Woman Charged After 2 Girls Found Stuffed in Suitcases, Buried in 'Shallow Graves'

Aliyah Henderson arrested in connection with the deaths of two young sisters in Ohio

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A 28-year-old woman in Ohio has been arrested and charged with murder and child endangerment after the bodies of two young sisters were found stuffed inside suitcases and buried in shallow graves in Cleveland. The victims, believed to be between 8-14 years old, were discovered by a man walking his dog. Police have not yet identified the victims but say the bodies appeared to have been at the location "for some time."

Why it matters

This disturbing case has shocked the local community and raised questions about the safety of children in the area. The discovery of the bodies stuffed in suitcases and buried in shallow graves is a horrific crime that highlights the need for increased vigilance and efforts to protect vulnerable youth.

The details

According to police, officers responded to a call on Monday about a body found inside a suitcase in a shallow grave. A second suitcase containing another body was also discovered nearby. The victims were determined to be two juvenile Black females, one believed to be between 8 1/2 and 13 years old, and the other between 10 1/2 and 14 years old. Authorities arrested 28-year-old Aliyah Henderson, who lives across the street from where the bodies were found, and charged her with murder and child endangerment.

  • On Monday at 6 p.m., police responded to a call about a body found in a suitcase in a shallow grave.
  • On Wednesday evening, Aliyah Henderson was arrested and booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail.

The players

Aliyah Henderson

A 28-year-old woman who was arrested and charged with murder and child endangerment in connection with the deaths of the two young girls.

Phillip Donaldson

The man who discovered the bodies while walking his dog and had been seeing the shallow graves for days without realizing it.

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What they’re saying

“What kind of monster-demon would do this to two children? Just throw them away like they're garbage?”

— Michael Polensek, Councilman (WOIO)

“It's really sad to see something like this. And I had been walking past that for at least a week, that pile of dirt, for at least a week.”

— Phillip Donaldson (WEWS)

What’s next

Police are urging anyone with information that may be relevant to the investigation to contact the department.

The takeaway

This horrific crime has shaken the local community and highlights the urgent need to better protect vulnerable children from harm. Authorities are working to identify the victims and determine the full circumstances surrounding their deaths, with the goal of ensuring justice is served and preventing such tragedies from occurring in the future.