A 20-year-old Erie woman was jailed without bond Wednesday night on a criminal-homicide charge in connection with the death of her 14-month-old daughter. The girl's emaciated body was found stuffed inside a black suitcase Tuesday afternoon in the 700 block of East Eighth Street.
Erie police arrested Tania R. Coleman, of 729 E. Eighth St.
Coleman was arraigned Wednesday evening before Erie 5th Ward District Judge Joseph Lefaiver on charges of criminal homicide, concealing the death of a child, tampering with or fabricating evidence, endangering the welfare of children, and abuse of a corpse.
She was placed in the Erie County Prison without bond because of the homicide charge.
Police also arrested Xavier A. Hollamon, 19, of 454 E. 24th St. Police said Hollamon is Coleman's boyfriend.
Hollamon also was arraigned Wednesday evening before Lefaiver on charges of concealing the death of a child, tampering with or fabricating evidence, and abuse of a corpse.
Hollamon was placed in the Erie County Prison on $50,000 bond.
A small collection of stuffed animals and a pink polyester balloon reading "It's a girl" covered a spot by a utility pole at the foot of an East Eighth Street driveway on Wednesday. Neighbors set up the make-shift shrine to the 14-month-old girl.
The discovery of the girl's body was made by an Erie firefighter who tripped over it while cleaning up after dousing a small kitchen fire, Erie police said.
The toddler most likely died of "nutritional neglect," said Erie 
County Coroner Lyell Cook, who ruled the death a homicide. Cook's office said it cannot positively confirm the identity of the girl until DNA tests are done.
Cook said it's unknown how long the child had been dead before her body was discovered outside of the house at 745 E. Eighth St.
Her remains were "in very poor shape," and it's going to take time to determine when she likely died, he said. Read More
