FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The trial has begun for a mother accused of killing one of her twin daughters, severely injuring the other and setting an apartment fire in East Point.
It all started on November 23, 2022, on the eve of Thanksgiving, when crews responded to the blaze at the Brookfield Apartments off Washington Road.
Crews found 4-year-old Arielle Jackson dead and her twin sister in the home severely burned.
The twins' mother, Nicole Ashley Jackson, was nowhere to be found following the devastating fire.
Days later, she was arrested and is now accused of murder, felony malice murder and criminal attempt to commit a felony. She also faces two counts of first-degree cruelty to children.
RELATED: Mother of twin girls arrested in connection to 'catastrophic' deadly East Point apartment fire
Nicole Jackson later confessed to East Point Police to killing her child before the fire started and setting the fire to cover up her daughter's death.
Story continues below gallery.
RELATED: Family, friends remember 4-year-old girl allegedly killed by her mother in East Point arson fire
According to the autopsy report that was performed months later, Arielle Jackson died due to homicidal violence. Her head suffered burn injuries, and a portion of her skull was fractured due to the intense heat. The burns were so severe the medical examiner noted, "both ears are charred and barely recognizable."
Authorities with the Georgia Department of Human Services said the department had a history with the mother on "possible neglect concerns" in 2019. The case was initially closed but was reopened when the family moved to another Georgia county.
Department officials said they didn't believe Arielle Jackson was in "imminent danger" when they closed the case in June 2022.