DNA Evidence Links East Cleveland Man to Death of Missing Maple Heights Woman

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DNA Evidence Links East Cleveland Man to Death of Missing Maple Heights Woman
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Joseph Littlejohn, 21, has been indicted on aggravated murder and other charges in connection with the death of Michelle Arnold, 23. Arnold went missing in October 2023, and her remains were found buried in a backyard in June 2024. DNA evidence linked Littlejohn to the crime scene and Arnold's body.

An East Cleveland man is facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with the death of a Maple Heights woman who disappeared in 2023. Joseph Littlejohn, 21, was indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on Friday in the death of Michelle Arnold, 23. Arnold was last seen on October 26, 2023, from her apartment complex in Warrensville Heights.

Nine months later, in June 2024, police discovered Arnold's blood and DNA in the basement of Littlejohn's burned-down house, prompting further investigation. Following an anonymous tip, investigators found Arnold's remains buried in the backyard of a nearby house in East Cleveland on June 3, 2024. Prosecutors believe that Littlejohn used his mother's car, which was later sold, to transport Arnold's body. Forensic analysis of the car's trunk revealed Arnold's blood and DNA, along with Littlejohn's DNA, further solidifying the connection. This case is not Littlejohn's first brush with the law. He has been in jail since January 16, 2024, facing murder charges for the fatal shooting of Alexander Gurley, 22, in Cleveland Heights. Prosecutors allege that Littlejohn and two co-defendants lured Gurley to a house on East Overlook Road under the pretense of buying clothes from him on January 4, 2024. The killing occurred hours after Littlejohn and three others robbed a 19-year-old woman after arranging an online purchase of Apple AirPods. Moreover, Littlejohn is accused of luring a 28-year-old man to be robbed in Parma in December 2022. He also faces separate charges for leading Bratenahl police on a chase in a stolen car in September 2023.

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