Person of interest detained in Cleveland following discovery of two half-sisters buried in suitcases

28-year-old Aliyah Henderson was booked on murder charges after two girls were found buried in suitcases in Cleveland's South Collinwood neighborhood.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 4:47 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from KCRG-TV 9

Grisly Discovery in South Collinwood

The investigation began on Monday when the remains of two half-sisters were discovered buried in suitcases in a field near Ginn Academy in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood. According to forensic investigators, the bodies had been placed in shallow graves and are believed to have been there for a significant amount of time. Initial assessments from authorities suggest that one victim was between the ages of 8 and 13, while the other was estimated to be between 10 and 14 years old. As of Thursday morning, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released the names of the children, pending positive identification and notification of kin.

Arrest of Person of Interest

On Wednesday evening, a significant breakthrough occurred when Cleveland Police served a search warrant at a residence located directly across the street from the field where the bodies were recovered. During the execution of the warrant, investigators detained a woman identified in jail records as 28-year-old Aliyah Henderson. According to Cuyahoga County Jail booking logs, Henderson has been charged with murder and child endangering. Cleveland Police Sergeant Freddy Diaz confirmed that the Homicide Unit identified the person of interest through nonstop investigative work, though officials have yet to explicitly detail the suspect's relationship to the deceased children.

Community Reaction and Calls for Justice

The nature of the crime has sent shockwaves through the Collinwood community, prompting local leaders to demand strict accountability. City Councilman Michael Polensek addressed the media following the arrest, describing the act as "monstrous" and vowing that the neighborhood would not rest until justice was served for the two young victims. Residents in the area expressed horror at the proximity of the suspect's home to the gravesite, with several neighbors reporting that they had seen police activity at the residence throughout the day on Wednesday.