Seeking Justice: Family wants answers in East Cleveland woman’s unsolved murder

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - This month marks four years without answers in the unsolved murder of a young mother in East Cleveland.

But her family is not giving up hope.

19 Investigates is looking into her case.

At just 25 years old, Osceana Pierce lost her life trying to save her child.

On February 8, 2021, she was a passenger in a car with her boyfriend, his brother and her 4-year-old son Quintin.

They had stopped at a light at Hayden and Superior in East Cleveland when someone started shooting at their car.

“Everything hurt. This is a pain I wouldn’t wish on nobody,” said her dad Richard Pierce.

The family said gunshots hit all three adults in the car.

Osceana’s mom said her daughter used her body to shield her son.

She said he was grazed by bullets in the chest and the head, but he survived.

Osceana died at the hospital.

“You took a special person away from us. A very, very special person away from us,” said Shannon Pierce, Osceana’s mom.

The years have passed by without answers for her parents.

“It seems like yesterday, it seems like I just got that call,” her dad said.

Her parents said detectives haven’t told them much about this case and they’re frustrated they’re not getting answers.

This at a time when the East Cleveland Police force has been cut in half by corruption charges.

“We never get no phone calls at all,” Shannon Pierce said.

“They just pretty much just throw it up under the rug. Like it don’t mean nothing at all,” she said.

Osceana graduated from Cleveland Central Catholic High School.

Her parents said she was quiet, loved shopping and watching SpongeBob with her son.

Now he’s growing up, without her.

“Just want to solve her case, that’s all,” Shannon Pierce said.

“I just want justice for her. Nothing more, just justice,” said Richard Pierce.

The acting chief with East Cleveland Police told 19 Investigates this is still an active investigation and he hopes running this story will bring them new information to help solve the case.

If you have any information, you can call East Cleveland Police at 216-451-1234.

Need an investigation? Contact 19 Investigates with your request.