Left: James G. Drahos (Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office). Right: Tammy Dubuisson (Cleveland Police Department). Inset: The home where Draho allegedly killed Dubuisson (WKYC/YouTube).
A 58-year-old man in Ohio is facing numerous felonies after he allegedly killed his live-in girlfriend, beating her to death at their home and storing her in a garbage can for more than a month before discarding the body in an elementary school dumpster.
A Cuyahoga County grand jury returned a true bill indicting James G. Drahos on one count each of murder, gross abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and domestic violence in the slaying of Tammy Dubuisson, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the county prosecutor’s office, Drahos and Dubuisson between May 15 and June 6, 2024, were believed to have shared a home located near West 139th Street and Sherry Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. But prosecutors say that “on or about” May 23, 2024, the couple were in the driveway of the home when Draho struck her in the head, causing her to fall to the ground.
After striking Dubuisson, Draho allegedly walked back inside of the house, leaving her outside for eight to 10 hours. He did not try and provide Dubuisson with any kind of medical assistance or call 911 for help.
“Dubuisson died from the assault and lack of medical care after striking the ground,” police wrote in a probable cause affidavit.
Drahos went back outside the following day and discovered that Dubuisson was dead, prosecutors said. He then allegedly “double-wrapped her body in construction trash bags and disposed of her in a garbage can outside their residence.”
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 more than a month. On June 6, he is believed to have removed the body and “transported her in a wagon to a nearby elementary school.” He then put Dubuisson’s body into a dumpster behind the school and fled the scene, per the release.
Investigators got a break in the case when Draho and Dubuisson’s daughter went to her parents’ home on July 7. Once there, she located what appeared to be “bone fragments” in the driveway and called 911. The Cleveland Division of Police responded to the scene and collected the fragments from the daughter. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office tested the bone fragments and confirmed that they were “human remains.”
Authorities on July 9 placed Drahos under arrest and charged him with aggravated murder.
“Questions regarding Tammy Dubuisson’s disappearance went unanswered for over a month,” Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said in a statement. “With this indictment, our office is starting to piece together the events that unfolded that tragic day and we are taking the first step to seek justice for Tammy and her family. My thoughts and prayers remain with them throughout this difficult time.”
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