Aliyah Henderson arrested, to face judge on aggravated murder charges in Cleveland suitcases case

A woman arrested this week in connection with the deaths of two young girls found in suitcases on Cleveland’s East Side was booked on murder and child endangering charges, and aliyah henderson is scheduled to appear before a judge at 8: 30 a. m. ET. The arrest follows forensic confirmation that the two victims were half-siblings and the recovery of a third child from a home where investigators executed a search warrant.

Arrest and booking details

Records show aliyah henderson, 28, was booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail on Wednesday evening. Police executed a search warrant at an address near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue; neighbors identified the residence as the place where someone was taken into custody. Law enforcement identified a person of interest during the search and completed an arrest that led to murder and child endangering charges.

Scene and medical examiner findings

Officers were initially called just after 6: 00 p. m. ET on Monday to a field in the area of East 163rd and Midland Avenue for a suspected dead body. Investigators found one girl inside a suitcase in a shallow grave and later discovered a second girl in another partially buried suitcase nearby. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner used DNA testing to confirm the two victims were half-siblings; their identities have not been positively confirmed and the cause and manner of death are not publicly confirmed at this time. Authorities said the victims had been at the location for some time.

Child welfare and on-scene findings

During the warrant search at the East 162nd Street address, officers located a third child who appeared to be in good health. That child was placed into the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services. Investigators noted that locally there were no matching reports of missing children that corresponded to the victims’ estimated ages, and checks were being made statewide with assistance from additional law enforcement partners.

Investigation status and next steps

Police have said detectives developed probable cause to execute the search warrant and detained a person of interest within 48 hours of discovering the bodies. Forensic work by the medical examiner and ongoing investigative procedures remain active. The arrested individual is scheduled to face a judge at 8: 30 a. m. ET, when initial court proceedings will address charges of aggravated murder; additional pretrial steps and forensic results are expected to follow.

• Key takeaways: two girls found in suitcases were confirmed as half-siblings by DNA; a 28-year-old was booked on murder and child endangering charges; a third child from the residence is in child welfare custody.

This situation is under active investigation. If the medical examiner completes cause-and-manner determinations and investigators release further identifications or evidence, those outcomes will inform any prosecutorial actions and the court process that will unfold after the scheduled appearance at 8: 30 a. m. ET.