‘Throw Them Away Like They’re Garbage’: Police Reveal Chilling Details After Sisters Found in Suitcases

A 28-year-old woman, Aliyah Henderson, has been arrested in connection with the death of two young girls whose bodies were found stuffed inside abandoned suitcases. The girls were sisters, authorities said. Henderson was taken into custody and charged with one count each of murder and child endangering, according to authorities.

According to the Cleveland Police Department, officers responded to a call at 6 p.m. on March 2 requesting assistance near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue. A man told police he was walking his dog in an unfamiliar area because of the snowfall when he made the grisly discovery.

Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd said during a press conference, “The caller who dialled 911 said they found what appears to be a body inside a suitcase at the mentioned location.” Officers responded and located the deceased individual inside a suitcase in a shallow grave.

Officials began canvassing the area for potential evidence, when they found a second shallow grave and with another suitcase at the scene. Another body was discovered inside the second suitcase, Todd said. The Cuhayoga County medical examiner took custody of the bodies and determined that the victims were sisters, according to a report filed by CBS-affiliated WOIO.

Police identified the victims as juveniles. Both the girls were Black minors, one believed to be between 8 ½ and 13 years old, and the other believed to be between 10 ½ and 14 years old, Todd said. Investigators said they were unsure on how long the bodies had been at the location. Todd said it appeared they had been dead for some time. “It was not just recent,” the chief said.

Todd said officials had not identified the victims and the suspect as of March 2, but Hendorson was arrested on the evening of March 3. Hendorson was booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail on March 3, according to jail records.

Neighbours told WOIO that Hendorson lived across the street from the area where the suitcases were recovered. Police said Hendorson was taken into custody when officers served a search warrant at her residence.

“Part of the investigation led us to this home. It’s been an ongoing, nonstop investigation. Our homicide unit has been working around the clock,” Sergeant Freddy Diaz told WOIO.

Police urged anyone with information about the case to contact the Department. Authorities have not provided additional details as the investigation is ongoing.