CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that a Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment charging Joseph Littlejohn, 21, for the homicide of Michelle Arnold, 23, who went missing from Warrensville Heights in October 2023.

“Joseph Littlejohn is an incredibly cruel and violent individual. To date, he has murdered two people and traumatized multiple others. Clearly, he has no regard for human life and should remain locked up for the rest of his.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

Michelle Arnold was first reported missing on October 26, 2023, with her last known location being the Banbury Apartments in Warrensville Heights.

Several tips came into the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department (CCSD) that Joseph Littlejohn was involved in the homicide of Michelle Arnold.

On February 9, 2024, Joseph Littlejohn’s house located near Potomac Avenue and Allegheny Avenue in East Cleveland burned down. In June 2024, police executed a search warrant on the remains of the residence. Michelle Arnold’s DNA, in the form of blood, was found in the basement of the residence.

Police then received an anonymous tip that led to another residence located near Strathmore Avenue and Hayden Avenue in East Cleveland where Michelle Arnold’s remains were believed to be. On June 3, 2024, Michelle Arnold’s remains were located in the backyard of the house.

After further investigation, police executed a search warrant on November 22, 2024, on Littlejohn’s mother’s vehicle that had been sold to a buyer in Huron. The vehicle was believed to have transported the body of Michelle Arnold from Littlejohn’s house to the house in East Cleveland where Michelle Arnold’s remains were found. During the search warrant, police discovered the lining of the trunk had been removed and swabbed the vehicle for DNA. Both Arnold’s DNA, in the form of blood, and Littlejohn’s DNA were located in the trunk of the vehicle.

The investigation was conducted by CCSD with the assistance of Warrensville Heights Police Department, East Cleveland Police Department, the Cleveland Heights Police Department, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. DNA, phone records, social media, and witness testimony linked Littlejohn to the homicide.

On February 14, 2025, Joseph Littlejohn was indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Aggravated Murder
  • Two counts of Murder
  • Two counts of Aggravated Robbery
  • Two counts of Felonious Assault
  • One count of Gross Abuse of a Corpse
  • One count of Having Weapons While Under Disability

He will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later date.

Joseph Littlejohn has two current pending cases in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas including an aggravated murder, multiple aggravated robberies, and multiple failures to comply.