A woman has been arrested by US Marshals for the alleged murder of her 5-year-old son in 2022. According to officials, the child's body was found hidden in a suitcase.
Dejaune Anderson was arrested in Los Angeles County in Arcadia, California. According to a statement released by the Indiana State Police, she was taken into custody while trying to board a train.
The arrest was made based on a warrant issued in Indiana. Anderson is currently facing serious charges, including murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice. These charges are considered to be felonies.
"It's a sombre moment," Sgt. Carey Huls said.
"We did know that this day was going to come, but to have it come at this time and to have her in custody, I'm just excited (for the detectives). We're all very excited, lifted up and buoyed by the fact that she's behind bars and can be brought back to Indiana so we can continue this trail for justice for Cairo," Huls mentioned adding that detectives were headed to California to continue their investigation.
Anderson was located in California following a tip provided by a concerned citizen, according to investigators. In April 2022, the lifeless body of 5-year-old Cairo Jordan was discovered inside a suitcase in a remote area of southern Indiana, approximately 35 miles northwest of Louisville, Kentucky.
Authorities suspect that the crime took place in Kentucky, with the victim's body later discovered in Indiana. According to state police, an autopsy revealed that Cairo's cause of death was dehydration resulting from vomiting and diarrhea.
In October 2022, another woman named Dawn Coleman was taken into custody. She stands accused of helping Anderson in the disposal of Jordan's body. Coleman has admitted to charges of aiding, inducing or causing murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice.
"A probable cause affidavit states that Coleman admitted to walking into a bedroom of the home where she witnessed Anderson lying on top of the child, who was face down on the bed with his face into the mattress.She said Anderson asked her to help put Cairo in a trash bag and then into the suitcase," Washington County Sheriff's officials previously said in a statement.
Last year, she received a 30-year prison sentence, with five years suspended on probation.
In April 2022, a local resident stumbled upon Cairo's body a week after his supposed demise while out mushroom hunting in a densely forested region.
Over a hundred individuals attended the funeral service for the unidentified Jordan, which was organized by the community of Washington County at the time.
Crown Hill Cemetery was where the boy's remains were laid to rest bearing the words, "In loving memory of a beloved little boy known but to God."
His complete name was engraved onto the headstone after the identification of the body by the police. Huls stated that Jordan continued to live on in the affections of community members long after his passing.
Consistently, neighbors have inquired with authorities for updates ever since the discovery of his remains. "There's still flowers to this day that are placed at his gravesite, (with) people praying for him and his family and that justice will be done," according to Huls.
