CHICAGO (CBS) -- A tragic incident unfolded when the lifeless body of a 5-year-old boy, Cairo Ammar Jordan, was discovered in a suitcase in Washington County, Indiana, near Louisville, Kentucky, on April 16, 2022.
The mother of the young boy, Dejaune Ludie Anderson, 38, hailing from Atlanta, was apprehended by the LAPD in Los Angeles this week. She is currently being held in the Los Angeles Police Department Valley Jail in Van Nuys, California. The specific charges against her have not been disclosed in jail records.
Following Cairo's tragic demise, a postmortem examination revealed that he had succumbed to an electrolyte imbalance, likely triggered by gastroenteritis - a condition characterized by vomiting and diarrhea leading to severe dehydration, as per Indiana State Police. The authorities determined that Cairo had passed away within a week preceding the discovery of his remains.
Law enforcement officials noted that Cairo had never been reported missing, hampering the progress of the investigation, as his identity remained unknown for several months. With the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Indiana authorities were able to establish contact with Cairo's father once the boy's identity was confirmed.
Another individual, Dawn Elaine Coleman from Shreveport, Louisiana, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence in relation to Cairo's passing. Coleman was apprehended in California in October 2022 after authorities connected her to Cairo's death.
Law enforcement mentioned that Coleman and Anderson had been acquainted for approximately a year, traveling extensively together with Cairo. The trio had been cohabiting in a residence in Louisville.
During the investigation, detectives discovered the fingerprints of both Coleman and Anderson on black plastic bags that were used to enclose the boy's remains inside a suitcase.
According to the police, Coleman confessed to entering a bedroom in their shared Louisville home, witnessing Anderson on top of Cairo, who was lying face down on the bed. Coleman stated that "it was already done" when she arrived, and Anderson requested her assistance in placing Cairo into a garbage bag and then into the suitcase.
Subsequently, they transported Cairo's body to a wooded area in Washington County, outside Pekin, where they discarded the suitcase.
During the evening of Saturday, April 16, 2022, a man exploring the woods off Holder Road in southeast Washington County, Indiana stumbled upon a peculiar suitcase. According to Indiana State Police, the suitcase featured an image of the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, known for marking the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip.
Upon notification, state police swiftly arrived at the scene to investigate. The suitcase, along with its contents, was carefully transported to the Washington County, Indiana Coroner's office for further examination. Indiana State Police forensic experts were able to gather fingerprints from the scene for analysis.
