both bodies have been transported to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies, which will help determine the cause and manner of death and assist in identifying the victims. Officials also confirmed that the bodies had not been dismembered.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case, including possible suspicious activity in the area or knowledge of missing children who may not have been formally reported, to contact the Cleveland Division of Police or Crime Stoppers.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
