WASHINGTON COUNTY, INDIANA, Ind. — Editor's Note: Above video is on Anderson's arrest and originally aired on March 15, 2024.
Cairo Jordan's mother, Dejaune Anderson, appeared before a judge in southern Indiana on Tuesday.
Anderson's arraignment comes two years after her 5-year-old son was found dead inside a suitcase dumped in rural Washington County.
She is charged with murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice.
Anderson was arrested in California on March 14 and was extradited back to Indiana on Sunday, March 31, and booked into jail.
What happened in court
Anderson, 38, walked into the courtroom and claimed she was a sovereign citizen and repeatedly denied offers for a court-appointed lawyer.
"I wanna file a motion for self-representation," she said.
Washington County Judge Larry Medlock warned representing herself doesn't insure she has a good lawyer. He then asked if her decision was because she couldn't afford a lawyer.
"It's not that I can't afford a lawyer," she responded. "I understand the nature of my case, and I understand this is my life on the line."
During arguments for bond, Prosecutor Tara Coats Hunt said the judge should take into consideration the nature of the case and that Anderson has been a fugitive for the past two years.
Anderson objected to that argument, to which Medlock asked for her reasoning.
"I have been under NSA surveillance for the past eight months and how can that qualify me as a fugitive on the run when I've also had a detail from Space Force that was following my every move," Anderson claimed
Medlock cut her off saying her argument isn't a valid legal objection.
"If you want to represent yourself you're gonna have to learn the rules of evidence, the rules of procedure," he said. " Because if you conduct yourself like this and make these types of objections, you have no chance in the world, lady."
Medlock said Indiana State Police (ISP) had been in contact with multiple law enforcement agencies while searching for her after Cairo's body was found in 2022. He said none were able to provide a location for her.
He ultimately decided to hold Anderson in a Washington County jail without bond, which is what prosecutors had asked.
"If Space Force comes forward and tells me they're willing to monitor you, we'll take up the issue of bond at a later time," he added.
Before Anderson could be taken out of the courtroom, however, Medlock stopped her and ordered a public defender be assigned to represent Anderson -- in case she fails to demonstrate the understanding of the weight of her decision to waive counsel.
"If she files a written request that demonstrates that she has the ability to understand, comprehend, and represent herself, I may ask them to withdrawal or no longer require their services, but I think it's appropriate that someone from the public defender's office be assigned at this time," he said.
Hunt said it's not uncommon for suspects to push back during their first court appearance.
"I'll let those statements and video speak for themselves," she said. "Every initial hearing could have push back so it's not unusual."
When asked during a news conference after the hearing, ISP Sgt. Carey Huls said he is unaware of any government surveillance for Anderson.
"We're very happy that she's here, and that we can move forward -- I'm confident, personally, that justice will be served in this case," he said. "I just want the courts to have their day."
Anderson will appear in court again for a pre-trial hearing on April 25. A trial date has been set for August 6, 2024.
Community members who've adopted Cairo as one of their own -- even providing him a funeral service and burial in Washington County last year -- showed up to the courtroom in numbers Tuesday.
Some wore shirts with Cairo's face, telling WHAS11 they're confident justice will be served.
Case background
On April 16, 2022, Jeff Meredith was hunting for mushrooms in a wooded area of Washington County, Indiana, when he found a bright, multi-colored “Las Vegas” print suitcase. Inside was the body of 5-year-old Cairo Jordan.
An autopsy report revealed Cairo died from an electrolyte imbalance, likely from complications caused by dehydration.
Two women have been charged in Cairo's death: Dawn Coleman and his mother, Dejaune Anderson.
Coleman was arrested in October of 2023. She took a plea deal last November, pleading guilty to aiding, inducing or causing murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice.
She will spend 25 years in prison with five years of probation but will receive a year-and-a-half credit for time served. As part of the plea agreement, Coleman will need to testify against Anderson in any criminal case related to the death of Jordan.
According to court documents, Coleman told investigators she walked into a bedroom of the trio's Louisville home and found Anderson on top of Cairo.
The boy was face-down on the mattress and court documents claim Coleman told investigators, "it was already done."
Coleman said she helped Anderson put Cairo's body in a hard-sided suitcase with a Las Vegas label before they drove across the Ohio River into Washington County, Indiana, where Coleman dumped the suitcase in the woods.
In a probable cause affidavit released Monday, the lead detective wrote that fingerprint testing of the trash bags found in the suitcase matched Anderson’s.
Anderson was known to frequently post on social media about rituals, magic and "raising her frequency."
In many posts to social media, Anderson wrote about how a 100-year-old demon was living inside her son and how demons were using children as "avatars."
Days before Cairo's body was found, Anderson tried contacting an Indiana priest about doing an exorcism on the young boy.
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