Tavaris Jackson, left, is pictured alongside his defense attorneys, James Maki, middle, and Diane Kay-Hougaboom, right, during the first day of Jackson's murder trial on Tuesday. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

ESCANABA – The murder trial of Tavaris Jackson is officially underway in Delta County’s 47th Circuit Court after a jury was selected Tuesday morning.

Jackson, 35, faces one count of open murder – a felony punishable by up to life in prison – in the death of 22-year-old Harley Corwin.

He also faces one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, a two-year felony; and assault resulting in the death of a fetus, also a felony punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Corwin’s body was discovered in July 2023 at O.B. Fuller Park in Ford River Township.

16 jurors were selected Tuesday morning. Although only 12 will ultimately deliberate and decide Jackson’s fate, four additional jurors were chosen as alternates to ensure the trial can proceed if any juror is unable to serve.

Following jury selection, opening statements began. Jurors heard from both the Michigan Attorney General’s Office and Jackson’s defense team.

Assistant Attorney General Caitlin Kirby delivered the prosecution’s opening statement.

“You’re going to hear throughout this trial from several investigation agencies, and those agencies are the ones who put the pieces of the puzzle in this case together. The evidence is going to show that that picture that that puzzle creates is that Tavaris Jackson took Harley Corwin out to Fuller Park and shot her. He then covered her body with grass and brush and left her and her unborn child to die. He then went about his life, picked up his children and acted like nothing ever happened.”

Kirby told jurors that testimony will show Corwin went to the home of another woman Jackson was dating on July 3, 2023, to present proof that he had been seeing them both simultaneously.

According to Kirby, Jackson later arrived at the home, and Jackson and Corwin argued before leaving separately. At some point later that day, Corwin reportedly met up with Jackson again, got into his vehicle, and the pair drove toward O.B. Fuller Park, where her body was discovered July 8, 2023.

Kirby also told jurors that Corwin had an active assault case pending against Jackson at the time and was pregnant with his child.

Defense attorney Diane Kay-Hougaboom then addressed the jury.

“This is a case where the police departments involved made a very quick decision about who they believed committed this homicide,” Kay-Hougaboom said. “Ms. Corwin’s body was discovered, and before any evidence had been collected, police had made the decision to arrest Mr. Jackson.”

Kay-Hougaboom further argued that the timeline prosecutors will present – placing Jackson at the scene of the crime – is too tight.

Five witnesses testified Tuesday. The first was former Escanaba Public Safety (EPS) Officer Cole Tianen, who initiated Corwin’s missing person investigation on July 7, 2023.

Tianen testified that he attempted to locate Corwin by going to her residence, where he observed mail piling up in the mailbox. No one answered the door, and there were no signs of Corwin or any vehicles at the home.

Knowing Corwin was pregnant, Tianen contacted OSF St. Francis Hospital to determine whether she had been admitted, but she was not there. He also interviewed several individuals as part of the search effort.

A cellphone ping later showed Corwin’s phone was last active approximately half a mile northwest of 624 Ludington Street. Tianen said he did not recall whether he investigated that location at the time.

Tianen further testified that he assisted in impounding a vehicle associated with Jackson that was located July 8, 2023, in the parking lot of Rosy’s Diner in Escanaba.

He also acknowledged that he was later terminated from the department for improperly documenting evidence in cases unrelated to Corwin’s.

Carolyne Corwin, the stepmother of Harley Corwin’s two children, also testified. She described her and her husband’s friendly co-parenting relationship with Harley and explained the circumstances that led her to file a missing person’s report after they were unable to reach Harley in the days before a scheduled child exchange.

Isabelle Martin, identified as Harley’s best friend of several years, also took the stand. She testified that she and Harley shared their locations through the app Life360 at Harley’s request after Harley was attacked in 2023 and began fearing for her safety.

Martin said she provided the Life360 data to EPS Detective Todd Chouinard, and Tianen was made aware of it. It was stated in court that law enforcement never downloaded Martin’s phone data or took her phone into evidence.

Martin testified that Harley’s Life360 location sharing was turned off July 3. She also received a text message from Harley after that point but said it was not worded in a way consistent with how Harley typically texted.

Sunday Quinn then testified. Quinn told jurors that Harley had previously been engaged to her son, though she maintained a relationship with Harley after the couple separated in early 2022. The two remained in regular communication.

Quinn told jurors that Harley posted two photos on Snapchat the week she disappeared – one showing the back of a male walking through brush and another depicting brush with the location “Ford River Township” attached.

Quinn testified that such posts were not typical of Harley’s Snapchat activity and said she did not see any additional posts after that.

The final witness Tuesday was Hunter Royer. Royer testified that Jackson had been dating Royer’s girlfriend’s sister, Bianca Xheka. Royer said he had been asked to fix a plumbing issue at Xheka’s home, during which she requested to use his phone.

Evidence presented in court showed Xheka sent text messages to Jackson from Royer’s phone. Royer further testified that Jackson arrived at the home while he was there and briefly spoke with Xheka.

Jackson’s trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday morning at the Delta County Courthouse.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.