Five suspects charged with capital murder in the “heinous, cruel, uncivilized” killing of Mahogany Jackson

Charges against five of the suspects in the kidnapping, torture and murder of Mahogany Jackson have been upgraded to murder.

Blair Green, 26, Si'Niya McCall, 24, Teja Lewis, 26, Giovonnie Clapp, 24, and Airana Lashay Robinson, 23, were initially charged with murder and murder of Jackson.

However, on September 13 – after hearing evidence – a Jefferson County grand jury issued arrest warrants for the murder.

“Based on an ongoing review of the facts and the law, we believed it was appropriate to present the cases to the grand jury as capital murder,” Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr said Friday. “This was a despicable, cruel and uncivilized act.”

Brandon Pope, 25, Francis “Ace” Harris, 25, and Jeremiah “Kodak” McDowell, 18, have already been charged with murder in the commission of first-degree kidnapping.

Harris is also charged with murder during a rape/sodomy.

The witness statement indicates that Harris is the suspect who believes he fired the fatal shot.

Jackson's captors recorded much of the ordeal.

Jackson left behind a three-year-old daughter.

“It makes me feel good to see our justice system working on my daughter's behalf,” said Gail Maddox, Jackson's mother, “and I will be at every court hearing to look my daughter's killers in the face while justice is served becomes.” .”

Read full coverage of the case here

The investigation began on Sunday, February 25, when Jackson's family received messages from her informing her that she was being held against her will and asking her to call the police. She also sent her location, her boyfriend's apartment – Lewis.

The messages were sent around 4am but were not seen by the family until just before 8am

Family and police then went to Lewis' apartment, who initially denied Jackson was there but later said she was there but left around 2 a.m

Police and family continued the search and investigation throughout Sunday until Jackson's body was found early Monday on a road in southwest Birmingham known as Dead Man's Road, an illegal dumping site.

Birmingham Homicide Detective Mark Green testified that early in the investigation, a witness came forward with videos, evidence and the location of Jackson's body.

That witness, Det. Green, said he came forward to clear his name after he felt he had been accused on Facebook of being involved in Jackson's disappearance.

Det. Green said Jackson may have stolen a gun from someone and then someone stole it from her again and she was upset. That, he said, may have led to her violent death.

While Jackson was being held against her will, Det. Green has previously testified that she was forced at gunpoint to perform oral sex on suspect Green. She was also stripped, beaten, spat on, kicked and dragged to a vehicle by her hair.

The attacks occurred at two locations – one on McMillon Avenue at Pope's home and the second at Lewis' home at the Serenity Apartments.

The detective also said one of the suspects discovered by looking at Jackson's phone that she had messaged family members saying she was being held hostage and telling them her whereabouts.

Shortly after it was discovered that Harris, Pope and McDowell had left the Serenity Apartments with Jackson.

Pope told police he was driving Harris' Chevrolet Malibu, and Jackson was told they were going to Dead Man's Road to clear trash from Harris' car before taking her home.

Both Pope and McDowell said they – including Jackson – were clearing trash from Harris' vehicle when Harris walked up behind Jackson and shot her in the back of the head.

All suspects remain held in the Jefferson County Jail without bail.