On February 24, 2023, 38-year-old Tieasha Oliver, a Black female, and her 22-year-old son, Jaquan West, were tragically found deceased inside their Battle Creek, Michigan, apartment at Minges Creek Place. The discovery was made by a relative who, after being unable to contact them, went to the residence and found them, prompting a 911 call. Responding officers from the Battle Creek Police Department confirmed the two had been victims of a homicide.
Tieasha was described by her family as a loving and fun person who enjoyed dancing and eating and was always ready to help those she loved. She had four other children and had been excited about her new apartment, which she had moved into in October 2022.
The investigation into the double homicide led authorities to a family member. Three months later, in May 2023, police arrested Tieasha's 19-year-old nephew, Juqaveon Oliver, who had been living with his aunt and cousin at the time of their deaths. Evidence connecting him to the crime included an empty 9mm handgun box found in a closet in the apartment. Juqaveon Oliver was subsequently charged with two counts of open murder and two counts of a felony firearm. He was arraigned in Calhoun County District Court and held without bond.
The trial for Juqaveon Oliver commenced in September 2024. After the proceedings, a jury found him guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder, and felony firearm charges. While the exact motive for the killings was never made clear, one of Tieasha's sisters suggested that jealousy over his aunt's relationship with her son might have been a factor. In November 2024, Juqaveon Oliver was sentenced to a mandatory life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole. However, due to a recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling that deemed mandatory life sentences for 19 and 20-year-olds unconstitutional, he may be eligible for resentencing. The Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office has filed a motion to maintain the original sentence, but the final decision will rest with a judge.
