2 young girls found dead in suitcases in Cleveland were related, coroner says
2 Young Girls Found Dead in Suitcases in Cleveland Were Related, Coroner Says
Cleveland police have confirmed that the two Black girls discovered encased within suitcases and interred in shallow graves on the east side of the city were connected by family ties. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office announced Wednesday that initial DNA analysis indicated the girls were half-siblings, though neither has been officially identified. The bodies were unearthed near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue, close to the Ginn Academy School, an all-boys public institution.
The first body was spotted by a dog walker on Monday evening, who noticed a head partially concealed beneath a pile of dirt near the school. Upon returning to investigate, the individual found a suitcase buried in the ground and alerted authorities. Homicide detectives later uncovered a second shallow grave containing another body, as the area remained under scrutiny. “It was like a pile of dirt, and she stopped to sniff … and she was taking too long,” Phillip Donaldson, the man whose dog detected the remains, told WEWS-TV.
Coroner’s Office Confirmation
Christopher Harris, a spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office, stated in a statement that the preliminary findings revealed the girls’ familial relationship. However, the cause of death has not yet been disclosed, leaving the circumstances of their deaths unclear. Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd noted that the bodies showed no signs of dismemberment, suggesting the manner of their burial was straightforward.
Investigation Status
Todd also mentioned that the location of the discovery, a low-traffic area, has not been tied to any ongoing missing persons reports. With no suspects or leads identified, investigators are urging the public to come forward with information. Contact details for the homicide unit and Crime Stoppers are provided for those who may have relevant details.
Corky Siemaszko, a senior reporter for NBC News Digital, reported the incident.
