Executive Summary
- Dejaune Anderson has been indicted in Louisville for the murder of her 5-year-old son, Cairo Jordan.
- Prosecutors transferred the case from Indiana to Kentucky to ensure a strong legal foundation and avoid appellate technicalities.
- Anderson faces charges of murder, manslaughter, and abuse of a corpse, with bond set at $500,000.
- Accomplice Dawn Coleman was previously sentenced to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder.
A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Dejaune Anderson on Sunday in connection with the 2022 death of her 5-year-old son, Cairo Jordan, marking a significant jurisdictional shift in the high-profile case. According to Jefferson County District Court records, the 40-year-old Atlanta woman faces charges of murder, manslaughter, criminal abuse involving a child 12 or younger, and abuse of a corpse, with her cash bond set at $500,000.
The case was transferred from Washington County, Indiana, to Louisville, Kentucky, following a strategic decision by prosecutors. Washington County Prosecutor Tara Hunt stated in a public announcement on Monday that she requested the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney review the investigation to ensure the “strongest legal foundation.” Hunt noted that while Washington County was prepared to prosecute, moving the jurisdiction helps prevent “any future appellate ruling from overturning a conviction due to a technicality.”
The investigation began in 2022 when a mushroom hunter discovered the body of 5-year-old Jordan inside a suitcase in a heavily wooded area of Washington County, approximately 25 miles northwest of Louisville. The Indiana State Police led the initial inquiry, which resulted in Anderson’s arrest in 2024. In a related proceeding, Dawn Coleman, identified as a friend of Anderson, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in 2023 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
The prosecution will now be managed by Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina Whethers and her office. Anderson is scheduled for her next court appearance on December 15.
Jurisdictional Strategy and Legal Proceedings
The transfer of this case across state lines represents a calculated procedural move designed to mitigate risks associated with venue-based appeals. By shifting the trial to Louisville, prosecutors aim to eliminate potential technical defenses regarding jurisdiction, thereby solidifying the procedural integrity of any future verdict. As the case proceeds under new leadership in Jefferson County, the focus will likely shift to pre-trial motions and evidence admissibility. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
