Dead Body Found In Trash Can Is Missing Cleveland Heights Woman

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — On Thursday, Cleveland Police found a dead body in a trash can at a vacant house on Chamberlain Avenue. That body has now been identified as a missing woman from Cleveland Heights, Miriam Johnson.

The 31-year-old mother of three was declared missing in late February. Cleveland Heights Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg confirmed to Patch that it was Johnson's body found in the vacant home.

Detective Reginald Lanton of Cleveland Police said that Johnson's body was found at 7303 Chamberlain Avenue. Police were called to the home for reports of a possible dead body. That's where they found the 31-year-old.

Once Johnson's body was found, homicide investigators and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office were called to the scene. When Johnson's body was identified, the case was turned over to Cleveland Heights Police.

"We are investigating [the matter]," Mecklenburg told Patch in an email.

Johnson has been missing for a month. While her children are safe, her family told Fox 8 on March 15 that they were very "worried" about her safety. They said the 31-year-old's cell phone had been turned off, her furniture was gone from her apartment, she hadn't reached out to anyone and there had been no activity on her credit cards.

Photo from Renee Schiavone, Patch