By: Shallon S. Gonlor |
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — Jacqueline Jackson, a 33-year-old baby mother is detained at Sanniquellie Central Prison over allegations that she was involved in the gang rape of a 13-year-old child under her guardianship. Jacqueline’s newborn baby is currently receiving care at the Sanniquellie ‘Safe Home’, a facility operated by Liberia’s Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
The ‘Safe Home’ provides a secure and supportive environment for vulnerable infants, offering medical attention and nurturing services to those in need.
The crime, reportedly committed by 36-year-old Alexander Kollie, the buddy of Jacqueline’s boyfriend, occurred at her house on October 11, 2025, in Peace Community, Ganta, Nimba County. Kollie has admitted to the crime awaiting the court’s sentence, while Jackson faces a second trial after a hung jury verdict in her first trial. Jacqueline has maintained that she is not connected to the October 11, 2025, crime.
She stated that the 13-year-old girl lived with her for two years, receiving mentorship from her as a guardian since her biological mother, Shirley Jackson, could not stay home due to business trip. “I have been taking care of her all through,” she said. Regarding the October 11, 2025, incident, Jacqueline stated she was at home with her newborn when her boyfriend Marcus, and his friend Alexander Kollie visited. Jacqueline Jackson, the 33-year-old guardian, testified that Alexander Kollie, 36, would often sleep at her house when he had strangers with him. On the evening of October 11, 2025, Kollie and Marcus, her boyfriend, visited her home.
“Marcus told me and N.B. (the survivor) that we should sleep in my room and Alexander would sleep in N.B.’s mother’s room,” Jacqueline said. At around 5:00 AM, Jacqueline explained that she woke up and noticed N.B. was not in bed. She went to the living room and saw the front door wildly open. “I saw Alexander Kollie leaving the house,” she said. Her landlady, Rita Pertean asked where Kollie had slept, and Jacqueline replied that he had slept in Shirley’s room.
According to her, when she entered Shirley’s room, she found N.B. (the survivor) lying down. “I asked her why Alex came to sleep in the room and you did not go to sleep with me,” Jacqueline said. N.B. responded that Kollie had not done anything to her and that he had slept on the bed while she slept on the floor in the same room. Jacqueline Jackson, a young baby mother further testified that she immediately reported the incident to her boyfriend, Marcus, via phone call after discovering N.B. sleeping in the same room with Alexander Kollie.
“I took my phone and called Marcus because he had gone out of town and I reported the case to him,” she said. According to Jacqueline, N.B. did not show any signs of illness or discomfort until October 21, 2025, when a shocking revelation was made to her. A 12-year-old witness, and friend to the survivor informed Jacqueline about the alleged rape. “While I was dishing up food, Odell told me that N.B. had confided in her that Alexander had raped her on the night he slept in the house,” Jacqueline said. Odell told her that N.B. had been too scared to speak up because Alexander had threatened to kill her if she told anyone.
Jacqueline Jackson said the survivor, N.B., ran to her mother’s friend, after the incident, leading to her arrest by the police. In defense of Jacqueline’s innocence, Alexander Kollie defended Jacqueline Jackson, admitting he had a sexual relationship with N.B. and claiming N.B.’s mother knew about it. Kollie stated, “Jacqueline Jackson is innocent. She was never in the know of what was going on.” He cited the friendly relationship between him, N.B., and Shirley as a reason to believe Jacqueline is unaware. 13-year-old survivor (N.B.), testified that she knew defendant Alexander Kollie through her uncle Marcus.
She stated that Kollie frequently visited their house and would give her money for school recess. The victim testified that Kollie had asked her to do his laundry and, on one occasion, expressed romantic interest in her, which led her to stop visiting his house. She recounted that on Saturday, October 11, 2025, her uncle Marcus and Kollie visited their house. Her uncle lodged Kollie in his room and asked her and co-defendant Jacqueline Jackson to sleep in her mother, Shirley’s room.
The survivor stated: ‘I was sleepy and wanted to go to bed. I asked Auntie Jacqueline, if we could go to bed, but she said she was still sitting outside. I went to bed in my mother’s room, leaving the door open for Aunty Jacqueline. When I woke up at midnight, I only saw Uncle Alex in my mother’s room. He raped me, and there was blood on my mother’s bed sheet. In the morning, I told Aunty Jacqueline, but she told me to wash it and not tell anyone.”
The medical report revealed that the victim’s lab results showed evidence of a hymen tear with penetration by a penis, healing and abrasion at the 9 o’clock and 12 o’clock positions, and vagina dilation, indicating that rape had occurred. On Saturday, October 11, 2025, late evening hours in Peace Community, Ganta City, Nimba County, Defendant Alexander Kollie allegedly persuaded and violently grabbed survivor (N.B.), a 13-year-old, and forcibly removed her clothes and had sexual intercourse with her in her mother’s bedroom.
The Liberia National Police Women and Children Protection Section in Ganta, Nimba County preliminary investigation established that Co-defendant Jacqueline Jackson masterminded and planned said wicked incident, ushering Defendant Alexander Kollie into a room to carry on the act against the survivor (N.B.). The Grand Inquest for Nimba County indicted Jacqueline Jackson and Alexander Kollie for gang rape, a first-degree felony under Liberian law (4LCLR, Title 26, Chapter 14, Subsection 14.70).
Gang rape is punishable under the New Penal Law of Liberia. The indictment, issued during the November 2025 Term of Court, alleged that the defendants purposely promoted or facilitated the gang raping of the victim. The Sexual Offenses Division Court resumed proceedings in the trial case on the 20th day of sitting of the February 2026 Term of Court. Defendants Jacqueline Jackson and Alexander Kollie were arraigned, and 12 jurors were empaneled.
The defendants pleaded not guilty, opting for a trial. The prosecution, led by the County Attorney of Nimba County, presented seven witnesses, including one rebuttal witness. Evidence presented included the survivor’s statement, medical reports, witness statements, a police charge sheet, crime scene photos, and F.O.C. (victim’s clothes).
Jurors in the trial on Thursday, March 12, 2026 delivered a split verdict in the case of tge two individuals accused in the gang rape of the 13-year-old girl, finding one defendant guilty while failing to reach aunanimous decision on the other. During the 26th days of jury deliberation for February 2026 Term of Court, the jurors returned a unanimous guilty verdict against Alexander Kollie, a 36-vear-old male. However, they were unable to reach a consensus regarding co-defendant Jacqueline Jackson, resulting in a hung verdict and mandating a retrial for Jacqueline.
The mixed ruling was handed down at the Sexual Offenses Division Court in Sanniquellie. Jacqueline Jackson, 33, a mother and former guardian of the 13-year-old girl, is set for a second trial for the May 2026 Term of Court on gang rape charges. The case highlights a disturbing breach of trust, with the victim testifying against Jackson and Kollie.
