Amber Graham Obituary:, CLEVELAND, OH — A Tennessee mother who traveled to Ohio with her young daughter after meeting a man through online gaming was found dead outside a Cleveland residence, authorities confirmed. The woman was identified as Amber Graham, 37, of Spring Hill, Tennessee.
According to officials, Graham was reported missing by her mother after she stopped communicating with family members on June 18. Friends said Graham was known as a dependable person who regularly kept in contact with loved ones and coworkers, raising concerns when she did not return home or respond to messages.
Family friend Josh LaCroix said Graham had traveled to Cleveland with her 8-year-old daughter to meet a man she had connected with while playing the online video game Call of Duty through Xbox. Friends said they only knew the man by online names, including “Huckleberry” and “Red,” before investigators later identified the Cleveland residence connected to the case.
Authorities said Graham’s daughter was later dropped off at Cleveland Fire Station 33 on West 117th Street. Fire officials said the child was unharmed and had a phone number for her grandmother in Tennessee with her. She was placed in the care of authorities while investigators worked to locate Graham.
Following efforts by friends to gather information and help locate Graham, authorities conducted a welfare check at a home on Bosworth Road in Cleveland. During the investigation, police discovered Graham’s body in the backyard of the residence. Officials said the remains appeared to have been there for several days and were in an advanced state of decomposition.
Two other women were also found inside the residence and transported to a hospital for medical care. One was identified as an 18-year-old disabled woman named Mackenzie, while another woman was identified as Gabriella. Authorities have not released additional details about their conditions or involvement in the investigation.
The residence was reportedly connected to Matthew Hensley, who authorities have identified as a registered sex offender. A June 3 report from WOIO stated that the U.S. Marshals Service Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force had been seeking information regarding Hensley after he was accused of failing to register his address following a conviction involving unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Investigators have not released Graham’s official cause or manner of death, and authorities have not confirmed whether the case will be investigated as a homicide. Officials are continuing to examine evidence and await further findings as they work to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
Amber Graham is remembered by friends and family as a mother whose life was tragically cut short. Loved ones continue to seek answers while honoring her memory and the impact she had on those who knew her. May she rest in peace.