Suspect charged 14 months after murder

WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) - An arrest has been made in the murder of Jamie Powell a full 14 months after her death.

Karl Cornelius Cotton, Jr., 25, of Benton Harbor has been arraigned on open murder charges as a fourth-time habitual offender.

Powell, 30, was found dead in her home at Old Orchard Apartments in Walker on March 5, 2011. She had been shot multiple times, police said.

In a probable cause affidavit submitted to the court by the investigating officer, it is alleged that Cotton drove from Benton Harbor to the Grand Rapids area with the intention of conducting a drug transaction.

Cotton and another man went to Powell's apartment, where the transaction was expected to take place, the affidavit said. The other man knew Powell. The other man went into the apartment with Powell while Cotton stayed outside in the hallway.

The other man told police that Cotton had a gun, according to the affidavit.

When the drug transaction didn't go as planned, the affidavit detailed, the other man ran from the apartment after telling Powell to lock the door and not open it for anyone.

After leaving the apartment, the other man tried to call Powell several times. Only one of those calls went through.

An autopsy conducted by the Kent County Medical examiner ruled that Powell died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Police believe Cotton was the shooter.

The investigating officer told 24 Hour News 8 that Powell had not committed any crime before her murder.

It was the cooperation of the other man who was at the apartment on the day of the murder that led police to Cotton early on last year.  

Cotton was already on parole and living with his sister in Benton Harbor when he was picked up and brought to Grand Rapids for questioning on June 30, 2011, according to court documents.

During that interview, police asked Cotton about a cell phone number linked to the murder investigation.

Cotton said he didn't recognize the number, but police had already tracked it to forms he had filled out with corrections officers in previous cases.

His lie under oath led to a perjury charge, according to court documents for that case.

Cotton's lawyer argued that Cotton was never told that he was a person of interest in Powell's murder and police used the perjury charge to trick him and keep him in jail.

But a jury didn't buy it and Cotton was found guilty of perjury this past month.

24 Hour News 8 spoke with one of the jurors who said prosecutors had strong evidence against Cotton.

"They had his cell phone pinged on the towers all around Jamie's apartment. They had him on surveillance video at a gas station a couple exits away. They had his fingerprints supposedly in the apartment," the juror, who asked not to be identified, said.

And jurors knew the perjury case was part of a much bigger case, as the Powell family attended court every day.

"Obviously, it was very emotional for them and they all broke down when the jury gave the verdict," said the juror.

The juror said she spoke with the prosecutor after the trial, who admitted Cotton's conviction bought them more time to build a solid murder case.

Cotton has yet to be sentenced on that perjury charge.

All the while, police were building a murder case while he remained in jail.

Police have yet to say what -- if any -- physical evidence they have against Cotton in the murder case.

The previous convictions listed in the affidavit to qualify Cotton as a fourth-time offender were two resisting and obstructing charges in Berrien County and one drug charge out of Berrien County.

If convicted of Powell's murder, Cotton could spend up to life in prison. His preliminary exam is scheduled for May 25.

Authorities said the investigation took so long because many witnesses and people with information were not cooperative.

The Powell family said they would not comment on the arrest on Tuesday.

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At the time of the murder, detectives told 24 Hour News 8 a neighbor spotted someone crawling out of Powell's apartment, and the shooting did not appear to be connected to a robbery.

Walker Police detective Brandyn Heugel told 24 Hour News 8 in October 2011 that investigators had zeroed in on a handful of people believed to be involved in Jamie's murder, including a person of interest.

Powell's family has continued to urge anyone with information about the murder to come forward.

"I think it's gotten harder," said Jennifer Powell on the one-year anniversary of her sister's death. "As every day goes by, you don't have her to talk to."

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Cotton is currently on parole out of Benton Harbor for delivery/manufacture of marijuana and delivery/manufacture of cocaine.

Those drug charges are from 2006 and 2005, respectively. He plead guilty to both of those charges and was sent to prison.

In 2008, Cotton was released from prison on parole. His parole would have expired in February of 2013.

Cotton's criminal record dates back to 2003:

• August 2003: Felony weapons offense (case still open)
• December