WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ind. — A Louisiana woman arrested in connection with the death of a 5-year-old boy found abandoned inside a suitcase in rural Washington County, Ind., has been sentenced.

Dawn Coleman, 41, of Shreveport, La., was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years with five years suspended to probation. Coleman entered a plea agreement earlier this month to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

Dawn Coleman is charged in connection with the death of 5-year-old Cairo Jordan, who was found inside a suitcase. (Washington Co. Sheriff)

“This crime impacted not only Washington County, but became a nationwide story,” said Washington County Prosecutor Tara Hunt. “The victim in this case was an innocent child who was barely five years old. It’s always tragic when a child’s life is taken. It’s incomprehensible when those who should be caring for the child are responsible.”

The boy’s identity was a mystery for months, but he was finally identified as Cairo Jordan, the son of Dejuane Anderson of Atlanta.

Indiana State Police are searching for Dejuane Anderson in connection with the death of her son, Cairo, who was found dead inside a suitcase in April 2022. (Louisville Metro Corrections)

Coleman was arrested in Oct. 2022 in California on a warrant issued in Washington County, Ind. after Indiana State Police determined she was involved in the Jordan’s disappearance. The investigation revealed Coleman knew the boy’s mother, and the three stayed together in Louisville. 

In court documents, Coleman admitted to walking into a bedroom and saw Anderson lying on top of Jordan, who was face down on the bed with his face in the mattress. Coleman told police “it was already done” when she walked in. She said Anderson asked her to help put Jordan in a trash bag and then into the suitcase. 

The two then drove to an area outside of Pekin, where they dumped the suitcase in a wooded area.

The suitcase was found by a man searching for mushrooms on April 16, 2022. He opened the “Las Vegas” suitcase and found the little boy’s body.

ISP identified Coleman’s fingerprint on the black plastic bag containing Jordan’s body.

Following her arrest last year, Coleman told police she had known Anderson for about a year and had traveled extensively with Coleman and her son.

Anderson has never been found but police say she will be charged with murder when she is found and arrested.

“We are committed to following this case through until the end,” said Hunt. “None of the law enforcement officers and agencies involved in this sad case will find closure until we have ensured Cairo’s mother is held accountable for her actions. This conviction is only the first step in obtaining justice for Cairo.”

Anderson is presumed innocent “until and unless” proven guilty in a court of law.