Case Details

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This person was missing Missing Since 04/21/2005

Missing Since:

Missing Since 04/21/2005

Missing From:

Missing From Cleveland, Ohio

Classification:

Classification Endangered Missing

Gender:

Female

Race:

Race Black

Date of Birth:

Date of Birth 04/21/2001 (23)

Age:

Age 4 years old

Height and Weight:

Height and Weight 2’4, 34 pounds

Clothing/Jewelry Description:

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Distinguishing Characteristics African-American female. Black hair, brown eyes. Kaliyah listed height and weight are approximations.

Details of Disappearance:

Kaliyah, from Cleveland, Ohio, was last seen alive at her fourth birthday party in April 2006. Her mother, India Parker, gave confusing and changing stories about what happened to Kaliyah, sometimes saying she was with family, in foster care, or even that she died in an accident.

Five years later, in 2011, the father of one of India’s other children reported Kaliyah missing because he didn’t believe India’s explanations. Police found no record of Kaliyah’s death.

India eventually told police she found Kaliyah dead in bed, but she didn’t report it and kept receiving money meant for Kaliyah. She claimed she left Kaliyah’s body in the bed for a week, then threw it in the trash.

India had a troubled past with child services. She had been accused of child endangerment but avoided serious consequences. After Kaliyah’s birth, she didn’t initially have custody and Kaliyah was raised by her grandmothers and a foster mother for two years.

India was found guilty of hiding evidence and mistreating Kaliyah’s body, receiving a three-year prison sentence. She also pleaded guilty to stealing over $41,000 in benefits meant for Kaliyah, resulting in an additional sixteen-month sentence. The judge didn’t believe her story about throwing Kaliyah’s body in the trash.

Even though police are investigating, they may never find Kaliyah’s body or know exactly what happened to her.

Agency:

Cleveland Police Department 216-623-5262

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