Det. Sgt. Mark Hanson of the Delta County Sheriff's Office, who recently retired, testified in Tavaris Jackson's murder trial Thursday afternoon. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

ESCANABA – The lead detective and other investigators in Harley Corwin’s homicide investigation testified before the jury Thursday in the murder trial of Tavaris Jackson.

Detective Sgt. Mark Hanson of the Delta County Sheriff’s Office, who recently retired, took the witness stand Thursday afternoon. Hanson testified about executing multiple search warrants in the case and collecting evidence.

Hanson said he, along with other law enforcement, conducted two search warrants at Jackson’s home and obtained warrants for cellphones, vehicles, social media data and Life360 data — an app that tracks phone location.

During a search of Jackson’s home on July 9, 2023, a team of law enforcement officers and Prosecutor Lauren Wickman discovered several items that were taken into evidence, including a red basketball jersey, blue jeans, a shovel, cell phones, residency paperwork and a pair of black-and-white sandals, or slides.

Hanson testified that law enforcement had received video from July 3 showing Jackson wearing a red jersey, jeans and slides at Menards and Walmart, which helped guide investigators on what to look for during the search.

Upon cross-examination by Defense Attorney James Maki, Hanson agreed the Michigan State Police (MSP) Crime Lab would have been better suited to methodically search Jackson’s home.

Hanson also stated that while he attempted to recover data from Corwin’s Ring camera at her residence, the data was unavailable for an unknown reason.

The detective further testified he so escorted Corwin’s body to Western Michigan University at the advise of the local medical examiner.

When asked what his understanding was of why the body was being transported downstate, Hanson stated, “Because those are complex cases and [the medical examiner] didn’t feel comfortable doing [the autopsy].”

Other members of law enforcement also testified Thursday, including Detective Ron Baril of the MSP Gladstone Post, who became involved in the case July 8, 2023.

Baril detailed his interview with Jackson. According to Baril, when Jackson was asked whether he knew why he was being interviewed, he “believed he was [being interviewed] for murdering Harley Corwin.”

During the interview, Jackson told investigators he and Corwin drove south on M-35 toward the Cedar River area July 3 while discussing relationship and pregnancy issues, as Corwin was pregnant at the time of her death.

Corwin’s body was eventually found at O.B. Fuller Park in Ford River Township on July 8.

He initially said they stopped at a Holiday gas station but later stated the stop was at The Store Gas Station. Jackson said that after driving southbound, the pair eventually decided to drive back to Escanaba, where Corwin fell asleep in his truck.

Jackson then told Baril that he left Corwin asleep in his truck outside his home and that was the last time he saw her.

During the course of the interview, Jackson also noted that at one point, he said Corwin’s “current boyfriend was parked outside of his house.”

Jackson then stated he went to Walmart and Menards. Baril testified that after reviewing Life360 data, the data showed Corwin’s phone traveling to Walmart and Menards, as well

Baril testified that Jackson’s account changed during the interview.

“More details were added,” said Baril. “The second or third rendition, it was kind of the same story. When [Jackson and Corwin] got to Escanaba, [Jackson’ advised that they stopped at [Corwin’s] house first and then he went to Jackson’s house.”

Investigators also showed Jackson location data from the Life360 app tracking Corwin’s cellphone. Baril testified Jackson did not mention going to Fuller Park before he was confronted with the Life360 data.

After investigators referenced the data, Jackson then said the two had driven to the park and remained in the vehicle for about an hour while discussing their relationship before leaving.

Delta County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Steve Kositzky also testified Thursday that he executed a search warrant at Jackson’s storage unit at Guindon Moving and Storage on July 10, 2023.

While searching a vehicle inside the unit, Kositzky said he collected a pair of gloves as evidence after noticing long black hairs on them.

Kositzky also testified that he was present July 20 when two spent bullets were discovered near the area where Corwin’s body had previously been found near Fuller Park.

According to Kositzky’s testimony, three citizens using metal detectors attended the scene and located the bullets by digging through the sod where the body had been. A firearm was not recovered.

Jackson, 35, faces one count of open murder – a felony punishable by up to life in prison – in the death of his ex-girlfriend, 22-year-old Harley Corwin. Corwin’s body was discovered in July 2023 near O.B. Fuller Park in Ford River Township.

He also faces 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.

—

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