The bodies of two young girls were discovered stuffed inside suitcases and buried in shallow graves near a Cleveland school on Monday evening, launching a homicide investigation that has shaken the South Collinwood neighborhood and left authorities desperately searching for answers about the unidentified victims.
A local resident walking his dog near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue made the grim discovery around 6 p.m. when his pet lingered over a mound of dirt at Saranac Playground, not far from Ginn Academy, an all-boys public high school. What Phillip Donaldson found inside a half-buried suitcase would shock even seasoned law enforcement officials.
Donaldson told local media he returned to the spot after his dog stopped to sniff a pile of dirt and was taking too long to move on. When he investigated, he discovered a partially buried suitcase, unzipped it, and found a child’s head inside. He immediately called 911.
When Cleveland police officers arrived at the residential neighborhood, they found the first victim’s body inside a suitcase in a shallow grave. As investigators canvassed the scene near the fence line of Saranac Playground, they discovered a second shallow grave containing another suitcase with another body inside.
Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd held a press conference Tuesday to address the horrific discovery. She confirmed that both victims were juvenile Black females, with one believed to be between 8 and 13 years old and the other estimated to be between 10 and 14 years old. The bodies were found intact and were not dismembered, authorities said.
“It’s just a terrible, horrific situation,” Todd said during the press conference, adding that police are working to develop any leads they can with help from the community.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the remains and confirmed through preliminary DNA testing Wednesday morning that the two girls are half-siblings. However, neither victim has been positively identified, and authorities have found no active missing persons reports in Cleveland that match the victims’ descriptions.
Police have not released information about a possible suspect, and there are no clear indicators of the cause of death. Todd acknowledged that investigators believe the bodies had been at the location for some time, though the exact timeline remains unclear. Heavy snowfall in the area may have helped conceal the shallow graves, according to investigators.
The discovery location sits in a residential neighborhood near the school, but Todd noted it’s an area that does not get much foot traffic. Donaldson told investigators he had returned to walking his dog in that particular area for the first time in a while due to recent snow, and his pet hit on the scent that led to the gruesome find.
The Cleveland Division of Police has called in multiple partner agencies for support, including the FBI and the Department of Children and Family Services. Detectives are checking with state and federal partners to determine if the victims match any missing children cases beyond Cleveland’s jurisdiction.
Authorities emphasized there is no clear indication of an ongoing threat to public safety, though the investigation remains active and urgent. The fact that no local missing persons reports match the girls’ descriptions has added another layer of complexity to the case.
Ward 10 City Councilman Mike Polensek, a lifelong Collinwood resident, told local media he hasn’t slept since learning of the tragedy. Several parents reportedly pulled their children from classes at Ginn Academy after news of the discovery spread.
Neighbor Cheryl Young, who has lived across the street from the playground for 26 years, expressed fear and disbelief. “It’s just frightening to think that something like that has happened that close to where you live,” she said.
Todd urged residents to check their security cameras for anything suspicious — perhaps someone seen lingering in the area or someone who doesn’t belong. She noted that in residential areas, people typically notice when something seems off, and even small details could prove crucial to solving the case.
Cleveland police established a 24-hour response line specifically for tips related to the case. Anyone with information about the investigation can contact the Cleveland police homicide unit at 216-623-5464. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7463.
The investigation continues as authorities work to identify the two young victims and determine what led to their deaths. The medical examiner’s office will conduct autopsies to establish the cause and manner of death, while homicide detectives pursue leads in what has become one of Cleveland’s most disturbing cases in recent memory.
For now, the two half-siblings remain Jane Does — their identities unknown and their stories untold. Cleveland police are racing against time to give these young victims back their names and find whoever is responsible for ending their lives and disposing of their bodies with such cold indifference.