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Father's five-year search ends in tragedy as daughter is found dead

Mar 5, 2026, 11:10 PM20
(Update: Mar 6, 2026, 9:50 AM)
city in and county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States

Father's five-year search ends in tragedy as daughter is found dead

  • The remains of two girls, including Mila Chatman, were found buried in shallow graves near Ginn Academy in Cleveland.
  • DeShaun Chatman, Mila's father, revealed his efforts to locate his daughter, including seeking emergency custody and contacting child welfare agencies.
  • The case led to the detention of a 28-year-old woman as a person of interest, with police planning to charge her soon.
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Story

In a tragic turn of events, a Cleveland father named DeShaun Chatman learned that his daughter, Mila Chatman, was among two girls whose remains were discovered buried in shallow graves on a property near Ginn Academy in the South Collinwood neighborhood. The police confirmed the recovery of the bodies after a dog walker reported the scene. Mila, who would have turned eight years old, had been missing for five years. Her father had reportedly sought emergency custody multiple times and reached out to child welfare agencies in vain, unable to locate her due to lack of knowledge about her living conditions. Chatman last saw his daughter in 2020 when she was just three years old and expressed his horror upon the discovery, stating that Mila had been living within view of her grave, making this loss even more heart-wrenching for him. He described Mila as a happy and vibrant child whose favorite color was pink and who believed herself to be a princess. As the investigation unfolded, Cleveland police announced they were close to charging a 28-year-old woman in connection with the case. The woman, who was not named in initial reports, was described as a person of interest and was detained shortly after detectives completed their preliminary interviews. Law enforcement expected to formally charge her soon, indicating that their investigation was ongoing and that more information was likely to emerge in the following days regarding the circumstances surrounding the deaths of both girls. This tragic incident highlights the broader concerns surrounding child welfare and the importance of actionable protocols when it comes to protecting children in vulnerable situations. Chatman’s repeated requests for emergency custody and attempts to engage with child welfare agencies underscore the challenges that many parents face in similar situations, especially those cut off from their children. The case has struck a chord with the community of Cleveland, causing immense grief and anger at the tragic loss of two young lives. Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd openly expressed the heartbreak that permeated the situation and pledged to seek justice for the girls, hoping that answers would soon come forth regarding the cause of their deaths and the individuals responsible. This poignant case serves as a painful reminder of the necessity for vigilance in safeguarding children and the devastating consequences that might arise when social systems fail to protect the vulnerable.

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