ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – WZMQ 19 is continuing to follow the trial of Tavaris Lee Jackson, a Delta County man accused of murdering his pregnant former girlfriend.
In July of 2023, 22-year-old Harley Corwin was found dead in the woods of Ford River Township, near Fuller Park. Jackson was subsequently arrested and faces charges of open murder, felony possession of a firearm, and assault intentionally causing the death of a fetus.
Jackson’s trial, which is expected to last three weeks, began on Tuesday. On Thursday, the prosecution called several police officers and detectives to the witness stand.
Escanaba Public Safety Lieutenant Jeff Erickson was one of the first people on scene when Corwin’s body was located. He described what he saw that day.
“The body appeared to have undergarments on,” he said. “The grass was kind of swept over the top of the body. Then at that time, I made the decision that the [Michigan State Police] Crime Lab needed to be notified.”
State Police forensic scientist Taylor Sharp testified that she responded to the scene the following day. She detailed the extensive investigation she and her team launched upon arrival.
Corwin’s body was reported to have two bullet wounds to the head. Jackson’s defense questioned Sharp about whether any related evidence was found at the scene. According to Sharp, her team’s investigation did not lead to the recovery of any bullets or firearms. Bullets were later found beneath the ground by another agency.
The jury also heard testimony from Michigan State Police Detective Ron Baril, who interviewed Jackson to establish a timeline of Corwin’s disappearance. He said Jackson claimed that after the two left another woman’s apartment, he last saw Corwin asleep in his truck at his home. However, Baril says Jackson’s story changed several times during the course of the interview.
“More details were added,” Baril testified. “The second or third rendition, it was kind of the same story, but when they got to Escanaba, he advised that they stopped at her house first. At one point, I brought up the [Life]360 map and brought that to his attention. Once he was aware of the map… then he remembered being in and around Fuller Park.”
WZMQ 19 will be back in the courtroom on Friday as more witnesses take the stand. For WZMQ 19’s previous report on the trial, click here.
