Mother of 5-year-old found dead in suitcase will return to Indiana to face charges

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The mother of the 5-year-old boy found dead in a suitcase will return to Indiana to face charges.

Cairo Ammar Jordan's body was found in a suitcase in the woods in Washington County, Indiana, in April 2022 by a mushroom hunter.

His mother, Dejaune Anderson, was arrested Thursday, March 14, in Arcadia, California — outside Los Angeles — on a murder warrant after nearly two years on the run.

Anderson made her first court appearance on Monday where she waived extradition, according to Sgt. Carey Huls with Indiana State Police.

"It's just a heart-wrenching story and, you know, it's just, if you have a heart, you know, you just feel for him and his family so much," said Huls. "It, again, it hits close to home, especially for those who have children. But the community definitely wrapped around him and was there for him as much as they could be, obviously, and everybody's looking forward to have this trial and to continue on the process to bring justice in this case."

During Monday's hearing, the judge set April 5 as the date Anderson has to return to Indiana.

In November 2023, a Louisiana woman was convicted in connection to the death of the 5-year-old. Dawn Coleman, 41, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with five years suspended to probation. But Anderson was on the run for nearly two years until her arrest last week.

An autopsy found that Cairo died from vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration, ISP said. Investigators said the boy had died about a week or less before the mushroom hunter discovered his body.

Although Jordan wasn't from the area, the case is being followed closely by the citizens of the community where he was found.

Anderson is charged with murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice.

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