Cleveland father has shared the pain of searching for his missing daughter for five years after authorities confirmed her remains were among those of two young girls discovered earlier this week in shallow graves. DeShaun Chatman said police informed him late Wednesday night that his daughter, Mila Chatman — who would have been eight years old today — was one of the children found in a field near Ginn Academy in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood. Investigators said the remains of both girls had been placed inside suitcases before being buried. Chatman described years of trying to find his daughter after he last saw her in 2020 when she was just 3 years old. During that time, he said he attempted to obtain emergency custody on five separate occasions and also contacted a child welfare agency in hopes of locating her. Despite those efforts, he said he never knew exactly where Mila and her mother were living. “It’s very much horrible,” Chatman said during an interview near the area where the remains were discovered. He later learned that Mila had been living not far from the very place where the girls were buried. “I feel useless — I couldn’t save my baby,” he said. Authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the identities of the two children while the investigation continues. Cleveland police said they expect to file charges against a 28-year-old woman connected to the case. According to Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz, officers detained the woman Wednesday evening after investigators completed initial interviews and reviewed evidence. Her name has not been released, but police say she is currently considered a person of interest. “We are aiming to have her charged later today, though that could change,” Diaz said. Chatman explained that he and Mila’s mother were never married, though they lived together for about a year after their daughter was born. He remembered Mila as a joyful child who loved the color pink and often imagined herself as a princess. “Mila was happy-go-lucky, always smiling,” he said. “She was always happy. She was a kid’s kid.” Officials say they are still working to determine how the children died. Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd told reporters earlier this week that investigators are hoping upcoming findings will provide answers. “This is a terrible, tragic situation,” Todd said. The discovery was first made after a person walking a dog in the area alerted authorities, leading police to search the field where the remains were eventually found.#fyp #viral - @sacramentourbanmedia916