Mom of boy found stuffed inside 'Welcome to Las Vegas' suitcase tells judge she's been tracked by Space Force in wild-eyed first court appearance after two years on the run

A woman charged in the death of her five-year-old son whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase has appeared before a judge for the first time since her arrest.

Dejaune Anderson, 38, made several wild claims during the Tuesday appearance in southern Indiana, including that she was a sovereign citizen, is part of several other investigations, and is, in fact, a princess.

The claims - which include that she's being tracked by the US Space Force -  raise doubts whether she can stand trial.

She was cuffed just two weeks ago, found in California after some two years on the run.

That came after 5-year-old Cairo Jordan was found dead inside a suitcase in woods in rural Washington County, sparking a search for Anderson, who is now charged with murder, neglect of a dependent, and obstruction of justice.

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Dejaune Anderson, 38, made the wild claims in southern Indiana court Tuesday, asserting that she was a sovereign citizen, is part of several other investigations, and is, in fact, a princess

The appearance, her first, comes two years after 5-year-old Cairo Jordan (pictured) was found dead inside a suitcase in woods in rural Washington County, sparking a search for Anderson

 Still, on Tuesday, she insisted on representing herself.

'You're known as Dejaune Anderson,' said Washington County Judge Larry Medlock, before warning the woman that representing herself could 

'I'm representing the entity of Dejaune Anderson,' she replied, wide-eyed and smiling.

'My name is Princess Khalfia Atonte Pape the second representing the entity Dejuan Anderson.' 

The jurist went on to ask her if her decision was because she couldn't afford a lawyer, to which she responded she could

'It's not that I can't afford a lawyer,' she said during what amounted to a 15-minute hearing. 'I understand the nature of my case, and I understand this is my life on the line.' 

Asked for her date of birth, Anderson claimed to be over 60, telling the jurist: 'My date of birth is February 2nd 1961.'

'That would make you how old?' Medlock asked.

'That would make me 63 years old,' Anderson replied, providing the accurate figure.  

When asked for the the last four digits of her social security number, Anderson said she didn't have one - another erroneous claim.

The claims - which include that she's being tracked by the US Space Force - raise doubts whether she can stand trial

Washington County Judge Larry Medlock ultimately decided to hold Anderson in a Washington County jail without bond - a decision that upheld prosecutors' previous demands

As he delivered that decision, he appeared to offer a slight dig at the accused, telling her, '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'

Anderson is accused of packing her son's body into this suitcase before dumping it in a wooded area in Indiana

Instead, she she recited a United Nations declaration - before again asking to represent herself in upcoming proceedings.

'I do not have a social security number,' she said. 'I have a declaration of nationality.'

She then claimed a Space Force military detail has been following her every move - an assertion offered in the form of a formal objection.

'The basis of my objection is the fact that I am not a fugitive,' she said, explaining why she had just interrupted the proceedings.

'I've been under NSA surveillance for the past eight months. 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?'

Before she could finish, a visibly fed-up  Medlock cut her off - before explaining how 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. 

Anderson was arrested Thursday in Arcadia, California - outside Los Angeles - on the two-year-old murder warrant

An autopsy revealed that the young boy died from an electrolyte imbalance caused by dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea, a week before his body was found crammed in a suitcase

'Because if you conduct yourself like this and make these types of objections, you have no chance in the world, lady.' 

By the end of the 15 minutes, Medlock appeared to have had enough. 

He ultimately decided to hold Anderson in a Washington County jail without bond - upholding prosecutors' previous demands. 

As he delivered that decision, he appeared to offer a slight dig at the accused, telling her, '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,'

Before she could be taken out of the courtroom, though, he stopped her and ordered a public defender be assigned to her case - insisting it was just in case she fails to demonstrate the cognizance to be her own 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,' he said. 

'[B]ut I think it's appropriate that someone from the public defender's office be assigned at this time.'

Anderson was arrested Thursday in Arcadia, California - a city outside Los Angeles - on a murder warrant.

Police said ISP received information from a 'concerned citizen' that led to her arrest, during which US Marshalls identified Anderson as she was boarding a public transit train.

Her son Cairo was found stuffed inside a 'Welcome to Las Vegas' suitcase almost two years earlier, on April 1, 2022.

Before her son's death, Anderson contacted a priest, claiming that her son was '100 years old' and had launched 'death attacks' against her

The body was found inside trash bags, stuffed inside a suitcase, and dumped in woods, eventually leading cops to Anderson's accomplice Dawn Coleman, 41, who in November received a sentence of 30 years, with five years of suspended probation.

She was charged with aiding, inducing or causing murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice. 

 Both women posted extensively to social media referencing demons and exorcism, with Anderson even reaching out to Fr. Vincent Lampert, priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, to tell him that her son was possessed. 

'I have survived the death attacks from my 5-year-old throughout the 5 years he has been alive,' she wrote in a tweet.

'I have been able to weaken his powers through our blood. I have his real name and he is 100 years old. Need assistance.'

As part of a plea deal, Coleman - who billed herself as a spiritual healer on social media by the name of 'Mama Gawd'  - admitted to walking into a bedroom of Anderson's home where she witnessed the mom lying on top of her son, who was face down on the bed with his face into the mattress, cops said.

Coleman told police 'it was already done,' when she walked in, and that Anderson had only asked her to help put Cairo in a trash bag and then into the suitcase.

Cops have already cuffed and charged accomplice Dawn Coleman, 40, who helped pack up the child's corpse. She billed herself as a spiritual healer on social media by the name of 'Mama Gawd'

'You packaged Cairo like trash,' Judge Larry Medlock said. 'He was an innocent little boy who wanted to be loved'

Prosecutors said the two women then drove to an area outside of Pekin, and dumped the suitcase roughly a week before it was found by a local mushroom hunter. 

An autopsy found that Cairo died from vomiting and diarrhea that led to his dehydration, ISP said, confirming the boy had died about a week or less before the hunter discovered his body.

Appearing in the same Washington Circuit Court in Salem, Indiana Anderson was extradited, Coleman pleaded guilty as part of a bargaining agreement.

'You packaged Cairo like trash,' Judge Larry Medlock said. 'He was an innocent little boy who wanted to be loved.'

'Sovereign citizens' - the defense Anderson on Tuesday turned to - do not believe they are bound by federal or state law, or have to comply with any type of law enforcement. 

Many often do not believe that they are required to pay taxes either. The FBI considers the group to be an extremist organization. 

Well-known members include Terry Nichols, the Oklahoma City bomber, while unproven proponents include the grandfather who fought Pittsburgh police over his impending house eviction with a six-hour gun battle this past August,

A police source named the man as William Bill Hardison, 63, who he said was both a veteran and 'Sovereign Citizen'.

The man died, and relatives said the house on Broad Street in Garfield had been owned by his recently deceased brother

He was said to have been well stocked with firearms and ammunition, which led to up to 100 rounds being exchanged between him and law enforcement. 

His son, who is also named William Hardison, was at the scene and pleaded with his father to end the standoff.

'Dad, please surrender. Please give up,' he said. 'You have children and grandchildren that love you dearly. Please stand down.'

A woman identifying herself as the man's sister added: 'He's a good man, he's just lost his brother and he was in the service.'