CLEVELAND, Ohio — A 28‑year‑old Cleveland woman has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder after the bodies of her two young daughters were discovered inside suitcases buried in a field.
Aliyah Henderson appeared in Cleveland Municipal Court on Friday, where a judge set her bond at $2 million — approximately $1 million for each count of aggravated murder.
The grim discovery was made Monday evening when a dog walker noticed a suspicious suitcase in a field near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood and called emergency services.
Responding officers located a second suitcase nearby, both of which had been partially buried in shallow graves, police said.
DNA testing by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the victims as 10‑year‑old Amor Wilson and 8‑year‑old Mila Chatman, who were half‑sisters.
Police executed a search warrant at a home on East 162nd Street Wednesday evening, where Henderson was taken into custody and booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail.
During the search, authorities also found another child who appeared to be in good health; that child was placed into the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.
At the bond hearing Friday, prosecutors noted Henderson had no prior criminal record, while her public defender argued for a “reasonable” bond. The judge ultimately agreed with the prosecution’s request for a $2 million bond.
Henderson said little during the brief hearing. It remains unclear who will serve as her legal counsel as the case progresses.
The cause and manner of the girls’ deaths have not yet been publicly released. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths, with homicide detectives urging anyone with information to contact the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit.
Neighbors and community members have begun placing flowers, toys, and memorials at the site where the bodies were found, expressing shock and grief over the tragedy.
This case has also drawn attention to longstanding concerns over child welfare and the challenges families face in locating missing children. Mila Chatman’s father, DeShaun Chatman, told reporters he had spent years trying to gain custody of his daughter without success before learning of her death.
Video Credit: Cleveland, Ohio | wkyc.com