Crime
DeShaun Chatman Says Girl Found Dead in Suitcase in Cleveland Was His Missing Daughter, He Searched for 8-Year-Old Mila Chatman for Five Years
A Cleveland father says one of the two young girls whose bodies were discovered buried in suitcases earlier this week is his missing daughter, a child he says he had been desperately searching for over the past five years.
DeShaun Chatman told reporters that 8-year-old Mila Chatman, one of the victims identified by investigators, is believed to be his daughter. Chatman said he had spent years attempting to locate and regain contact with the child through legal channels and by reaching out to authorities.
“I’ve been looking for my daughter for five years,” Chatman said. “I’ve been calling child protective services, going to the courts, trying to get emergency custody, and calling the police for welfare checks. But they denied all access.”
The tragic discovery occurred Monday evening in Cleveland after a local resident walking his dog noticed the animal repeatedly sniffing around a field near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue.
The man contacted police after the dog led him to a partially buried suitcase. When officers responded to the scene, they located a shallow grave containing a suitcase with the body of a young girl inside.
As investigators canvassed the surrounding area, they discovered a second shallow grave nearby containing another suitcase with the body of another child.
Authorities later identified the victims as Mila Chatman, 8, and her half-sister, Amor Wilson, 10.
Both girls were found inside the suitcases buried in the field. The Cleveland Division of Police continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Investigators subsequently arrested the girls’ mother, Aliyah Henderson, on Wednesday evening. She is currently facing charges of murder and endangering children in connection with the deaths.
Following the discovery, Chatman visited the site where the girls were found. A memorial has since formed there, with community members leaving flowers, candles, and stuffed animals in remembrance of the children. Witnesses described Chatman being visibly distraught as friends comforted him at the scene.
“What I’m feeling is hate. I’m not going to lie, I feel hate,” Chatman said while speaking about the loss. “I just want my daughter.”
Chatman said the last time he saw Mila was several years ago when he helped purchase clothing for her kindergarten school year. He alleged that the child’s mother had avoided contact with him and frequently moved residences, making it difficult for him to locate the girl.
“I don’t get how you can hate your kids enough to kill them,” he said. “To bury them. To do all this, go right to that home and live there when your kids are right here.”
The grieving father is now calling for changes to family court and child welfare laws, saying he believes the current system prevented him from being able to protect his daughter and maintain contact with her.
“Change these laws. Make it better,” he said. “A man does have a say in their child’s life, married or unmarried.”
Chatman also confirmed that he is currently cooperating with investigators and undergoing DNA testing to formally confirm paternity as part of the ongoing investigation.
“I’m still in contact with the detectives,” he said. “We’re doing the DNA samples, so I’ll get more details within the next couple of days.”
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected to be released as detectives continue working to determine when and how the two children were killed.
Crime
Kaylub Giamanco Identified as “Good Samaritan” Bystander Who Stopped Silver Rail Elementary School Shooter in Bend, Oregon
BEND, Oregon — Kaylub Giamanco has been identified as the bystander who reportedly confronted and shot the teenage suspect during the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Channel2 NOW has learned.
According to the family member who spoke with Channel2 NOW, Giamanco was returning home during his lunch break when he encountered the unfolding emergency near the school.
Giamanco reportedly lives just up the road from the elementary school, where his two daughters attend classes.
After hearing gunshots and seeing the suspected shooter moving toward or entering the school building, he allegedly rushed toward the scene because his children (daughters) were inside.
His reported actions have prompted praise from people describing him as a hero who acted out of concern for the safety of students and staff.
Some have said he deserves a medal for his actions.
Preliminary accounts provided for this report indicate that the suspected shooter was a 16-year-old Bend resident who allegedly used a shotgun during the attack. Early reports suggested that a bystander intervened and shot the suspect, who subsequently died.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the suspect’s death as part of the broader investigation.
The shooting triggered a major emergency response in Bend on Thursday afternoon.
Preliminary information indicated that four victims—three children and one adult—were killed. The 16-year-old suspected shooter was also reported dead, bringing the reported death toll to five.
Rhoam Summer, 5, was identified in the supplied reports as the first named victim.
The other children who reportedly died were described as ages 8 and 11, while the adult victim was identified in preliminary accounts as a teacher. Their identities and the final casualty figures should be confirmed by law enforcement or the appropriate authorities before publication as definitive facts.
Two additional people were reportedly transported for medical treatment in critical condition: a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.
The deaths and reported injuries have left the school community facing an immense tragedy, with families awaiting reliable information about their children and loved ones.
Bend police issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday, warning the public about a major law enforcement response at Silver Rail Elementary School and urging people to avoid the surrounding area.
Police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the campus. Nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, were reportedly placed under lockdown as a precaution while emergency personnel worked to address the situation.
Authorities also established a family reunification location at Journey Church, at 61303 S Highway 97, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen. Parents and guardians were directed to the designated site to reconnect with students and receive information.
Although Giamanco has been described in the supplied account as the bystander who stopped the suspect, the details have not been independently verified for this report. The suspect’s death, the bystander’s role, the identities of all victims and the reported casualty figures should be attributed to official sources once confirmed.
The incident has renewed attention to the extraordinary decisions people may face during emergencies, particularly when children and school staff are in danger. Giamanco’s reported decision to act because his daughters attended the school has prompted expressions of gratitude and calls for formal recognition.
Above all, the tragedy has left families and the Bend community mourning the reported loss of young lives and an adult educator. The focus remains on supporting those affected, confirming the facts and allowing investigators to establish exactly what happened.