Police still searching for mother accused of killing 5-year-old son, leaving him in suitcase in southern Indiana

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It's been a year-and-a-half since a 5-year-old boy was found dead stuffed in a suitcase in rural Washington County, Indiana.

Cairo Jordan would have turned 7 years old this week. His mother, Dejuane Anderson, is accused of killing him, but she's still on the run.

On Wednesday, there were happy birthday balloons near his headstone as people in Salem still rally around him and hope for justice.

The headstone for 5-year-old Cairo Jordan, who was found dead in a suitcase in Washington County, Indiana, on April 16, 2022. (WDRB/File)

Yvonne Casey and her mother Janet Irk found out about Jordan on April 16, 2022.

"It hurts just the same as the day we found out about it," Casey said. "Evil monsters is all I can say."

It took months for Jordan to be identified after his body was found.

Casey and Irk, both from Salem, said they adopted Cairo not knowing where he came from or who he was at first.

"Once we knew who he was that was heartbreaking but happy too, because we knew he had a family out there looking for him," Casey said.

The Salem women made T-shirts for Jordan, held vigils and gathered to give him a proper burial. Casey is still in contact with Jordan's father. She talked to him this week, saying a birthday is a tough reminder that his son is gone, and the killer is still on the loose.

"He wanted to say that he loved and missed him very, very much and that he wants justice for his son," Casey said.

Indiana State Police arrested Dawn Coleman last October. She now faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder, neglect and obstruction of justice.

Police believe Anderson is somewhere in California.

"I just don't see how people can be so evil in this crazy world we're living in," Casey said. "I mean, children are innocent and they don't deserve any kind of treatment like that."

Coleman is expected to be in court Thursday.

Below is a timeline of events in the case:

April 16, 2022: Police said a man who was mushroom-hunting found the body of a boy in a wooded secluded area in Washington County that evening about 80 feet off a rural road near New Pekin, Indiana.
April 17, 2022: Police released information in the case and asked for help identifying the child or his parents.
April 18, 2022: Indiana State Police announced a dedicated tip line for information: 1-888-437-6432.
April 19, 2022: Police released that the 5-year-old's body was found inside a suitcase, hoping someone would recognize it. The suitcase was in good condition with Las Vegas logos wrapped around it.
April 24, 2022: People living in New Pekin came together for a vigil to show their support, hoping and praying his case will be solved.
May 28, 2022: Police said the child died from an electrolyte imbalance, most likely due vomiting and diarrhea, leading to dehydration. Police said he was found clean and clothed, and there was no indication he was placed in the suitcase alive.
June 1, 2022: Donations helped pay for this funeral at Crown Hill Cemetery, where the child was buried.
October 26, 2022: ISP announces arrest and suspect in the case.

Anderson is not from the Kentuckiana area and police say the trio was "passing through" when Cairo's body was dumped. Detectives describe Anderson as 5'5", 135 pounds and from Atlanta.

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