The medical examiner took custody of the remains as investigators checked missing-person records for leads.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland police are investigating after two bodies were found Monday night near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue, an area close to a school in the city’s South Collinwood neighborhood. Authorities said the homicide unit is handling the case and that the bodies had not been identified as of Tuesday.
The discovery set off a fast-moving investigation focused on two immediate goals: identifying the dead and determining whether the deaths were homicides. Police said there was no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety, but detectives were treating the scene as a serious crime investigation while the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner worked to establish cause and manner of death. Investigators also began checking missing-person reports and related records in hopes of matching names to the victims.
The call that brought officers to the area came in Monday after a resident reported a suspected dead body, police said. Phillip Donaldson, who contacted authorities, described noticing a mound of dirt while walking his dog. He said the dog stopped and sniffed at the spot longer than usual, which led him to look closer. Donaldson said he saw a suitcase that appeared to be partly buried. When he pulled it up and opened it, he said he saw a human head. “It was like a pile of dirt,” he said, explaining that the suitcase was “half buried” when he found it.
Police said that while officers and homicide detectives investigated the initial report, they located a second body in the same area. Authorities have not said whether the remains were inside luggage or containers, nor have they described the condition of the bodies. Local reporting described the discovery as involving suitcases and suggested the victims may have been young, but police have not released ages, genders or identities. Investigators have also not said how long the bodies may have been at the location or whether the deaths occurred elsewhere.
The scene is near Ginn Academy, and the proximity to a school became part of the community’s early reaction. Donaldson said the discovery unsettled him in part because children and families pass through the area. He also said the suitcase might have been present for days without being noticed. “I had been walking past that for at least a week,” he said, referring to the mound of dirt that caught his attention only after his dog stopped there. He described seeing only the top of the suitcase, which he said suggested someone tried to conceal it.
Investigators have not described specific evidence recovered from the scene, but cases like this typically involve a detailed search of the area, photographs, collection of physical items and interviews with nearby residents. Detectives often look for surveillance footage from homes, schools or businesses and check whether anyone saw unusual activity, vehicles or people carrying large objects. Police have not said whether they have video or witness accounts beyond the man who called 911, and they have not released details about any possible timeline.
The medical examiner’s office is expected to play a central role in identifying the victims, using fingerprints, dental records, DNA and other forensic methods. Officials have not said when the bodies were discovered in relation to the call, or when preliminary identification could be available. Investigators also may compare information to missing-person reports and other records to see whether anyone recently disappeared or was reported endangered. Police have not said whether they have received missing-person reports that match the circumstances of the discovery.
No arrests have been announced, and police have not identified suspects or released descriptions of people they want to interview. Authorities also have not said whether they believe the deaths are connected to other cases in Cleveland or the surrounding region. Police said the investigation remains active, and detectives are continuing to collect information and follow leads as they emerge.
Residents near the scene described a heavy police presence and a tense atmosphere as investigators worked. Some neighbors said the area is usually quiet, while others said they were concerned about how long the items may have been there without being discovered. Donaldson said he felt disturbed by the thought that the suitcase could have been buried nearby while people walked past. He said he decided to check only after his dog lingered at the spot.
Police have asked anyone with information to contact the homicide unit as the investigation continues. As of Tuesday, authorities had not released the identities of the victims, and the next major milestone is expected to be confirmation of who the victims were and the medical examiner’s determination of how they died.
Author note: Last updated March 3, 2026.