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The Cleveland police are seeking assistance from the public after the tragic discovery of two young Black girls’ bodies, each found inside a suitcase and buried in shallow graves.
During a news briefing, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd revealed that the girls, estimated to be between 8 and 13 and 10 and 14 years old, were discovered on Monday evening.
A dog walker stumbled upon the grim scene near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue, close to Ginn Academy. Spotting a partially buried suitcase, he alerted the authorities.
Upon arrival, police uncovered a shallow grave containing a suitcase with a deceased individual. Further investigation in the vicinity led them to another shallow grave and a second suitcase with another deceased individual inside.
The search operation took place around the area near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue, following the discovery of the two suitcases.
The man who discovered one of the suitcases told Fox 8 that his dog ran toward a fence near a playground where the partially buried suitcase was found. He said he called police after unzipping the suitcase and seeing a head.
The girls have not been identified, and authorities have not determined a cause of death.
There are no active missing persons reports in Cleveland matching the victims, according to police, and it was unclear how long the girls had been inside the suitcases.
Authorities responded to a field in Cleveland where two girls were discovered in buried suitcases. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Todd described the discovery as a “terrible, horrific situation.”
“This is a traumatic event for our officers, for the community. This is just such a tragic incident, but we are trying to develop any leads we can. That’s why we are also asking for the community’s help,” Todd said.
“We know that this didn’t just happen. We still have to develop exactly when this happened. We don’t have any indication this is a clear threat to safety,” Todd said.
On March 2, two girls were found dead in suitcases buried in shallow graves, police said. (Cleveland Division of Police)
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office has custody of the bodies.
Todd said the bodies had not been dismembered.
The Cleveland Division of Police Homicide Unit launched a 24-hour tip line at 216-623-5464.
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