A missing persons case has turned into a murder investigation.
On Friday, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the body found in a garbage can behind a home in Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood was 31-year-old Miriam Johnson.
The mother of four, who worked at the Map Room, went missing from Cleveland Heights on February 26th.
Her family is now determined to find her killer.
“We just pray that there’s justice and this guy is found, and he gets the punishment he deserves,” said Barbara Radman, Johnson’s biological mother.
Johnson was adopted and last week, her adoptive mother, Cindy Johnson, pleaded for help finding her daughter.
“I just can’t imagine what’s preventing her from contacting somebody,” she said.
Relatives suspected 34-year-old Yaphet Bradley, a.k.a. Yaphet “Smallwood,” who is the father to three of Johnson’s four children.
Bradley served time for physically abusing Johnson, but managed to reenter her life recently.
“She had big goals and big dreams,” said Jennifer Abron, Johnson’s cousin. “She was really just getting her life started after having this tumultuous relationship.”
“She was at my house at Christmastime and she said ‘Mom, don’t worry, everything’s going to be okay with me, everything’s going to be okay,’” Barbara Radman said.
Cleveland Heights Police are not calling Yaphet Bradley a suspect, but rather, “a person of interest.”
On Friday, they went to the 7300 block of Chamberlain Road, where the body was found. Neighbors said the property had been abandoned.
Investigators could be seen removing several items, including two large mattresses. Relatives say at least one of them could hold a clue, since a bed was among items gone from Johnson’s apartment when they reported her missing.
“No tip is too small,” Cleveland Heights Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg said, urging anyone with information on Bradley’s whereabouts to speak up. A reward is being offered.
Bradley is also wanted on a warrant stemming from a parole violation on a drug conviction.
Johnson's relatives say they do not know why Johnson's body would have ended up on Chamberlain, but point out that Bradley's father lives on East 93rd Street, which is not far from the scene.
Once again, they are calling on strangers to help.
“Put yourself in our situation,” said Jessica Woods, Johnson’s cousin. “You would want answers.”
“Just think about your cousin, your sister, the person that you loved and you spend holidays with,” added Jennifer Abron, cousin.