CLEVELAND, Ohio — Authorities in Cleveland are seeking the public’s assistance after the bodies of two unidentified young Black girls were discovered inside separate suitcases buried in shallow graves Monday evening in a residential area on the city’s East Side.

The victims are believed to be between the ages of approximately 8 and 14, according to police.

As of Tuesday, investigators said there were no active missing persons reports in Cleveland that match the descriptions of the children, and their identities remain unknown.

The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.

The discovery was made shortly after 7:00 p.m. near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue, in a field adjacent to Ginn Academy.

A man walking his dog in the area told authorities that his dog began pulling toward a fence line near a playground. When he investigated, he noticed a suitcase that appeared to be partially buried in the ground.

The man told police he unzipped the suitcase and observed what appeared to be a child’s head inside before immediately contacting authorities.

Officers from the Cleveland Division of Police responded to the scene and confirmed the presence of a shallow grave containing a deceased child inside the suitcase. As detectives and crime scene investigators canvassed the surrounding area, they located a second shallow grave nearby. A second suitcase was recovered, also containing the body of a young girl.

During a news conference, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd described the incident as “a terrible, horrific situation” and acknowledged the profound emotional impact on responding officers and the community.

“This is a traumatic event for our officers and for the community,” Todd said. “This is such a tragic incident, and we are working diligently to develop any leads we can. That’s why we are asking for the community’s help.”

Investigators have not yet determined how long the girls had been buried at the location. Chief Todd emphasized that authorities believe the deaths did not occur recently, though the exact timeline remains under investigation.

“We know that this didn’t just happen,” she said. “We still have to determine exactly when this occurred. At this time, we do not have any indication that this presents a clear, ongoing threat to public safety.”

The bodies have been transported to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, where autopsies will be conducted to establish the cause and manner of death, as well as to assist in identifying the victims.

Police confirmed that the bodies had not been dismembered.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case, including possible sightings of suspicious activity in the area or knowledge of missing children who may not have been formally reported, to contact the Cleveland Division of Police or Crime Stoppers.

The investigation remains active and ongoing.