2 half-sisters found dead in suitcases in Cleveland, police say

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WKYC) – Two young girls have been found dead in suitcases in Cleveland, Ohio, buried in a shallow grave.

A report by WKYC says preliminary DNA results from the Cuyahoga County Examiner’s Office confirmed the two girls are half-siblings. However, neither of the individuals found have been identified, according to WKYC.

Cleveland police say just after 6 p.m. Monday, a man walking his dog found the body of a young girl inside of a suitcase that was in a shallow grave, according to WKYC.

This was discovered near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue next to Ginn Academy, an area public high school.

As officers searched on scene, WKYC says they found a second shallow grave nearby containing another suitcase with a second young girl’s remains.

Chief Dorothy Todd with the Cleveland Police Department says, “”It’s traumatic for everyone, and it’s traumatic just for those who live in the area to know that this was right there outside their doorstep.”

According to WKYC, authorities believe the first victim was between 8 and a half and 13 years old, while the second victim was between 10 and a half and 14.

Todd says, “We don’t know how long the juveniles have been at this location. It was some time. So it’s not just something that was recent.”

Police say they have no suspects and no leads at this time and that there is no known threat to the public, WKYC says.

Detectives are working with federal, state and local partners and are urging anyone who has information or saw something unusual to come forward.