LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The woman charged in the death of a 5-year-old boy whose body was found in a suitcase in southern Indiana a year-and-a-half ago has pleaded guilty.
Dawn Coleman will be sentenced later this month. She faced several charges. In the plea agreement, Coleman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder.
Cairo Jordan's body was found in the woods in Washington County, Indiana, in April 2022. Coleman was arrested months later.
An arrest warrant was issued for Dejaune Anderson, Jordan's mother, but she is still on the run. Police believe she may be somewhere in the western part of the United States.
According to Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls, the search for Anderson continues.
"I can assure the public that investigators and detectives are doing everything they can and things are happening with that case you know, on a daily basis as far as our detectives working in the background and making sure that Cairo gets justice and she's brought into custody," Huls said.
Under the terms of the agreement, Coleman is to "cooperate and give truthful testimony" against Anderson if Anderson is arrested and brought to trial. In the plea agreement, Coleman accepted a sentence of 30 years in prison, with five years suspended. That means she will spend 25 years in prison, according to her attorney.
Final sentencing is set for Nov. 21.
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 said the trio was "passing through" when Jordan's body was dumped. Detectives describe Anderson as 5'5", 135 pounds and from Atlanta.
Jordan would have turned 7 years old in October.
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