A Cleveland father has confirmed that his missing daughter was one of two young girls whose remains were discovered in shallow graves earlier this week, bringing a heartbreaking end to a five-year search.
Father's Heartbreaking Revelation
DeShaun Chatman stated on Thursday that investigators informed him late Wednesday night that the body of his daughter, Mila Chatman, was recovered from a field near Ginn Academy in the South Collinwood neighborhood. Mila, who would have been 8 years old, and another child were found buried in suitcases, a detail that has shocked the local community.
Chatman expressed profound grief, saying, "It's very much horrible." He revealed that Mila had been living within view of the graves, adding, "I felt useless — I couldn't save my baby." He had last seen his daughter in 2020 when she was just 3 years old, describing her as "happy-go-lucky, always smiling, with a favorite color of pink — she swore she was a princess."
Police Investigation and Charges
Cleveland police announced they expect to charge a 28-year-old woman in connection with the investigation. Sergeant Wilfredo Diaz confirmed that the woman, whose name has not been released, was detained on Wednesday evening after detectives completed initial interviews and examined evidence. She is considered a person of interest, with Diaz noting, "We are aiming to have her charged later today. However, that's subject to change."
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the names of the two girls or revealed how they died. Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd earlier stated she did not know the cause of death but emphasized, "We are hoping to find answers. This is a terrible, tragic situation." Chatman said he expects more information to be released on Monday.
Father's Efforts to Locate Daughter
Chatman detailed his unsuccessful attempts to find Mila over the past five years. He sought emergency custody five times and tried to locate her through a child welfare agency, but these efforts failed because he did not know where she was living. He and Mila's mother were not married but lived together for about a year after their daughter's birth.
The children's remains were discovered after a dog walker notified authorities, leading to the grim recovery. The case has drawn widespread attention, highlighting issues in child welfare and missing persons investigations.
As the community mourns, the focus remains on the ongoing police inquiry and the pursuit of justice for the two young victims.
