Cleveland Father's Heartbreak as Missing Daughter Identified Among Two Girls Found in Shallow Graves
A Cleveland father has expressed profound grief after investigators confirmed that his missing daughter was one of two young girls discovered buried in shallow graves earlier this week. DeShaun Chatman revealed on Thursday that police informed him late Wednesday night that the body of Mila Chatman, who would have been eight years old, was recovered from a field near Ginn Academy in the South Collinwood neighbourhood. The two children had been interred within suitcases, adding a chilling detail to the tragic case.
Father's Desperate Search Ends in Tragedy
Mr Chatman recounted his repeated and futile attempts to locate Mila over the past five years, stating he had sought emergency custody five times and contacted a child welfare agency. Despite these efforts, he was unaware of their living arrangements, which authorities have yet to publicly disclose for either girl. In an emotional interview near the discovery site, Chatman described the situation as "very much horrible" and expressed feelings of helplessness, saying, "I felt useless — I couldn't save my baby." He noted that Mila had been living within view of the graves, compounding his anguish.
Police Investigation and Expected Charges
Cleveland police announced on Thursday that they expect to charge a 28-year-old woman in connection with the investigation. Sergeant Wilfredo Diaz stated that police detained the woman on Wednesday evening after detectives completed initial interviews and examined evidence. The woman, whose name has not been released, is considered a person of interest. Diaz added, "We are aiming to have her charged later today. However, that's subject to change," indicating the ongoing nature of the probe.
Background and Discovery of the Remains
Chatman explained that he and Mila's mother were not married but lived together for about a year after their daughter was born. He last saw Mila in 2020, when she was three years old, remembering her as "happy-go-lucky, always smiling" with a favorite color of pink and a self-proclaimed princess persona. The children's remains were recovered after a dog walker notified authorities earlier this week. Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd addressed the media, stating she did not know how the girls died and emphasizing, "We are hoping to find answers. This is a terrible, tragic situation." Chatman said authorities have not disclosed the cause of death but expects more information to emerge on Monday.
