Man who killed girlfriend found in school trash can, police say

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 Ohio man is facing multiple felonies after allegedly killing his live-in girlfriend, beating her to death in their home and storing her in a trash can for more than a month before dumping the body in an elementary school dumpster.

A Cuyahoga County grand jury returned a true trial indicting James G. Drahos on one count each of murder, aggravated abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and domestic violence in the killing of Tammy Dubuisson, authorities said.

According to a news release from the county attorney’s office, Drahos and Dubuisson allegedly shared a home near West 139th Street and Sherry Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, between May 15 and June 6, 2024. But prosecutors say that “on or about” May 23, 2024, the couple was in the driveway of the home when Draho punched her in the head, knocking her to the ground.

After hitting Dubuisson, Draho allegedly went back inside the house, leaving his wife outside for eight to 10 hours. He allegedly did not attempt to provide Dubuisson with any medical assistance or call 911 for help.

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

The next day, Drahos went outside and discovered Dubuisson was dead, prosecutors said. He then allegedly “wrapped her body in construction trash bags and threw it in a trash 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 say Draho left Dubuisson’s body to decompose in the trash for more than a month. On June 6, he allegedly removed the body and “transported it in a cart to a nearby elementary school.” He then put Dubuisson’s body in a dumpster behind the school and fled the scene, the statement said.

Investigators got a chance to gain insight into the case when Draho and Dubuisson’s daughter went to her parents’ home on July 7. Once there, she found what appeared to be “bone fragments” in the driveway and called 911. The Cleveland Division of Police responded to the scene and recovered the fragments from the girl. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office analyzed the bone fragments and confirmed that they were “human remains.”

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

“Questions surrounding Tammy Dubuisson’s disappearance have gone unanswered for more than a month,” Cuyahoga County District Attorney Michael O’Malley said in a statement. “With this indictment, our office begins to piece together the events that took place on that tragic day and we take the first step toward securing justice for Tammy and her family. My thoughts and prayers are with them throughout this difficult time.”