Mother of Boy Found in Suitcase in Salem Arrested

She was located in California

Sellersburg - Friday, March 15, 2024:  Detectives with the Indiana State Police announce the arrest of Dejaune Anderson, mother of Cairo Jordan, in connection with murder investigation.

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, U.S. Marshalls located and arrested Dejuane L. Anderson in Arcadia, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.  Authorities arrested Anderson on a warrant out of Washington County, Indiana.  The warrant, issued in October of 2022, listed the charges as Murder, Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death (Level 1 Felony), and Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony). 

Earlier in the week, Indiana State Police (ISP) detective Matt Busick in Sellersburg received information from a concerned citizen, which led to physically locating Anderson in California.  ISP Detectives then worked seamlessly with U.S. Marshalls in California, who were able to identify and arrest Anderson as she attempted to board a public transit train.

Detectives from the Sellersburg post are currently enroute to California to continue the investigation. 

This investigation began in April of 2022 when a man hunting for mushrooms located a suitcase in a heavily wooded area in rural Washington County.   The suitcase contained the body of 5-year-old Cairo Jordan, who was unidentified at the time of the discovery. 

Original news release listed below: 

ISP Requests Public’s Assistance in Death Investigation of Child

Washington County - The Indiana State Police in Sellersburg are requesting the public's assistance in a death investigation that began on Saturday, April 16, 2022.  

Around 7:30 Saturday evening, while mushroom hunting, an area resident found the body of a black male child near a roadway in a heavily wooded area of eastern Washington County. The resident immediately called 911 and the Washington County Sheriff's Department responded. Detectives with the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg were then called to investigate.   

At this time in the investigation, detectives need the public's help in identifying the child. He is described as being a young, black male between the ages of five years old and eight years old. The child is approximately four feet tall and has a slim build and a short haircut. Investigators believe the child's death occurred sometime within the last week.  

Investigators have not released a time or cause of death as an autopsy is pending.  

If anyone has information that could help in the identification of this child, please call Detective Matt Busick with the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg at 1-812-248-4374 or 1-800-872-6743.

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