CLEVELAND — A Cleveland mother has been arrested and charged after the bodies of her two young daughters were discovered inside suitcases buried in a field on the city’s east side, authorities said.
Police said the bodies of the girls, ages 10 and 8, were found Friday afternoon near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue after a man walking his dog noticed what appeared to be a suitcase partially buried in the ground.
Officers responded to the scene and located the suitcase, which contained the body of a child. While searching the area, investigators found a second suitcase nearby containing another body.
The victims were later identified as the daughters of 28-year-old Aliyah Henderson, according to investigators. Henderson was taken into custody and charged with two counts of aggravated murder.
Detectives said the discovery prompted a large investigation involving homicide detectives, crime scene technicians, and the county medical examiner’s office.
Authorities canvassed the surrounding neighborhood and reviewed surveillance footage as they worked to determine how the children died and how their bodies were brought to the area.
Officials have not yet released the official cause of death, pending autopsies by the medical examiner. Police have also not publicly disclosed a possible motive.
Neighbors expressed shock at the discovery, saying the quiet residential area is usually peaceful. Authorities have asked anyone with additional information related to the case to contact the Cleveland Division of Police.
The investigation remains ongoing.