A woman, who is charged in connection with the death of the five-year-old boy found in a suitcase in Indiana this spring, is facing more than 100 years in prison.
Dawn Coleman, who was arrested in October in San Francisco, appeared in court for the first time following police identifying Cairo Jordan as the five-year-old in the suitcase, and Coleman and Cairo’s mother as wanted for his death.
Coleman told officers shortly after her arrest she had followed Dejaune Anderson, Cairo’s mother, around the country for a year and occasionally babysat Cairo. Following Anderson’s release from the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections for a robbery arrest this spring, Coleman walked into a room in a house the three were staying at and found Anderson on top of her son. He was face down on the bed beneath her, and Coleman told police it was already done.
Trash bags were already in the room, and Anderson asked Coleman to help put Cairo’s body in a bag and then into Coleman’s Las Vegas suitcase. Anderson put the suitcase in the car they drove and Coleman dumped the suitcase holding Cairo in the woods where it was found days later.
Washington Circuit Court Judge Larry Medlock set Coleman’s bond at $5 million.
Prosecutors surprised Coleman by adding an aiding murder charge to her case. In court, Coleman began shaking as the new charge was read. Tears streamed down her face as Medlock read the potential sentences, up to 40 years for neglect of a dependent causing death and up to 65 years for aiding murder. A 40-year-old, Coleman could spend the rest of her life in prison.
Meanwhile police are still searching for Anderson.
Coleman has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have asked Medlock to hold her without bond. He will review that motion in December at her next hearing. A trial has been set for May.
Source: WAVE
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