Family offers reward for ‘real' killer of Justin Curcie

Random Jackson’s family is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to Justin Curcie’s killer. In May, a jury of Jackson’s peers determined that Justin Curcie’s killer was Random Jackson and in June he was sentenced to life in prison.

The jury was mistaken, Jackson’s mother, Tammy Jackson said Friday.

“We’re basically doing our own investigation,” she added.

The Gulf County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office determined that Jackson was the killer based on the testimony of several witnesses, including a jailhouse informant, an admitted drug dealer and several young men who were friends of both Jackson and Curcie. Those witnesses said Jackson told them he committed the crime.

However, two of the witnesses said Jackson shot Curcie in the face but forensic evidence indicated that Curcie was shot in the back of the head.

Prosecutors said Jackson killed Curcie because of a drug deal that went bad. They also said Jackson was selling marijuana to Curcie but instead of paying for it Curcie took the pot and drove away. A friend of both men paid Jackson for his stolen product and things seemed to be OK between the two, according to testimony at trial.

Jackson never confessed to police but his face turned red when he talked about the killing, investigators said.

Tammy Jackson said she is not interested in rumors.

“I never in my wildest dreams thought you could convince anybody on hearsay,” she said, adding that what she needs is real evidence that can point to the “real killer.”

Before the trial, the State Attorney’s Office offered Random Jackson a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for up to 15 years. He would not take it, his mother said, because he knew he was innocent. Random told his parents that he would rather risk going to prison for life than to admit he killed a man, go to prison and come out with everyone believing he was guilty, Tammy Jackson said.

“I’m a wreck,” she added. “It’s a nightmare.”

Those who have information that can help the Jackson family are asked to call 639-5800. Tammy Jackson also stressed that she and her husband do not keep the money on them or in the house.

“It’s in a bank account,” Tammy Jackson said.