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Mother arrested in Arcadia after child’s body is discovered
Dejaune L. Anderson, the mother of a 5-year-old boy found dead in a suitcase nearly two years ago in Indiana, has been arrested in Arcadia on charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice, Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls confirmed Thursday.
Anderson’s arrest came after a “concerned citizen” tipped off authorities, leading to her detention while attempting to board a train. The specifics of the tip-off were not disclosed by Huls.
The body of 5-year-old Cairo Jordan was discovered on April 16, 2022, by a man hunting for mushrooms in a wooded area of Washington County, Indiana, six months after his death. It was later revealed that Cairo was originally from Atlanta.
An arrest warrant had been issued for Anderson in October 2022, but she had been evading authorities ever since. Investigators from Sellersburg, Ind., came to Southern California over the weekend to continue their investigation and attempt to speak with Anderson.
Anderson is expected to have a court hearing on Monday, and depending on her plea, the extradition process may commence. If she agrees to extradition, officials from Indiana could retrieve her within the next week or two. However, if she contests extradition, the process could be prolonged by at least a month.
According to Huls, Anderson, originally from the Atlanta area, has no ties to Southern California. Her close friend, Dawn Elaine Coleman, had previously been sentenced to 30 years in prison with five years suspended in connection with Cairo’s death. Coleman pleaded guilty to various charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and neglect of a dependent resulting in death.
During the investigation, Coleman disclosed that she witnessed Anderson smothering Cairo by sitting on top of him while he was face-down on a bed. She later helped Anderson dispose of Cairo’s body in a trash bag and suitcase in Washington County. Both Coleman’s and Anderson’s fingerprints were found on the bags containing Cairo’s body inside the suitcase.
An affidavit filed by Indiana State Police detailed Facebook posts made by Anderson referencing exorcism and demonic possession in relation to her son. Meanwhile, Coleman’s posts also hinted at dark forces hiding behind child avatars. The autopsy revealed that Cairo died from an electrolyte imbalance caused by gastroenteritis, leading to dehydration, indicating he had passed away a week prior to the discovery of his body.
News
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters reach an agreement to dismantle encampment
Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have agreed to end their pro-Palestinian encampment following an agreement reached with the school, university officials announced on Sunday. The encampment, which had been in place for two weeks, will be dismantled by Tuesday, marking the end of what was believed to be the last standing encampment at a Wisconsin college.
University officials had allowed the encampment to remain on a patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, opting not to involve law enforcement. This approach differed from the response at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where police were called in to remove tents after negotiations fell through. Despite initial efforts to disband the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison eventually reached an agreement with protesters to voluntarily dismantle the camp prior to commencement ceremonies.
Chancellor Mark Mone of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stated last Wednesday that the university had exhibited “the widest possible amount of patience and restraint.” However, he also cautioned that patience was wearing thin and hinted at potential action by the school. Following discussions with the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition, the university agreed to advocate for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, condemn the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza by Israeli forces, and hold meetings with protest leaders regarding university investments.
Additionally, the university pledged to urge the Water Council, a Milwaukee organization of water technology companies, to sever connections with two Israeli government-owned entities, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority. Chancellor Mone serves as the treasurer on the Water Council’s board of directors.
In return for these commitments, the protesters agreed to dismantle the encampment beginning on Sunday and completing the process by Tuesday. They also agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for Sunday. In a statement, the protesters expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined we had obtained all possible benefits from the encampment.”
The resolution of the encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee represents a successful outcome of negotiations between university officials and protesters. By reaching a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties, a peaceful resolution has been achieved, allowing for the encampment to be taken down without incident.