7 face kidnapping, murder, sodomy charges in ‘barbaric, inhumane’ torture of Mahogany Jackson
The 20-year-old mother was found shot to death less than 24 hours after disappearing.
Seven people have been charged in the death of a young Birmingham mother who was held against her will and tortured for hours before she was fatally shot.
Mahogany Jackson, 20, messaged her mother early Sunday, saying, “Send the police apt 3 held hostage don’t call.’’ She also sent her location to her sister.
Her body was found in Monday’s predawn hours under a mattress in an illegal dumping site in the 1700 block of Laurel Avenue in southwest Birmingham. She had been shot at least one time.
Brandon Pope, 24, Francis Harris, 25, and Jeremiah McDowell, 18, are charged with capital murder during a first-degree kidnapping and capital murder during first-degree sodomy.
Giovannie Clapp, 23, and Blair Green, 25, are charged with felony murder- the underlying felony being kidnapping or sodomy- as well as first-degree kidnapping and first-degree sodomy.
Teja Lewis, 26, is charged with felony murder.
Si’Niya McCall, 23, is charged with felony murder, first-degree kidnapping and first degree sodomy.
Lewis and Clapp are also charged with second-degree assault for pistol-whipping Jackson.
At least part of the sexual assault on Jackson was video recorded. Thurmond said that video played a pivotal role in the investigation and the subsequent charges.
Police declined to release details of the crime to shield the family, Chief Scott Thurmond said. Jackson was taken to several different locations during the hours she was held hostage.
The heinous nature of the death was worse than most he had seen in years as a homicide investigator, Thurmond said.
“It was absolutely disgusting,” Thurmond said.
“The actions displayed by these defendants were barbaric and have no place in society,’' said Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr. “The senseless and inhumane treatment perpetuated on young Mahogany Jackson was very disturbing and violent.”
“I truly believe that society has gotten to the point where everybody has a right, but nobody has a responsibility,’' Carr said.
“Our office will do our very best to make sure they are punished and held accountable for such heinous and unimaginable actions,’' he said. “God bless the family of Mahogany.”
Lewis, McCall and McDowell were booked into the Jefferson County Jail between 3 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. The rest were awaiting booking.
The ordeal began early Sunday when family members say Jackson, the mother of a toddler daughter, messaged them.
She said she was being held hostage, and to send police. She shared her location with them on her cell phone.
Jackson’s mother, Gail Maddox, previously told AL.com she was on her way to pick up her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter from the airport in Atlanta when her other daughter called her and said she’d received a disturbing message from Jackson.
Maddox looked at her phone – it was 7:46 a.m. – and she, too, had missed calls through Facebook messenger, but Maddox was on the phone, so she didn’t receive the notification.
“She sent me a text message that said she was being held hostage and sent her location,’’ Maddox said. She told her mom not to call her but to call police.
Family members rushed to that location, as did Birmingham police.
When they arrived at Serenity Apartments, they went to Lewis’s apartment. She told police Jackson had been there, but had left about 2 a.m.
Police were eventually allowed into the apartment and did not find Jackson.
Lewis and Jackson had an ongoing dispute - reportedly about something previously taken from Lewis’s apartment – and that people were looking for Jackson. Fight videos were shared on social media following Jackson’s disappearance.
Officers and detectives worked throughout the day and overnight until Jackson’s body was found about 2:15 a.m. Monday. A witness led police to the body.
Lewis and McCall were taken into custody hours later. Lewis was found hiding in a neighbor’s apartment that she had broken into.
The rest of the suspects were taken into custody over the next 24 hours.
Thurmond said the community played a large role in the swift arrests.
“It’s hurtful to know that seven individuals participate in such violent acts, but this case highlights the strength and the effectiveness of the partnership between the Birmingham Police Department and our community as seven suspects are now behind bars,’' Thurmond said.
Thurmond said he believes all of the suspects have now been charged and are in custody.
