Cleveland Playground Now a Place of Mourning for Two Girls Found in Suitcases
Saranac Playground, once a vibrant gathering place for children on Cleveland’s east side, has become a somber site of remembrance after the tragic discovery of two young girls buried in shallow graves inside suitcases. The incident has left the community in shock, with families and neighbors leaving tributes such as stuffed animals and flowers at the location. The mystery of their deaths deepens as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Aliyah Henderson, 28, has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder following the find. During her first court appearance on Friday at Cleveland Municipal Court, Henderson appeared calm, wearing a blue sweatshirt and flanked by officers. The judge, Jeffrey Johnson, set her bond at $2 million, emphasizing the severity of the charges and public safety concerns. Henderson only said “Thank you” when responding to the judge’s well-wishes, offering little insight into the events leading to the deaths.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristine Travaglini noted that the girls’ remains were “badly decomposed” during the hearing. While the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the girls were half-siblings through DNA analysis, the exact cause and timeline of their deaths remain unclear. Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd added that neither child showed signs of dismemberment, though the location of the bodies near the playground has raised questions about their fate.
A passerby, Phillip Donaldson, reported the grim find on Monday after his dog paused over a pile of dirt. “It was like a pile of dirt, and she stopped to sniff… and she was taking too long,” he told WEWS-TV. Upon closer inspection, the dog uncovered a suitcase half-buried in the ground, revealing a head inside. Donaldson claimed the pile had been there for at least a week, prompting an immediate response from homicide detectives.
Deshaun Chatman, who identified himself as Mila Chatman’s father, visited the burial site on Thursday. He shared that he hadn’t spoken to his daughter in several years and had repeatedly contacted the Department of Children and Family Services to seek custody. “I just feel useless,” he said, expressing grief over his inability to save his child. The agency has taken custody of another child from Henderson’s home, who appears to be in good health, but no further details about the child were disclosed.
“The deaths of these girls are a tragedy for their families and our entire community,” said a Cuyahoga County spokesperson, Jennifer Ciaccia, in a statement. The official declined to release more information, citing ongoing investigations and Ohio’s confidentiality laws.
NBC News has reached out to Henderson’s mother for additional comments. Earlier in 2019, the family was featured in a Cleveland Plain Dealer article about a hospital program aiding financially struggling households. The piece included a photo of Henderson, smiling, holding her then-3-year-old daughter Amor on her lap, while her mother cradled Mila, who was nearly 2 at the time. At the time, Henderson had expressed gratitude for the support.
Corky Siemaszko, a senior reporter for NBC News Digital, contributed to the coverage of this story.
