A Cleveland father says his worst fear has become reality after police discovered the bodies of two young girls buried in suitcases earlier this week. DeShaun Chatman told reporters that one of the victims, 8-year-old Mila Chatman, is believed to be his daughter — a child he says he had been searching for and trying to reconnect with for the past five years.
Chatman said he made several attempts through legal channels and government agencies to locate Mila and regain contact with her. According to him, those efforts included reaching out to child protective services, filing requests through family court, and asking police to perform welfare checks. Despite his persistence, he said he was repeatedly denied access to his daughter. “I’ve been looking for my daughter for five years,” Chatman said. “I’ve been calling child protective services, going to the courts, trying to get emergency custody, and calling the police for welfare checks.”
The tragic discovery was made Monday evening when a local resident was walking his dog in a field near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue in Cleveland. The dog began sniffing repeatedly at one area of the ground, which raised suspicion. When the man checked the spot, he noticed a partially buried suitcase and immediately contacted police.
When officers arrived at the scene, they uncovered a shallow grave containing the suitcase. Inside, they found the body of a young girl. As investigators continued searching the nearby area, they made another disturbing discovery — a second shallow grave with another suitcase containing the body of another child. Authorities later identified the victims as Mila Chatman, 8, and her 10-year-old half-sister, Amor Wilson.
Police arrested the girls’ mother, Aliyah Henderson, on Wednesday evening in connection with the deaths. She is currently facing charges of murder and endangering children. Investigators have not yet released details about how the girls died, but officials confirmed that the Cleveland Division of Police is continuing to investigate the case.
After the discovery, Chatman visited the site where the girls were found. A memorial has since formed in the area, with community members leaving flowers, candles, and stuffed animals to honor the young victims. Witnesses said the grieving father appeared deeply distressed as friends and supporters tried to comfort him. “What I’m feeling is hate. I’m not going to lie, I feel hate,” Chatman said. “I just want my daughter.” He also confirmed he is cooperating with detectives and undergoing DNA testing to formally confirm paternity as the investigation continues.
