Cleveland playground now a place of mourning for two girls found in suitcases
Cleveland playground now a place of mourning for two girls found in suitcases
Saranac Playground, a beloved spot for children on Cleveland’s east side, has turned into a site of sorrow after two young girls were discovered buried in shallow graves, their bodies wrapped in suitcases. The tragic find has drawn a steady flow of people paying tribute to 8-year-old Mila Chatman and her half-sibling, 10-year-old Amor Wilson, who were found on Monday. A small shrine of stuffed animals and flowers has since taken root at the location, accompanied by growing questions about the circumstances of their deaths.
Charges and court proceedings
Aliyah Henderson, 28, the mother of the girls, has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder. During her first court appearance on Friday at Cleveland Municipal Court, she was not questioned about the incident that led to her arrest. Judge Jeffrey Johnson set her bond at $2 million, citing the severity of the allegations and concerns for public safety. Henderson, dressed in a blue sweatshirt and flanked by court officers, remained composed throughout the brief hearing. When the judge wished her good luck, she responded with a simple “Thank you.”
“Thank you” were the only words she uttered during the brief hearing, in response to the judge wishing her good luck.
Investigation details
Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd confirmed that neither child had been dismembered, though the Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet disclosed the cause or timing of their deaths. A DNA analysis confirmed the girls were half-siblings. The discovery came after a man walking his dog reported finding a girl’s body in a pile of dirt, which he noted had been there for at least a week. Detectives later uncovered a second shallow grave containing another suitcase with a body.
“It was like a pile of dirt, and she stopped to sniff … and she was taking too long,” Phillip Donaldson told WEWS-TV. “So I went back and looked, and it was a suitcase that was half-buried, and I pulled it up and looked in it, and it was a head. Somebody’s head in it.”
Father’s account and ongoing investigation
Deshaun Chatman, claiming to be Mila’s father, visited the burial site on Thursday. He stated he hadn’t spoken to his daughter in years and had previously sought custody through the Department of Children and Family Services. “I just feel useless,” he said, expressing his grief over being unable to save his child. When asked about his claims, Cuyahoga County spokesperson Jennifer Ciaccia called the incident “a tragedy for their families and our entire community” and withheld further details, citing confidentiality in the active investigation.
“I just feel useless,” Chatman said. “I couldn’t save my daughter.”
Earlier this week, police revealed that Henderson had another child in her home when she was arrested. The child, now under DCFS custody, appears to be in good health, though no additional information about them was shared. The playground, located near Ginn Academy, remains a haunting reminder of the lives lost and the mystery surrounding their fate. NBC News has sought comment from Henderson’s mother but has not yet received a response.
Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.
