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The father of one of the girls found dead inside a set of suitcases in an Ohio park has broken his silence after their mother was arrested and charged with murder.
“I just feel useless” Grieving father tells Fox 8 News. “I couldn’t save my daughter.”
The man went to a Cleveland park to mourn his late daughter and spoke to the station on condition of anonymity after news crews approached him.
He also spoke to WOIOwho identified him as DeShawn Chatman.
On Monday, March 2, a man walking his dog came across one of the suitcases, opened it and saw a human head. The second suitcase was located near the same park.
Authorities identified the girls as 8-year-old Mila Chatman and 10-year-old Amor Wilson. their mothers, Aliyah Hendersonwas arrested Wednesday night.
Henderson, 28, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder in the death of his daughter. US Weekly Confirmed by investigators.
Police said Meera and Amol were half-siblings.
Mila’s father told Fox 8 he had not been allowed to see his daughter for four years and said he felt “indifferent” as a father. He said he tried repeatedly to gain custody of the girl but was unsuccessful.
He also said Amor’s father tried to be in her life but was also denied visitation.
Mila’s father told Fox 8: “It’s as simple as just give her to me. You feel pressured, give her to me. I’ve been trying to get her for six years. You’ve been avoiding me. You told me I’m too family-oriented. That’s why you’re not giving me your daughter. Tried, tried, tried. And then spoke to CPS multiple times.”
He claimed that Child Protective Services would not strip the girls of their mother’s custody rights.
UPDATE — 3/5/26 5:34 PM ET: Authorities have identified the girl whose body was found inside a pair of abandoned suitcases in an Ohio park. The victims were identified as 10-year-old Amor Wilson and 8-year-old Mila Chatman. Their mother, Aliyah Henderson, has been charged with murder. ORIGINAL STORY: Authorities have determined (…)
“I don’t know how long she was gone, how long she was dead. I don’t know how long she was missing, but this could have been avoided,” the furious father added.
“These were two young lives with their entire futures in front of them,” Cleveland Police Supt. Dorothy Todd said in a statement to the media.
“Our detectives worked tirelessly and with great care to identify those responsible. An investigation of this nature requires patience, precision and caution,” Todd continued. “Unlike situations often portrayed on television, every detail cannot be made public. Certain information must remain confidential to protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure justice is served for these victims. This meticulous and methodical work allowed our detectives to obtain the evidence needed to quickly identify the suspect, ultimately leading to an arrest.”
Henderson was arrested at her home, not far from the park where she allegedly abandoned her daughter.
A third child who lived with Henderson is now a ward of the state. The child is said to be healthy.
The cause of death of Mira and Amor remains undetermined and the murder investigation is ongoing.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit Children’s Help Website. All calls are free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
