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
Agent Nic Graham Dies After Being Shot in Lakewood Police Shootout With Suspect Gabriel Garcia on RTD Bus
LAKEWOOD, Colorado — A Lakewood police agent who was critically wounded during a shootout with a suspect aboard an RTD bus has died, authorities confirmed. The fallen officer was identified as Nic Graham, a member of the Lakewood Police Department since 2019.
Graham was among four police agents injured Thursday evening when an armed confrontation erupted near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. A civilian bystander was also struck by gunfire.
The shooting followed a police search for a suspect connected to a hit-and-run crash reported earlier in the day.
Police said the incident initially began shortly before 3:45 p.m. Thursday, following a hit-and-run collision near Kipling Street and West 13th Avenue in Lakewood.
Witnesses told investigators that the suspect ran away almost immediately after the crash. However, they provided officers with a description that helped police identify and search for the individual.
Lakewood Police Public Information Agent John Romero said witnesses were able to give officers a useful description of the person who fled the scene.
Several hours later, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Lakewood police agent recognized the individual boarding an RTD bus near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.
Officers approached the suspect at approximately 6:32 p.m. Police said the individual opened fire on officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Responding officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as Gabriel Garcia.
Garcia was reportedly on parole when the shooting occurred.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Four Lakewood police agents suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontation. Their injuries ranged from serious to critical, and all four were transported to nearby hospitals.
Despite receiving emergency medical treatment, Graham later died from his injuries.
One civilian bystander was also hit by gunfire and hospitalized. The person’s condition had not been publicly disclosed as of Friday afternoon.
Hospital updates released Friday morning indicated that two agents treated at Denver Health Medical Center had been released. Another remained hospitalized, while officials had not provided a complete update on the remaining injured individuals.
Graham began serving with the Lakewood Police Department in 2019 after graduating from the police academy.
Throughout his law enforcement career, he contributed to criminal investigations and earned recognition for his work.
One of his notable achievements came in 2023, when he received the department’s Special Investigations Unit Wingman Award for his contributions to investigations targeting gang members.
Police Chief Philip Smith paid tribute to Graham, highlighting his dedication, compassion and commitment to helping others.
Chief Smith said Graham demonstrated those qualities throughout his career, from his early days on patrol to his investigative work.
His death has left the department and the wider Lakewood community grieving the loss of an officer who dedicated his career to public service.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation.
The shooting resulted in the death of suspect Gabriel Garcia, the fatal injury of Agent Nic Graham, injuries to three additional police agents and a civilian bystander.
Officials have not released a final investigative account of the incident. Further updates are expected as investigators establish the complete sequence of events.