Cases against 2 suspects in murder of Mahogany Jackson sent to grand jury

Felony murder charges against two of the suspects in the kidnapping, torture and killing of Mahogany Jackson will move on to the grand jury for indictment consideration.

Jefferson County District Judge William Bell on Monday bound over the cases of Blair Green, 25, and Si’Niya McCall, 23.

McCall and Green were set to appear in court Monday morning but waived their right to a preliminary hearing.

Brandon Pope, 24, Francis “Ace” Harris, 25, and Jeremiah “Kodak” McDowell, 18, are charged with capital murder during a first-degree kidnapping. Harris is also charged with capital murder during a rape/sodomy.

Testimony indicated Harris is the suspect believes to have fired the fatal shot. Jackson’s captors recorded much of the ordeal.

Green, McCall, Teja Lewis, 26, Giovannie Clapp, 23, and Ariana Lashay Robinson, 23 are charged with felony murder.

All eight of the suspects have now had their charges sent to the grand jury.

Lewis is also charged with second-degree assault for allegedly pistol-whipping Jacks, and Clapp is charged with third-degree assault, which is a misdemeanor.

Jackson left behind a 3-year-old daughter.

Family and friends gathered for a vigil at a Birmingham apartment complex where 20-year-old Mahogany Jackson was held before she was tortured, sexually assault and murdered on Feb. 25, 2024.(Carol Robinson)

Read full coverage of the case here

The investigation began Sunday, Feb. 25, when Jackson’s family received messages from her saying she was being held against her will and to call police. She also sent her location, which was the apartment of her friend – Lewis.

The messages were sent about 4 a.m. but not seen by family until shortly before 8 a.m.

Family and police then went to Lewis’s apartment, who initially denied Jackson had been there, but later said she had been there but had left about 2 a.m.

Police and family continued throughout Sunday to search and investigate until Jackson’s body was found early Monday on southwest Birmingham street known as Dead Man’s Road, an illegal trash dumping site.

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

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

Jeremiah McDowell Francis Harris Brandon Pope

Jeremiah McDowell, Francis Harris, and Brandon Pope are charged with capital murder in the murder of 20-year-old Mahogany Jackson.(Birmingham City Jail)

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

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

The attacks happened at two locations – one on McMillon Avenue at the home of Pope and the second at Lewis’s home at Serenity apartments.

Mahogany Jackson

Birmingham police investigate the kidnapping and murder of young Birmingham mother Mahogany Jackson.(Carol Robinson)

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 sending them her location.

It was shortly after that was discovered that Harris, Pope and McDowell left Serenity apartments with Jackson.

Pope told police he was driving Harris’s Chevrolet Malibu and Jackson was told they were going to Dead Man’s Road to clean trash out of Harris’s car before taking her home.

Both Pope and McDowell said they – including Jackson – were cleaning trash out of Harris’s vehicle when Harris walked up behind Jackson and shot her in the back of the head.

All of the suspects remain held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail.