AMOR WILSON & MILA CHATMAN: Girls found buried in suitcases in Cleveland, OH - March 2026 *ARREST* (1 Viewer)

I-Team: New records revealed after young girls buried in suitcases​

The FOX 8 I-Team has found a Cleveland mother is not the only person being investigated for the murder of two of her children found buried in suitcases.

We also discovered, just last month, a neighbor filed a complaint against the mother, Aliyah Henderson, in a stalking case.

The new details come from records just released to the I-Team.

Last week, we revealed police video with officers just off East 162nd finding the bodies of two little girls in suitcases.

Aliyah Henderson is facing charges for that.

Now, a Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court record shows “Police are investigating all relatives.”

When we reached out to Cuyahoga County prosecutors, a spokesperson responded, “The investigation is ongoing.”


Records show the father of that surviving child “has not had contact with his child, now 6, since she had reached six months of age,” but he “may also be investigated.”

The I-Team also reviewed earlier police reports from the home where those children lived. Twice, their mother reported a neighbor stealing packages and deliveries. And just last month, police listed Henderson as a suspect in a stalking case.

A neighbor claimed she had been “harassed” for about a year by Henderson, claiming Henderson “threatens her,” has “followed her” and has been “sitting on her front porch.”

Police did not immediately file charges for that.

But again, Henderson sits in the county jail facing murder charges. We’ve learned she’s being held isolated from other inmates.

Investigators are still waiting for more findings from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner.

The case is expected to be heard by a grand jury soon.

Mother charged with murdering daughters, burying them inside suitcases in Cleveland faces Cuyahoga County judge​

A woman accused of murdering her two young daughters, who were found buried in shallow graves inside suitcases in the city’s South-Collinwood neighborhood, appeared in a Cuyahoga County courtroom via video conference on Wednesday morning where a judge assigned her private counsel.

The public defender’s office had asked for the case to be assigned to its office. The judge ultimately denied that request, instead assigning Henderson two attorneys.

Aliyah Henderson, 28, of Cleveland, faces two first-degree felony counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of two of her daughters, 10-year-old Amor Wilson and 8-year-old Mila Chatman, who were half-sisters.

The girls’ bodies were found March 2 by a passerby, inside suitcases that were partially buried near Ginn Academy. Their autopsies have been completed, but their causes of death have not been released.

Prosecutors said Friday the girls were found “badly decomposed.” Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd previously told reporters the girls were believed to have been buried for “some time” before they were discovered.


Henderson remains jailed on a $2 million bond — $1 million for each of her murder charges. The lower court noted Henderson has no criminal record, and has lived in the area her entire life.

The FOX 8 I-Team recently learned Henderson is being isolated from other inmates at the jail.

Defense dispute unfolds over Cleveland mom accused of killing daughters​

A dispute over who should represent a Cleveland woman accused of killing her two young daughters played out in court Wednesday as prosecutors and the public defender’s office clashed over defense representation.

Wednesday’s hearing centered on whether the Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office should be appointed to represent Henderson.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Shannon Gallagher declined the request and instead appointed two private defense attorneys, citing a local court rule governing how cases are assigned, according to a video from 3News.

Under the rule, the public defender typically handles cases with numbers ending in odd digits, while cases ending in even numbers are assigned to private counsel. Henderson’s case number ends in six.

Assistant county prosecutor Anna Faraglia argued the public defender’s office rarely seeks assignment in similar cases.

“The state of Ohio would only request that you follow the local rule,” Faraglia told the court.

Faraglia also accused the public defender’s office of attempting to “poach” high-profile cases, saying the office has tried similar actions in other aggravated murder prosecutions.

Public defender representative Ashley Stebbins disputed the poaching accusation, telling the judge the office’s request was routine when it has been involved in related juvenile court matters.

Stebbins said the office was involved in an emergency custody case for another child connected to Henderson and believed continued representation would help maintain consistency.

She explained the office sometimes seeks appointment in adult court to maintain “vertical representation,” where the same legal team follows a case from early proceedings through trial.

“This is not out of the blue for us to ask for a case,” Stebbins said.

Judge Gallagher said, however, that in her more than a decade on the bench she had never been asked by an attorney to be assigned to a case in that way.

“Treating it like any other case that I would, I’m going to assign private counsel,” Gallagher ruled.

Following the hearing, Henderson’s case was referred to a grand jury. No future court dates have been scheduled.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed said:

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/03/defense-dispute-unfolds-over-cleveland-mom-accused-of-killing-daughters.html?outputType=amp

Defense dispute unfolds over Cleveland mom accused of killing daughters​

A dispute over who should represent a Cleveland woman accused of killing her two young daughters played out in court Wednesday as prosecutors and the public defender’s office clashed over defense representation.

Wednesday’s hearing centered on whether the Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office should be appointed to represent Henderson.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Shannon Gallagher declined the request and instead appointed two private defense attorneys, citing a local court rule governing how cases are assigned, according to a video from 3News.

Under the rule, the public defender typically handles cases with numbers ending in odd digits, while cases ending in even numbers are assigned to private counsel. Henderson’s case number ends in six.

Assistant county prosecutor Anna Faraglia argued the public defender’s office rarely seeks assignment in similar cases.

“The state of Ohio would only request that you follow the local rule,” Faraglia told the court.

Faraglia also accused the public defender’s office of attempting to “poach” high-profile cases, saying the office has tried similar actions in other aggravated murder prosecutions.

Public defender representative Ashley Stebbins disputed the poaching accusation, telling the judge the office’s request was routine when it has been involved in related juvenile court matters.

Stebbins said the office was involved in an emergency custody case for another child connected to Henderson and believed continued representation would help maintain consistency.

She explained the office sometimes seeks appointment in adult court to maintain “vertical representation,” where the same legal team follows a case from early proceedings through trial.

“This is not out of the blue for us to ask for a case,” Stebbins said.

Judge Gallagher said, however, that in her more than a decade on the bench she had never been asked by an attorney to be assigned to a case in that way.

“Treating it like any other case that I would, I’m going to assign private counsel,” Gallagher ruled.

Following the hearing, Henderson’s case was referred to a grand jury. No future court dates have been scheduled.

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I've never heard of it happening before either.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed said:

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/03/defense-dispute-unfolds-over-cleveland-mom-accused-of-killing-daughters.html?outputType=amp

Defense dispute unfolds over Cleveland mom accused of killing daughters​

A dispute over who should represent a Cleveland woman accused of killing her two young daughters played out in court Wednesday as prosecutors and the public defender’s office clashed over defense representation.

Wednesday’s hearing centered on whether the Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office should be appointed to represent Henderson.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Shannon Gallagher declined the request and instead appointed two private defense attorneys, citing a local court rule governing how cases are assigned, according to a video from 3News.

Under the rule, the public defender typically handles cases with numbers ending in odd digits, while cases ending in even numbers are assigned to private counsel. Henderson’s case number ends in six.

Assistant county prosecutor Anna Faraglia argued the public defender’s office rarely seeks assignment in similar cases.

“The state of Ohio would only request that you follow the local rule,” Faraglia told the court.

Faraglia also accused the public defender’s office of attempting to “poach” high-profile cases, saying the office has tried similar actions in other aggravated murder prosecutions.

Public defender representative Ashley Stebbins disputed the poaching accusation, telling the judge the office’s request was routine when it has been involved in related juvenile court matters.

Stebbins said the office was involved in an emergency custody case for another child connected to Henderson and believed continued representation would help maintain consistency.

She explained the office sometimes seeks appointment in adult court to maintain “vertical representation,” where the same legal team follows a case from early proceedings through trial.

“This is not out of the blue for us to ask for a case,” Stebbins said.

Judge Gallagher said, however, that in her more than a decade on the bench she had never been asked by an attorney to be assigned to a case in that way.

“Treating it like any other case that I would, I’m going to assign private counsel,” Gallagher ruled.

Following the hearing, Henderson’s case was referred to a grand jury. No future court dates have been scheduled.

Click to expand...

I wonder if we're see a PCA once it clears the grand jury.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed said:

https://fox8.com/news/i-team/i-team-new-records-revealed-after-young-girls-buried-in-suitcases/

I-Team: New records revealed after young girls buried in suitcases​

The FOX 8 I-Team has found a Cleveland mother is not the only person being investigated for the murder of two of her children found buried in suitcases.

We also discovered, just last month, a neighbor filed a complaint against the mother, Aliyah Henderson, in a stalking case.

The new details come from records just released to the I-Team.

Last week, we revealed police video with officers just off East 162nd finding the bodies of two little girls in suitcases.

Aliyah Henderson is facing charges for that.

Now, a Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court record shows “Police are investigating all relatives.”

When we reached out to Cuyahoga County prosecutors, a spokesperson responded, “The investigation is ongoing.”


Records show the father of that surviving child “has not had contact with his child, now 6, since she had reached six months of age,” but he “may also be investigated.”

The I-Team also reviewed earlier police reports from the home where those children lived. Twice, their mother reported a neighbor stealing packages and deliveries. And just last month, police listed Henderson as a suspect in a stalking case.

A neighbor claimed she had been “harassed” for about a year by Henderson, claiming Henderson “threatens her,” has “followed her” and has been “sitting on her front porch.”

Police did not immediately file charges for that.

But again, Henderson sits in the county jail facing murder charges. We’ve learned she’s being held isolated from other inmates.

Investigators are still waiting for more findings from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner.

The case is expected to be heard by a grand jury soon.

Click to expand...

All relatives. Great. Sounds like a wonderful family. The father hasn't seen his daughter in almost 6 years.The mother sounds like a gem. An unstable, stalking. Gem. For a year of a neighbor. How fun. She sounds scary. I wouldn't have waited in reporting her. What?! She's in isolation?! Oh but why?.Those poor girls. I can't imagine what he77 they lived in.

Guess Who said:

I've never heard of it happening before either.

Click to expand...

I haven't either.

From missing teen to murder suspect: Reports show history of issues before daughters’ deaths​

More than a decade before Cleveland police said Aliyah Henderson killed her two daughters and partially buried their bodies in suitcases, Henderson’s mother told police she noticed a “change in behavior” of her daughter, who she said went from a “4.0 student” to getting kicked out of school for fighting.

That detail is contained in several police reports released Monday to News 5 Investigators in response to a public records request following the deaths of 10-year-old Amor Wilson and 8-year-old Mila Chatman.

In July 2014, Henderson’s mother reported her missing after the 16-year-old told her mother she was going to a friend’s house but didn’t come home.

Henderson’s mother said that, along with being expelled from school, her daughter cut ties with her old friends and blocked her mother and other family members on Facebook.

Police said Henderson was found safe 36 hours after she left home.

But that safety didn’t last long, according to police records.

Less than two months later, Henderson reported she was attacked while on an RTA bus.

According to the police report, a group of teens followed the 16-year-old onto the bus, where she was then hit in the head and face, and dragged off the bus by her hair.

Henderson told police one of the teens accused her of trying to fight the girl’s cousin.

Henderson denied knowing the person she was accused of trying to fight, according to police.

Less than a year later, court records show Henderson’s daughter, Amor Wilson, was born.

In July 2016, police again listed Henderson as the victim of an assault.

This time, investigators said her attacker was a 20-year-old family member.

According to the report, police were called to Henderson’s home after witnesses said the man and Henderson got into an argument during dinner.

Witnesses told police the man then picked up Henderson, threw her into a wall and punched her.

Henderson’s second daughter, Mila Chatman, was born in June 2017.

Twice in recent years, city records showed Henderson contacted police, claiming a neighbor was stealing packages delivered to her home.

In February 2026, that same neighbor filed a complaint with police, claiming she had been harassed and threatened by Henderson.

There’s no record of criminal charges filed in that case.

But less than a month later, a man walking his dog in a field next to Ginn Academy called police after he found a suitcase with human remains inside.

Investigators later discovered a second suitcase, also with human remains partially buried nearby.

Two days later, Henderson was arrested and later charged with aggravated murder.

She remains held in the Cuyahoga County jail. Her bond is set at $2 million.

I have to wonder if some of these issues were brought on by mental issues. The mom saying that Aliyah had a change of behavior in her teens could indicate bipolar or another issue that often rears up its ugly head when people are teenagers.

Kimster said:

I have to wonder if some of these issues were brought on by mental issues. The mom saying that Aliyah had a change of behavior in her teens could indicate bipolar or another issue that often rears up its ugly head when people are teenagers.

Click to expand...

Or from abuse.

Aliyah Henderson Indicted with Murder Charges for Homicides of Two Young Daughters Found Deceased in Suitcases​

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that a Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment charging 28-year-old Aliyah Henderson with murder charges for the homicides of her two young daughters who were found deceased in suitcases in Cleveland.

On March 20, 2026, Aliyah Henderson was indicted on the following charges:

• Six counts of Aggravated Murder
• Four counts of Murder (Murder A x 2 & Murder B x 2)
• Six counts of Kidnapping (F1)
• Three counts of Child Endangering (F2 x 2 & F3 x 1)
• One count of Tampering with Evidence (F3)
• Two counts of Gross Abuse of a Corpse (F5)

She will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later date.

Cleveland mom to be arraigned in 22-count indictment after daughters found in suitcases​

A woman accused of killing her two young daughters and burying their bodies in suitcases is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

On Friday, a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury returned a sweeping indictment against Aliyah Henderson, 28, of Cleveland. She faces six counts of aggravated murder, four counts of murder, six counts of kidnapping, three counts of endangering children, two counts of offenses against a human corpse and tampering with evidence, court records show.


Officials have not yet released the cause of death, and it remains unclear how long the children had been dead before their bodies were discovered.

Police also noted that neither child had been reported missing prior to the discovery.

Authorities have not said what they believe was the motive for the killings.


The indictment comes as a committee within the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to meet to determine whether to pursue the death penalty. A spokeswoman for the office said the timing of that meeting has not yet been announced.

Henderson remains held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on a $2 million bond as the case moves forward.

Funeral for 2 girls found dead in suitcases in Cleveland: Remembering Amor Wilson and Mila Chatman​

Funeral services were held Wednesday in Cleveland for 10-year-old Amor Wilson and 8-year-old Mila Chatman, the two girls who were found dead in suitcases earlier this month.

Amor and Mila, identified as half-siblings, were laid to rest following services at Mount Sinai Friendship United in Cleveland.

Those who spoke at the service urged strength and unity, even in the face of heartbreak. The unity was most visible in the girls' fathers, who stood together to lay their daughters to rest.

Amor's father, Rashawn Wilson, spoke through a recorded message.

"I'm not sure how you extinguish two beautiful flames after you nurtured and fostered their growth in your own womb, and I'm not sure I'll ever know, but we're here for our daughters, you feel me? We love our daughters and we invite the support of the community," he said.

As Mila's father, DeShawn Chatman, spoke, a call echoed inside the church -- turning grief into a plea for action.

"We gotta do better. As a village, taking care of these kids because as fathers, we really don't got, we really don't got no hope. We gotta get these laws changed," Chatman pleaded. "We gotta get these, we gotta get these babies safe."

Prior to the services starting, Pastor Kyle Earley of the City of God Church spoke with members of the media.

“The family at this time is in the grieving process," Earley said. "They’re grieving. This is a sad time. But today they want to have a celebration of life and celebrate these two beautiful daughters.”

He described Amor and Mila as loving, fun and joyful.

"They were princesses," he said. "That’s what they loved. You’ll see today the colors are purple and pink to signify what they loved as being princesses and being adored that way.”

The funeral comes as their mom, 28-year-old Aliyah Henderson, faces multiple charges connected with their deaths. She scheduled for an arraignment hearing in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.

