A father and daughter in North Carolina were taken into custody last week after DNA testing confirmed that the father had also fathered his daughter’s infant son, according to local authorities.

Back in May 2024, Mackenzie Hicks, who was 18 at the time, approached Erwin police to report that her father, Julius Grant Jackson, had been sexually abusing her since she was 13 years old. Despite the grave allegations, Hicks informed detectives she did not wish to press charges against Jackson, fearing the legal consequences he might face, as reported by The Daily Record.

By September 2024, four months later, Hicks’ biological mother came forward to investigators with the claim that Hicks was pregnant with Jackson’s child. The mother alleged that some of the encounters between her daughter and Jackson might have been consensual. She also mentioned that evidence of these incidents could potentially be found on Jackson’s tablet, according to The Daily Record.

In September 2025, a family friend disclosed to detectives that Jackson was the father of Hicks’ 6-month-old son. This revelation prompted authorities to secure a search warrant to collect DNA samples from both Hicks and Jackson.

Following the confirmation from DNA tests that Jackson was indeed the father of Hicks’ child, Hicks, now 20, and Jackson were arrested on December 18. They were apprehended after attempting to evade police in a car chase. During the arrest, a search of their vehicle reportedly uncovered several firearms, as detailed by The Daily Record.

Hicks was charged with committing felony incest and committing a felony crime against nature. Jackson is facing the same charges, in addition to fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, committing a hit and run, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, resisting a public officer, possessing a fictitious driver license, and failing to stop for a stop sign or flashing red light.

Hicks and Jackson’s bonds were set at $1 million and $1.5 million, respectively. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for January 6.

[Feature Photo:  Erwin police]