Cleveland police arrest woman in connection to girls found buried in suitcases

Police have arrested a 28-year-old woman in connection with the remains of two young girls discovered buried in suitcases in a Cleveland field, according to multiple news outlets on Thursday afternoon.

Authorities detained the woman Wednesday after detectives conducted interviews and reviewed evidence, according to WKYC. Police are not releasing her name until after formal charges are filed.

The remains were found Monday in a field near Ginn Academy, an all-boys public high school in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood. Police were reportedly called to the scence after a tip from a dog walker.

According to WOIO, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded the girls were half-siblings, estimated to be between 8 and 14 years old.

Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said Tuesday she did not know how the girls died. Their bodies had been there for some time.

“These were two young lives with their entire futures ahead of them,” Chief Dorothy Todd said in a statement. “Our detectives worked tirelessly and with great care to identify those responsible. Investigations of this nature require patience, precision and discretion. Unlike what is often portrayed on television, every detail cannot be shared publicly. Certain information must remain confidential to protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure justice for these victims. That careful and methodical work allowed our detectives to develop the evidence needed to make quick identification of a person of interest, ultimately resulting in an arrest.”

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb thanks police for the quick work in making an arrest. “This has shocked our community,” Bibb said in a statement. “We love and protect our young people, and the loss of these two children is unimaginable. Our hearts are with everyone who is grieving this tragedy.