Mother Charged With Murder of 2 Daughters Found in Suitcases

Remains of girls, ages 8 and 10, discovered in shallow graves near Cleveland

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The mother of two girls whose remains were found buried in suitcases in Cleveland has been charged with two counts of murder. Aliyah Henderson, 28, is accused of killing her daughters Mila Chatman, 8, and Amor Wilson, 10, whose bodies were discovered by a dog walker four days earlier. Family members confirmed the identities of the victims, and the father of one of the girls said he had been trying to locate his missing daughter for five years.

Why it matters

This tragic case has shocked the Cleveland community and raised questions about the child welfare system's ability to protect vulnerable children, as the father of one of the victims said he had repeatedly sought emergency custody but his efforts were unsuccessful.

The details

Police arrested Aliyah Henderson on Wednesday after executing a search warrant at a home near the site where the suitcases were found. A child at the home was placed in the custody of the Department of Child and Family Services. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the identities of the victims through DNA testing, and said the girls were half-sisters. The father of one of the girls, DeShaun Chatman, said he had tried for years to locate his missing daughter Mila, but his efforts were unsuccessful.

  • The remains of the two girls were discovered by a dog walker on March 2, 2026.
  • Aliyah Henderson was arrested and charged with two counts of murder on March 5, 2026.
  • DeShaun Chatman last saw his daughter Mila in 2020, when she was 3 years old.

The players

Aliyah Henderson

The 28-year-old mother of the two girls found dead in suitcases, who has been charged with two counts of murder.

Mila Chatman

One of the two girls found dead in suitcases, who would have been 8 years old at the time of her death.

Amor Wilson

The other girl found dead in suitcases, who was 10 years old at the time of her death and was the half-sister of Mila Chatman.

DeShaun Chatman

The father of Mila Chatman, who said he had been trying to locate his missing daughter for five years.

Nichelle Wilson

The grandmother of Amor Wilson, who confirmed her granddaughter's identity.

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What they’re saying

“It's very much horrible. I couldn't save my baby.”

— DeShaun Chatman, Father of Mila Chatman (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

“Mila was happy-go-lucky, always smiling. Favorite color was pink — she swore that she was a princess. She was always happy. She was a kid's kid.”

— DeShaun Chatman, Father of Mila Chatman (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Monday whether to allow Aliyah Henderson to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the critical need for stronger child welfare policies and procedures to protect vulnerable children, as the father's repeated attempts to gain custody of his daughter were unsuccessful. It also underscores the importance of community vigilance and reporting any suspicious activities to authorities.