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Authorities have determined that the two girls whose bodies were found stuffed inside suitcases were related.
An initial DNA analysis by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the girls were half-sisters in life.
According to authorities, they have not been able to identify the two girls from their DNA alone.
The medical examiner’s staff is still attempting to determine the girls’ cause of death as well as the method used to kill them.
The remains of the two young girls were discovered in two suitcases located in an Ohio park late on Monday, March 2.
One of the bags had been left half-buried in a shallow grave, according to the man who accidentally stumbled upon the luggage.
The man, Phillip Donaldson, said he was walking his dog through a Cleveland park when the canine pulled him towards the bag.
He spoke to local news media and explained how he’d lifted the bag out of the loose dirt, unzipped the bag and discovered a head.
Police arrived at the park and conducted a search of the area, subsequently locating the second suitcase containing another body.
Initial reports indicated only one suitcase was found with both bodies,
Investigators believe the girls were between the ages of 8 and 14 when they died — likely from homicidal violence.
Police still do not know how long the girls’ remains have been buried, only that it had been “some time.”
According to Donaldson, the mound of dirt had been visible for at least a week. He recalled his disturbing discovery to local media outlet News 5.
“It was like a pile of dirt, and she stopped to sniff … and she was taking too long,” Donaldson said, referring to his dog. “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.”
Cleveland Police said that they have received no reports about any missing children who match the girls’ remains.
Police are looking into missing persons reports statewide and in neighboring states for any possible leads.
The girls, police said, are Black and their bodies are said to be intact.
Investigators said they’ve had issues obtaining surveillance footage from cameras in that area, as they do not retain historical data.
There are still no suspects who’ve been identified in the case. Police did a potential person of interest in for questioning, but no charges have been filed against them.
In a statement issued Tuesday, March 3, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb denounced the killings.
“This heinous crime, in which the bodies of two young children were abandoned, is deeply disturbing,” said Bibb. “These were children who had their entire lives ahead of them. Whoever is responsible for depriving them of their futures should be held fully accountable under the law. Our Division of Police is pursuing every lead, carefully reviewing all available evidence, and deploying all necessary resources. They will not stop working until those responsible for this tragic and inhumane act are identified and brought to justice.”
Cleveland Police ask that anyone who has any information that may help them identify the two girls or the person or people responsible for their deaths call them at (216) 25-CRIME or 1-800-225-5324.
You can also file a report online here or contact Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County here.
