Man kills girlfriend found in school dumpster: police

Left: James G. Drahos (Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office). Right: Tammy Dubuisson (Cleveland Police Department). Inset: The house where Draho allegedly killed Dubuisson (WKYC/YouTube).

A 58-year-old man in Ohio is facing numerous serious crimes after allegedly killing his partner, beating her to death in their home and keeping her in a trash can for over a month before dumping the body in an elementary school dumpster.

A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted James G. Drahos on one count each of murder, gross desecration of a corpse, tampering with evidence and domestic violence in connection with the killing of Tammy Dubuisson, authorities said.

According to a press release from the District Attorney’s Office, Drahos and Dubuisson are believed to have shared a home near West 139th Street and Sherry Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, between May 15 and June 6, 2024. However, prosecutors say the couple were in the driveway of the home “on or about May 23, 2024” when Draho struck her in the head, causing her to fall to the ground.

After striking Dubuisson, Draho allegedly went back into the house and left her outside for eight to 10 hours. He did not attempt to get Dubuisson medical attention or call 911 for help.

“Dubuisson died as a result of the attack and lack of medical attention after falling to the ground,” police wrote in a probable cause affidavit.

The next day, Drahos went outside again and discovered that Dubuisson was dead, prosecutors said. He then “double-wrapped her body in garbage bags and disposed of it in a garbage can in front of her house.”

Dubuisson was last seen alive on May 22 and was reported missing on June 19, Cleveland Fox affiliate WJW reported.

Prosecutors allege that Draho left Dubuisson’s body to decompose in the trash can for over a month. On June 6, he allegedly removed the body and “transported it in a car to a nearby elementary school.” He then dumped Dubuisson’s body in a dumpster behind the school and fled the scene, the press release said.

Investigators made a breakthrough in the case when Draho and Dubuisson’s daughter went to her parents’ home on July 7. Once there, she discovered what appeared to be “bone fragments” in the driveway and called 911. Cleveland police arrived at the scene and took the fragments from the daughter. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office examined the bone fragments and confirmed they were “human remains.”

On July 9, authorities arrested Drahos and charged him with aggravated murder.

“Questions about the disappearance of Tammy Dubuisson remained unanswered for over a month,” Cuyahoga County District Attorney Michael O’Malley said in a statement. “With this indictment, our office begins to piece together the events of that tragic day, and we take the first step toward seeking justice for Tammy and her family. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”

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