CUYAHOGA COUNTY — News 5 has obtained court documents detailing what led investigators in June 2024 to a vacant lot in East Cleveland where they found the remains of Michelle Arnold.

Arnold was 23 years old and lived in Maple Heights. She was reported missing to Warrensville Heights Police in October 2023.

Watch News 5’s original report where Michelle’s family spoke about her disappearance

Police are investigating the disappearance of Maple Hts. Woman

Ebony Arnold, Michelle’s sister, has made it her mission to get justice. She doesn’t want her sister to be forgotten. Her living room has photos and mementos to remind her of the girl she said was quiet, giving and spirited.

“What makes you smile,” I asked Ebony.

“Just thinking she’s funny, silly… has a little random joke here and there,” Ebony said as she looked through a book of photos of Michelle.

“For this to happen is just unacceptable,” Ebony said. “She was an amazing young lady.”

Ebony said her life has not been the same since Michelle’s disappearance. She said when authorities found her sister’s body on Strathmore Ave., it was buried under debris and exposed to the elements.

Watch News 5’s original report after authorities confirmed the body found was Michelle Arnold

‘She didn’t deserve it’: Michelle Arnold’s family reacts to her remains being found in East Cleveland

FAMILY: ‘She didn’t deserve it’: Michelle Arnold’s family reacts to her remains being found in East Cleveland

“She didn’t deserve to be murdered like that,” Ebony said.

I asked her, “There is no doubt that there are people who know what happened to your sister?”

Ebony replied, “Oh, absolutely. They were there. Absolutely, they know.”

News 5 obtained court documents detailing a search warrant related to the case.

It says that in January 2024, about five months before Michelle’s remains were found, an anonymous caller contacted Cleveland Heights Police.

According to the documents, the caller said a man currently in jail on an unrelated crime charge, which News 5 is not naming at this time, “…killed Michelle Arnold in a robbery gone wrong and the body was either on Strathmore or Potomac.” “

Ebony said she has read through the court documents even though it was difficult.

“I cried really bad, but again, I have strength for the Lord,” Ebony said. “So I read through it.”

The search warrant also said that just weeks before Michelle was discovered, the same man named by the tipster told a Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department detective during an interview that “…Michelle Arnold was brought to her home to sell and buy a firearm …’i a blue sedan of’…two acquaintances.

According to the documents, the man said, “…after the sale of the firearm, the vehicle left with Arnold and Arnold never entered his home…”

The man told the detective that he later learned that someone had “…shot and killed Arnold…”

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday there is no update on Michelle’s case, and it remains under investigation.

Ebony said while no arrests have been made, she has confidence in investigators.

“These guys are really doing their job,” Ebony said. “They really care.”

She said she wouldn’t let her sister down.

“I would never stop fighting. Even if God calls me home and I leave this earth, I will still fight,” Ebony said.

Ebony is planning a memorial service for Michelle. She thinks it will happen in the spring and include a horse and carriage and releasing pigeons. AGoFundMehas been established to help her realize that wish.