A mother accused of killing her 5-year-old son and concealing his body in a suitcase, allegedly believing he was possessed, was apprehended in California after nearly two years of evading authorities.
DeJuane Anderson was arrested in Arcadia, California, a Los Angeles suburb, on Thursday, March 14, by US Marshals, according to the Indiana State Police.
Mother Arrested After 2 Years for Killing Son
Nearly two years following the discovery of her son Cairo's body in a suitcase along an Indiana highway, Anderson was taken into custody in California, police confirmed.
Anderson had been sought since a warrant was issued in October 2022 for her arrest in connection with Cairo Jordan's death. She is suspected of killing her son at their Louisville-area residence and, with the assistance of another woman, Dawn Elaine Coleman, disposing of his body in a wooded area in rural Washington County.
The remains of Cairo were discovered in a Las Vegas-themed suitcase by a mushroom hunter in April 2022 along a road in rural Washington County.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls stated at a news conference that the arrest warrant issued for Anderson in October 2022 includes charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice.
Another arrest warrant had been issued for Dawn Coleman, who was subsequently apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Anderson, however, remained at large until this recent arrest.
Indiana State Police detectives received crucial information from a concerned citizen that ultimately led to Anderson's arrest in Arcadia, Huls mentioned.
Anderson is currently held in a Los Angeles jail, with plans to extradite her to Indiana to face the aforementioned charges. Coleman, who was implicated in the conspiracy to commit murder, was sentenced to 25 years in prison following her guilty plea in November. An autopsy determined that Cairo's cause of death was dehydration resulting from vomiting and diarrhea.
Cairo was laid to rest in Indiana, with the community honoring him with a funeral and a headstone, Sgt. Huls mentioned, noting the ongoing support and prayers from people for Cairo and his family.
5-Year-Old Boy's Body Found in Suitcase
Indiana State Police (ISP) Sgt. Stephen Wheeles expressed relief at having the main suspect in custody, stating that the investigation into the tragic murder case can now progress, according to Fox 5 Vegas.
The accused mother, who had been evading authorities since April 2022, is currently detained in a California jail awaiting extradition to Indiana.
The body of Jordan, discovered by a mushroom hunter in a vividly colored suitcase bearing the words "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada" on April 16, 2022, took nearly six months to be identified by investigators.
Authorities found Jordan's body clean and dressed, suggesting he was deceased before being placed in the suitcase.
Before the tragic event, Anderson allegedly posted on Facebook, accusing her son of demonic possession and advocating for an exorcism.
Coleman, also on the run, was apprehended in San Francisco in October 2022. She confessed to witnessing Anderson lying atop the child in their Louisville home, with Anderson subsequently asking for assistance in disposing of Jordan's body in a trash bag and then the suitcase. Following the gruesome act, the pair traveled to Washington County, Indiana, to discard the suitcase containing Jordan's remains.
Autopsy results indicated that Jordan died from an electrolyte imbalance, likely caused by vomiting and diarrhea leading to dehydration.
ISP detective Matt Busick, aided by a concerned citizen's tip, tracked Anderson's location to California. Working alongside US Marshalls, Anderson was arrested while attempting to board public transit, with the extradition process expected to take up to 30 days.
Coleman had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and received a 30-year sentence with five years suspended in exchange for her cooperation, including testifying against Anderson during the upcoming trial.
