A 28-year-old Cleveland woman is behind bars after police say she killed her two young daughters and buried their bodies in suitcases near their home.
Aliyah Henderson faces two counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of 10-year-old Amor Wilson and 8-year-old Mila Chatman.
Cleveland police arrested Henderson on March 5, 2025, just two days after a dog walker made the grim discovery in the city's east side, and court records show Henderson is held at the Cuyahoga County Jail without bond.
"This has shocked our community," Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said in a statement. "We love and protect our young people, and the loss of these two children is unimaginable."
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| The victims |
The horrifying discovery unfolded around 6 p.m. on Monday, March 3, when a person walking their dog in the area near Ginn Academy, spotted a shallow grave containing a suitcase with a child's body inside.
Cleveland police homicide detectives responded to the scene and began searching the surrounding area. During their investigation, they located a second shallow grave nearby, also containing a suitcase with another child's remains, as per NBC News.
According to a neighbor who spoke with local media, the mound of dirt where one body was found had been there for at least a week before the discovery. However, police have not confirmed how long the girls had been buried at that location.
After the remains were taken to the lab, The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office officially identified the victims as Amor Wilson, 10, and Mila Chatman, 8, both from Cleveland. But officials have not released the cause of death, citing the ongoing investigation.
When investigators searched Henderson's home following the discovery, they found another child who police said "appeared to be in good health." That child has since been placed in the custody of the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services. Officials have not released any details about this child's age or relationship to Henderson.
Police Chief Dorothy Todd praised the work of her department in a news release issued before Henderson's arrest. "These were two young lives with their entire futures ahead of them," Todd said. "Our detectives worked tirelessly and with great care to identify those responsible."
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| Aliyah Henderson in Court |
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| Aliyah Henderson |
Henderson now sits in the Cuyahoga County Jail as the legal process moves forward.
"I want to thank our homicide detectives and members of the Division of Police for their incredible work in this case," Mayor Bibb said. "Their dedication and persistence led to a quick arrest in connection with the tragic deaths of two young children whose bodies were discovered earlier this week."
The medical examiner's office continues to investigate the cause and manner of death as questions remain about how the girls died and how long their bodies remained buried before being found.
Meanwhile, the neighborhood near the discovery site has been left grappling with the reality of what was found so close to homes and a school.
According to authorities, Henderson faces two counts of aggravated murder and additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues and more details emerge about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Amor and Mila.
The surviving child taken from Henderson's home remains in the care of children's services, with officials releasing no timeline for potential placement with relatives or foster care.
Cleveland police have said their investigation remains active and ongoing, with detectives still working to piece together a timeline of events leading to the deaths of the two young girls.
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