A shocking discovery on Cleveland’s East Side has led to a murder arrest as investigators continue working to identify two young girls whose bodies were found hidden in suitcases.

Authorities say a 28-year-old woman, identified through jail records as Aliyah Henderson, has been arrested on charges of murder and child endangering. Police have not yet publicly confirmed her name in connection with the case, but records show Henderson was booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail Wednesday evening.

Neighbors told local media that Henderson lived at a home on East 162nd Street—the same residence where police executed a search warrant earlier in the day and detained a person of interest.

The disturbing case began Monday evening when Cleveland police were called to a field near East 163rd Street and Midland Avenue, close to Ginn Academy in the city’s South Collinwood neighborhood. A man walking his dog made the grim discovery after the animal began alerting to a scent in the snow-covered area. Suspecting something was wrong, he called 911.

When officers arrived, they uncovered a suitcase partially buried in a shallow grave. Inside, they found the body of a young girl. As detectives expanded their search of the area, they located a second suitcase nearby containing the body of another child.

Police believe the girls had been buried at the location for some time.

Investigators estimate that one victim was between 8½ and 13 years old, while the other was between 10½ and 14 years old. On Wednesday, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner confirmed through DNA testing that the two victims were half-sisters.

Despite that breakthrough, their identities have not yet been confirmed.

One of the most puzzling aspects of the case is that neither child matches any local missing-person reports. Authorities say they are now expanding their search statewide and working with state and federal partners in hopes of identifying the girls.

Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd described the situation as deeply disturbing for both investigators and residents in the neighborhood where the bodies were found.

“It is traumatic for everyone,” Todd said, noting that the discovery happened just steps away from where families live and children attend school.

Detectives say the investigation remains in its early stages as they work to determine what happened to the girls and how they ended up buried in the field.

For now, police say there is no indication the public is in immediate danger.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit as investigators continue searching for answers in the heartbreaking deaths of the two children.

A chilling discovery in Cleveland has left investigators searching for answers after two young girls were found dead inside suitcases buried in a field. Authorities say the victims have now been confirmed as half-sisters, but their identities remain unknown.

The grim discovery was made earlier this week when a person walking a dog noticed the animal reacting to something unusual in a field. After investigating further, the dog walker alerted authorities. When police arrived, they uncovered one suitcase and soon discovered a second nearby. Both had been buried in shallow graves.

Inside the luggage, investigators found the bodies of two young girls.

Officials believe one of the victims was between 8½ and 13 years old, while the other was likely between 10½ and 14 years old. DNA testing conducted by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner later confirmed the two girls were related as half-sisters.

Despite the breakthrough, police say the victims still have not been positively identified.

Even more troubling, authorities say neither girl appears to match any children who have been reported missing locally, raising questions about where the girls may have come from and how they ended up in Cleveland.

As investigators worked to piece together what happened, detectives served a search warrant at a nearby home. During that search, a person of interest was identified and detained for questioning.

Police emphasized that the individual has not been arrested and no charges have been filed. Officials have not disclosed what evidence or leads prompted the search warrant or the connection between the person of interest and the case.

Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd described the investigation as ongoing and urged the public to come forward with any information that might help identify the victims or shed light on the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

The disturbing nature of the case — combined with the mystery surrounding the girls’ identities — has intensified efforts by detectives to uncover who they were and how they ended up buried in suitcases.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have information about the case to contact the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit as investigators continue their search for answers in the heartbreaking deaths of the two young girls.