Ohio man killed girlfriend, dumped her body in dumpster behind elementary school

CLEVELAND, OH – A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted 58-year-old James Drahos for the murder of his girlfriend, 56-year-old Tammy Dubuisson, along with several other charges related to the disposal of her body.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that the indictment includes charges of murder, gross abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and domestic violence. The case began to unfold when questions arose following Dubuisson’s disappearance, which remained a mystery for over a month.

According to the indictment, between May 15 and June 6, 2024, Drahos was at the residence he shared with Dubuisson near West 139th Street and Sherry Avenue in Cleveland. It was in their driveway where he allegedly struck her, leading to her fall and subsequent death after being left unattended for hours. Drahos wrapped her body in construction trash bags and initially placed it in a garbage can outside their home.

On June 6, Drahos transported the body in a wagon to a dumpster at a nearby elementary school. The case took a turn on July 7 when the couple’s daughter discovered bone fragments in the driveway and contacted the police. The Cleveland Division of Police collected the fragments, which were later identified by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office as human remains.

Drahos was arrested on July 9 after confessing to the homicide detectives about killing Dubuisson and disposing of her body. Video evidence also linked him to the crime scene. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek justice for Tammy Dubuisson and her family.

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