OCT. 26, 2022 UPDATE
WASHINGTON COUNTY — Indiana State Police have identified the 5-year-old boy found in a suitcase in rural Washington County on April 16.
In a press conference Wednesday morning, the child was identified as Cairo Ammar Jordan, 5, Atlanta, Georgia. Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls said the child would have turned 6 this past Monday.
Huls said thousands of tips have come in about the case, although none had related to the case. The identification was made through a variety of investigative techniques including advanced DNA technology, Huls said, including help by federal agencies to assist.
Dawn Coleman, 40, Shreveport, Alabama, was arrested in San Francisco a few days ago on an Indiana warrant for neglect of a dependent causing death, Huls said.
Indiana State Police are continuing an effort to locate Dejaune Ludie Anderson , 37, Atlanta Georgia, on a warrant for murder, Huls said. Anderson has not been located but is believed to have been in Los Angeles, Houston, Las Vegas and San Francisco. The state police is asking for tips in locating Anderson.
The family members of the boy have been notified in Atlanta, Georgia, Huls said.
Huls noted the Washington County community ‘adopted’ the child as its own, conducted a candlelight vigil and conducted a funeral for the child as the investigation continued.
For more on this story, check back here or pick up a Thursday Republic.
ORIGINAL STORY
WASHINGTON COUNTY — Detectives and investigators with the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg received the official autopsy and toxicology report regarding the unidentified child found in a suitcase in rural Washington County on April 16.
The official autopsy report attributes the child’s death to “electrolyte imbalance.” The report also states the imbalance was likely from “a viral gastroenteritis” and says the blood toxicology was “negative.” The report further states there was an “absence of significant traumatic injuries,” advising there was “no anatomical cause of death.”
After the autopsy results were released, detectives also stated they have no evidence which leads them to believe the child was alive when placed into the suitcase, and that the child was clothed and clean. Although the autopsy report states the child is of unknown age, investigators still believe the boy was approximately 5 years old at the time of his death.
Investigators continue to utilize a variety of investigative techniques and have worked with several outside agencies during this investigation. Although numerous tips have been called into the nationwide tip line, detectives have not been able to identify the boy. Investigators are not ruling out the possibility that the child could be from out of state or even out of the country.
The unidentified child is described as a young, black male approximately 5 years old. The child is approximately 4 feet tall and has a slim build and a short haircut. The child’s body was found inside a closed hard case suitcase with a distinctive Las Vegas design on its front and back. The suitcase was located approximately 80 feet off Holder Road in a heavily wooded area of eastern Washington County which is located in southern Indiana.
An area resident found the suitcase with the boy’s body inside while mushroom hunting, state police said. The child was located as the 7000 block of East Holder Road in Washington County.
If anyone has information regarding this case, they are encouraged to call the nationwide toll-free tip line at 1-888-437-6432.
