Authorities are in the process of identifying two young girls whose bodies were found inside a suitcase. The half-sisters were discovered in suitcases on the east side of Cleveland in the United States. As of March 4, local authorities had not yet identified the girls.

The bodies of the girls were recovered on March 2 in a neighborhood following a tip from a dog walker, according to the police. One of the girls is estimated to be between 8 and 13 years old, while the other is believed to be between 10 and 14 years old.

Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd stated on Tuesday that it was uncertain how the girls died, but their bodies had been at the location for some time. The circumstances surrounding the incident do not align with any active missing persons cases in the area, the police chief confirmed.

“We are seeking answers,” Chief Todd expressed. “This is an extremely tragic situation.” A preliminary DNA relationship testing by the medical examiner’s office confirmed that the two girls were half-sisters. Further details will be provided as they become available.