DNA Testing Confirms Two Young Girls Found Dead In Cleveland Suitcases Were Related Half-Siblings

DNA tests confirm two girls found in Cleveland suitcases were related. Police seek public help to identify the victims as the homicide investigation continues.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 8:35 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from PEOPLE

A Grim Discovery in a Cleveland Field

The investigation into a harrowing discovery in Ohio has taken a significant turn as forensic experts establish a biological link between two young victims. On Monday, March 2, a local resident walking his dog encountered a partially buried suitcase in a field near East 162 and Midland, an area situated close to a school. Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd detailed that upon arriving at the scene around 6:00 p.m., officers located a deceased individual inside the luggage. A secondary search of the immediate vicinity revealed a second shallow grave containing another suitcase and a second body, marking the start of a complex homicide investigation.

Forensic Links Between the Unidentified Victims

Preliminary DNA relationship testing has now provided the first concrete piece of information regarding the identity of the two juveniles. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the girls were half-siblings, though their names remain unknown to investigators. Chris Harris, a spokesperson for the examiner's office, stated that neither decedent has been positively identified at this time. The age range for the children has been narrowed down by forensic specialists, with one girl estimated to be between 8 and 13 years old, while the second victim is believed to be between 10 and 14 years old.

The Haunting Account of the Initial Find

The man who first encountered the site, Phillip Donaldson, provided a chilling account of how his dog led him to the remains. Donaldson noted that he observed a pile of dirt that appeared to have been undisturbed for at least a week prior to his discovery. When his dog refused to move away from the mound, Donaldson investigated and found the luggage. According to his statement to local media, the suitcase was only half-buried, and upon pulling it up, he was confronted with the visible remains of a human head, prompting him to immediately contact the authorities.