BERRIEN COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — More than two years after 20-year-old Ja’kesse Middleton was found dead along the side of Highway 122, the first trial in his murder case is officially underway.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents searching for answers in son’s murder

Jury selection began Monday, Sept. 21, for Yas’mine Harris, one of four people indicted in connection with Middleton’s death.

For Mason and Kamisha Middleton, stepping into the courtroom marks the start of a chapter they have long anticipated, but could never fully prepare for.

“I’m looking for answers on why, and for me to move forward... because I miss my son,” Mason, Ja’kesse father, said. “Things I can’t say or do with him. So I’m looking to try to move forward in the process of healing with my life, because I have other kids I have to raise. But from this, the answer is why.”

Middleton’s body was discovered on Feb. 25, 2023, two days after he was reported missing. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, leading to multiple arrests less than two weeks later.

Plea deals and separated trials

In Jan. 2025, WALB learned that two co-defendants, Ernest Smith and Norman Wright, accepted plea agreements in the case.

Court proceedings have since separated the remaining defendants. While Harris faces trial this week, a fifth defendant, Eric Smith, is not scheduled to face a jury until March 2027.

WALB has repeatedly called and emailed District Attorney Chase Studstill requesting comment on the trial schedule and the details of the plea deals, but has received no response.

‘Holding on to his smile’

Despite the emotional toll and the reality of hearing graphic evidence, both Mason and Kamisha say they plan to be present in court every single day of the proceedings.

Kamisha, Ja’kesse’s mother, described the grieving process as an open wound that reopens every time a new legal milestone is reached.

“It’s like when you feel like you’re okay... it’s like a wound you have a band-aid on,” she said. “It’s healing, but then it comes to a point where the band-aid is ripped off and you have to start all over again.”

To stay grounded and cope with the overwhelming environment of a courtroom, Kamisha said she leans into the love her son had for his family.

“I’m holding on to his smile,” she said. “That’s what I’ve chosen to hold on to, to make sure—at least try to keep myself somewhat calm and focused. And just knowing that he, at the end of the day, all he ever wanted was for me to be okay.”

For Mason, holding onto the memory of his firstborn son means making sure the legal system carries out full justice.

“Hold everybody accountable,” he said. “That’s the main thing. Hold them accountable for their actions. That’s what I’m looking for.”

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