LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The mother accused of killing her 5-year-old son and leaving him in a suitcase in a wooded area of southern Indiana is fit to stand trial, psychologists said Wednesday.
Judge Larry Medlock ordered doctors to perform mental evaluations on Dejaune Anderson nearly 10 months ago to determine her competency to stand trial.
Anderson is facing charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice in the death of her son, 5-year-old Cairo Jordan, nearly three years ago.
Jordan was found when a mushroom hunter saw the suitcase he was in while scouring the woods in Washington County in 2022.
Police said he died from dehydration, likely about a week or less before he was found.
Two women, including his mother, Anderson, had been named suspects in the case.
Dawn Coleman was sentenced to 30 years in prison with five years suspended to probation after pleading guilty to aiding, inducing or causing murder, neglect resulting in death and obstruction of justice.
Anderson was on the run for nearly two years before she was found and arrested in Arcadia, California.
She didn't appear in court until last April, where she identified herself with a name beginning with “Princess” and said she was “representing the entity” of Anderson.
She also claimed to be under federal surveillance.
"I have been under NSA surveillance for the past eight months, and how can that qualify me as a fugitive on the run when I've also had a detail from Space Force that was following my every move," she said.
Days later, Medlock ordered the psychiatric evaluation.
Anderson has filed several motions to dismiss her case, and asked for a new judge. All of those requests were denied. She was then committed to Logansport State Hospital, a psychiatric facility, in August 2024.
The sheriff said Anderson will be transferred back to the Washington County Detention Center in the near future.
Anderson is expected to be back in court next Thursday, where a trial date should be set.
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