CHICAGO (CBS) -- A tragic incident has resulted in the sentencing of a Louisiana woman to 30 years in prison. The woman played a role in the murder of a 5-year-old boy from Atlanta, whose body was discovered in a suitcase in southern Indiana last year.
The body of Cairo Ammar Jordan was found on April 16, 2022, in Washington County, Indiana, near Louisville, Kentucky.
An autopsy conducted by Indiana State Police revealed that the boy died from an electrolyte imbalance, most likely caused by gastroenteritis. This condition, characterized by vomiting and diarrhea leading to dehydration, ultimately resulted in his death. Investigators determined that the boy had passed away within a week prior to the discovery of his body.
The investigation was significantly hindered by the fact that Cairo had never been reported missing, which delayed the identification process for several months. Fortunately, with the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, authorities were able to locate and contact Cairo's father, confirming the boy's identity.
The mother of the victim, Dejaune Ludie Anderson, who resides in Atlanta, is currently wanted on an arrest warrant for murder. In addition, she faces charges of neglect of a dependent and obstruction of justice.
Another individual involved in the case, Dawn Elaine Coleman, a 41-year-old woman from Shreveport, Louisiana, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in relation to Cairo's death. Coleman has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, with five years of that sentence suspended to probation.
According to authorities, Coleman and Anderson were acquainted for approximately a year and had traveled extensively together with her and Cairo. The three individuals had been residing in a house in Louisville.
During the investigation, detectives discovered the fingerprints of both Coleman and Anderson on black plastic bags that had been used to enclose the boy's body inside a suitcase.
Police reports indicate that Coleman confessed to entering a bedroom in their shared residence in Louisville, where she witnessed Anderson on top of Cairo, who was lying face down on the bed. Coleman stated that when she walked in, the act had already taken place, and Anderson requested her assistance in placing Cairo inside a trash bag and subsequently into the suitcase.
Subsequently, they transported Cairo's body to a wooded area in Washington County, located outside of Pekin, where they disposed of the suitcase. In April 2022, a man searching for mushrooms stumbled upon the suitcase.
In October 2022, Coleman was apprehended in California after authorities identified Cairo and linked Coleman to his death.
As of Tuesday, Anderson remains at large.
