‘I think about her every day’: Mahogany Jackson’s mother speaks one year after tragedy

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - It has been almost one year since 20-year-old Mahogany Jackson was found shot to death at a dumping site. Police say the young mother was kidnapped, brutally beaten, and tortured with much of the abuse recorded and posted to social media. Now, there are eight suspects facing the death penalty in this case.

Gail Maddox, Mahogany’s mother, says she misses her child every day.

“Not a day goes by that she does does not cross my mind,” Maddox shares.

As difficult as it is for her to get out of bed each day, she does it for her other children and to continue the fight for justice for Jackson.

“It was February 25th when she actually called my daughter and sent me a text message. I knew something wasn’t right because if you know Mahogany, she is not the type of person to call and ask for help. For her to send the message that she did, I knew she was in trouble,” Maddox recalls.

Her mother’s intuition was right. She shares what Mahogany said in her message: “I’m being held hostage in apartment three. Don’t call; send the police. Hurry!”

Maddox was out of town picking up her son when she received the message, but she immediately sent family members and police to that location. Sadly, it was not the outcome anyone wanted. Maddox says losing her child and knowing that so many people are accused of participating in the reason she’s not here anymore is devastating.

“I would never think that so many people could hate one individual so badly. My child weighed 105 pounds soaking wet, but eight people—that’s too much. All I can say is I don’t wish this feeling, this hurt, this anger on anybody, not even my worst enemy. I don’t wish this on the mothers of the people who did this to my child. Nobody wins in this situation,” Maddox emphasizes. “Nobody.”

Reflecting on the last year without Mahogany, she describes an indescribable pain that makes it hard for her to keep going.

“It feels like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. There are times when I say, ‘Lord, I can’t do this anymore. I can’t get up; I just can’t do anything.’ Sometimes, I don’t even want to be here. But I think about it: if I don’t speak up for my daughter, no one will. I was all she had when she was here, and I’m all she has right now.”

The suspects in Jackson’s case will be back in court in April, a day before what would have been her 21st birthday.

Next week marks one year since her passing, and the family plans to celebrate with a balloon release. They are asking anyone who would like to show their love and support to get some pink balloons and release them in Jackson’s honor next Tuesday, Feb. 25.

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