$2M bond continued for mom accused of killing daughters, burying them in suitcases​

The 28-year-old Cleveland mother accused of killing her two young daughters and burying them in suitcases in a field, was arraigned in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Thursday.

Aliyah Henderson pleaded not guilty to the below charges for the deaths of her daughters — Amor Wilson, 10, and Mila Chatman, 8, who were half-sisters.

• Six counts of aggravated murder
• Four counts of murder
• Six counts of kidnapping
• Four counts of felonious assault
• Three counts of child endangering
• One count of tampering with evidence
• Two counts of gross abuse of a corpse

Judge Brian Mooney continued her bond at $2 million and set a pre-trial date of April 7.

Hundreds attended the funeral for the young girls on Wednesday at Mount Sinai Friendship United.

On March 2, a man walking his dog discovered the partially buried suitcases near E. 162nd Street and Midland Avenue in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood.

His dog detected the scent, and the man immediately called 911.

Officers found the second body nearby when they arrived.

Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said the victims had been there for some time.

Henderson was arrested on March 4 at a home on E. 162nd Street after officers executed a search warrant.

A six-year-old boy found inside the home appeared to be in good health and is now in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, said Chief Todd.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has not yet determined when and how the girls were killed.

Watch: What Cleveland mother told police long before arrest on daughters’ murder charges​

Cleveland police video just obtained by the FOX 8 I-Team shows officers answering a call from Aliyah Henderson, nearly a year before investigators say she murdered her two young daughters and left them buried in suitcases.

Henderson is pleading not guilty to the murder charges.

The I-Team has found in the past year, Henderson called police at least twice complaining about her neighbors. One call was made Jan. 1 and at that time she told officers she only had one child.

Police said Henderson had three children. A third child was found in good condition at her home when she was arrested.

Henderson’s murder case is only beginning to move through court. Records show her attorneys just filed routine paperwork demanding Cuyahoga County Prosecutors turn over evidence in the case.

She is due in the courtroom of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge William Vodrey for a pretrial next week.

She remains in jail on a $2 million bond.

Hearing for Cleveland mother accused of killing daughters, burying them in suitcases​

A hearing for the 28-year-old Cleveland mother accused of murdering her two young daughters and burying them in suitcases on Cleveland’s east side, was held Tuesday morning in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

Aliyah Henderson has previously pleaded not guilty to charges, including, murder for the deaths of Amor Wilson, 10, and Mila Chatman, 8, who were half-sisters.

Tuesday’s hearing was held in the judge’s chambers and not in open court.

No new information was released and a next court date has not yet been scheduled.

Earlier this month, Henderson’s attorneys filed motions demanding the prosecution clarify allegations contained in the indictment; including, location and time of alleged offense.

Her attorneys are also asking for any written or recorded statements made by Henderson and any criminal record of any co-defendant or witnesses.

A 911 call to Cleveland police reveals a combative discussion between dispatch and Henderson.

The 911 call occurred on March 3, the day after a dogwalker discovered the girls’ bodies in suitcases, and the day before Henderson was arrested.

According to the 911 call, officers were doing wellness checks in the South Collinwood neighborhood, and Henderson was demanding with dispatch to know why police were at her house.

“They were at the door, lying about knocking on everybody else’s door, checking on their kids,” Henderson told dispatch. “They knew my name, they knew how many kids I have, they knew my information. How did they have that information if they were doing a wellness check?”

Henderson claimed to dispatch that officers were lying about conducting a wellness check and their intentions of coming to her home.

“Why would you send an officer to my house?” Henderson demanded. “Can we move on, please? Is there another way to find out information on why they were at my house? Nobody’s at my house.”

The next day on March 4, Cleveland police arrested Henderson at her home on East 162nd Street after officers executed a search warrant.

A six-year-old boy found inside the home appeared to be in good health and is now in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, said Chief Todd.

At her arraignment, Henderson was ordered not to have any contact with the boy.