Sophie Vogelmann/Escanaba Daily Press Tavaris Jackson is led out of Delta County Circuit Court Thursday, after a jury found him guilty of first degree murder and two other charges.

ESCANABA – A jury in Escanaba found Tavaris Jackson guilty on all counts in the 2023 killing of 22-year-old Harley Corwin and her unborn fetus. The verdict was delivered Thursday in the Delta County Circuit Court following a trial that began on March 2 and lasted just over a week. The 12-member jury began deliberations at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and reached its verdict about 24 hours later.

Jackson was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, punishable by a mandatory life without parole; one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, a two-year felony; and one count of assault resulting in the death of a fetus, also punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Prosecutors from the Michigan Attorney General’s Office – Caitlin Kirby and LaDonna Logan – argued that Jackson fatally shot his ex-girlfriend, who was pregnant, and left her body in a wooded area near O.B. Fuller Park in Ford River Township on July 3, 2023.

Corwin’s cause of death was ruled as gunshot wounds to the head, and the manner of death was homicide. The fetus’ cause of death was determined to be intrauterine fetal demise, meaning the fetus no longer had a heartbeat and was not viable inside the uterus.

During the trial, jurors heard days of testimony from investigators, forensic specialists and witnesses who described the events surrounding Corwin’s disappearance and death. Prosecutors also presented physical evidence, aiming to link Jackson to the crime, and phone data they said placed Jackson near the location where Corwin’s body was discovered.

Jackson’s defense team – Diane Kay-Hougaboom and James Maki – argued that the time frame for Jackson to commit the crime without leaving evidence in certain places in his truck was limited. Hougaboom further pointed to the poor quality of the investigation into Jackson, arguing police failed to properly handle evidence and secure Jackson’s home between searches.

Jackson had previously rejected a plea deal in June 2024 that would have required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder and the assault (of a) pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage (and/or) still birth, each as a fourth habitual offender. The deal was offered in exchange for a sentence of 40 to 80 years in prison with credit for time already served.

While the life without parole sentence is mandatory, Jackson will be officially sentenced on June 2.