The case drew scrutiny to whether child welfare systems could have intervened sooner: Mila’s father said he had sought emergency custody of his daughter unsuccessfully for five years and had not seen her in that time. A third child found at a property investigators searched was placed with child welfare authorities.

A Cleveland judge set bail at $2 million Friday for Aliyah Henderson, 28, charged with two counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of her two young daughters, whose bodies were recovered from shallow graves after a dog walker alerted police to one of two suitcases buried near the city earlier in the week.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victims as Mila Chatman, who would have been 8, and her half-sister Amor Wilson, who would have been 10. DNA relationship testing helped confirm their identities, the Medical Examiner’s Office said.

Henderson said little during the brief court appearance. Prosecutors said they found no criminal record for her. Her public defender said she has a place to live and had been looking for a job.

Discovery

A dog walker alerted police to one of the suitcases on Monday. Investigators then recovered both bodies from shallow graves. Henderson was subsequently charged with two counts of aggravated murder.

Father’s account

DeShaun Chatman, Mila’s father, described her as happy-go-lucky — a “kid’s kid” who was always smiling. Chatman said he had not seen Mila for five years and had unsuccessfully sought emergency custody of her.

Cullen Sweeney, the chief public defender in Cuyahoga County, declined to comment on the case after the hearing. It was not immediately clear who would represent Henderson going forward.

Third child placed with child welfare authorities

Authorities said a third child, apparently in good health, was found at a property investigators searched. That child was placed in the care of child welfare authorities, according to the Associated Press.