Wanted sex offender arrested at the same Cleveland home where missing Tennessee mother found dead

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – U.S. Marshals say a wanted sex offender was arrested early Friday morning at the same home where a missing Tennessee mother was found dead on July 3.

Matthew Hensley, 43, was wanted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department for failing to register his address after a conviction of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

“Today along with Cleveland Police SWAT, Deputy Sheriffs from Cuyahoga County and my Deputy Marshals, we hit that house and we found Hensley in that house hiding in a bench area and a wall and a secret compartment that he had constructed,” said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott

According to the U.S. Marshals, he had additional charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor from an indictment in 2022.

Law enforcement has been searching for Hensley for over two months, according to a release.

Hensley was featured on Cuyahoga’s Most Wanted on Thursday.

The task force said it received numerous tips about Hensley’s whereabouts all across the Cleveland area.

He was found hiding in a cabinet at a home located at 3490 Bosworth Road and taken into custody without incident.

On July 3, Amber Graham, 37, of Spring Hill, Tennessee, was found dead outside at the same address.

Police and fire personnel discovered her body covered in a sheet.

In the Cleveland police report connected to Graham’s death, Hensley is listed as a involved person.

Child found alone at fire station

Graham’s friend told 19 News she had brought her 8-year-old daughter with her on a trip to meet a man she had been communicating with through an online video game.

On July 1, the child walked into a Cleveland fire station alone.

Officials would not confirm the child’s relation to Graham but confirmed an 8-year-old did arrive at the fire station last week.

“They assessed her for any medical issues that she would have. She appeared uninjured, but she had a phone number in her pocket for her grandmother in Tennessee. It’s my understanding. But in that situation, we called police. They called Child Protective Services,” said Lt. Mike Norman of the Cleveland Fire Department.

A friend of the victim’s said the child was Graham’s.

Friends raise alarm

Joshua LaCroix, a friend of Graham’s who lives in Franklin, Tennessee, said Graham had told him and his wife she was planning the trip to Cleveland to meet a man she had connected with through a video game.

During the trip, Graham called LaCroix, saying he heard a man in the background who was angry with her.

“That was the last conversation that me and my wife had with her,” LaCroix said.

When Graham stopped responding, friends and family grew concerned.

“She never misses a shift. No one can reach her. Last thing we know, she was in Cleveland. So like, something’s not right. She’s supposed to be here at work and she’s not,” LaCroix said.

Graham’s family reported her missing to authorities on July 2.

Facebook group helps locate home

LaCroix said he reached out to a Cleveland Facebook page for help tracking down Graham. Members of the group identified a home they believed she may have visited.

“The police were able to get to the house and, you know, discover what they discovered,” LaCroix said.

LaCroix described Graham as someone who cared for others.

“She’s just a genuine person. And she’s a good person. She’s the kind of person who will care for you without much reason to do so,” he said.

Investigation ongoing

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner is investigating Graham’s cause of death. No arrests or charges have been made.

Cleveland police said they are awaiting the medical examiner’s ruling before potentially opening a criminal investigation.