A Macomb County jury has convicted Damarion Winston Goler, 33, of second-degree murder in the March 2024 stabbing death of his pregnant girlfriend, Talic Mersina, 31, a killing that also ended the life of her unborn child, prosecutors announced Wednesday. The Sterling Heights murder conviction came after a two-week trial in Macomb County Circuit Court, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
TL;DR: Goler was found guilty on October 16 of second-degree murder, homicide causing the death of an unborn fetus, and tampering with evidence in a homicide case. Prosecutors say he stabbed Mersina near the door of the couple’s Sterling Heights apartment on March 24, 2024. He has been held without bond since his arrest and faces sentencing on December 3, where he could receive life in prison.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
According to the prosecutor’s office, Goler stabbed Mersina several times near the door of the couple’s apartment near 18 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue on March 24, 2024. Sterling Heights officers were sent to the complex around 3 a.m. for a welfare check and found blood in the hallway, but no one inside the apartment.
Later that day, Clinton Township police were called to the area of Harper Avenue and Glenwood Street on a report of a man covered in blood. Officers found Goler and Mersina in her car, parked outside the apartment building where Goler’s mother lived. Goler was arrested at the scene.
Mersina was taken to a hospital, where she and her unborn child were pronounced dead.
The Verdict and the Charges
The jury returned its verdict on Friday, October 16, convicting Goler of three felonies:
- Second-degree murder — punishable in Michigan by life in prison or any term of years, at the judge’s discretion
- Homicide causing the death of an unborn fetus — carrying the same maximum of life or any term of years under Michigan law
- Tampering with evidence in a homicide case — a felony punishable by up to 10 years
Prosecutors had originally pursued the case aggressively. A district court judge had earlier bound Goler over for trial on a first-degree, premeditated murder charge, finding evidence of premeditation and deliberation. Under Michigan law, jurors considering a first-degree charge may also weigh second-degree murder — and the jury ultimately convicted on the lesser degree.
Sentencing Still to Come
Goler has been held without bond in the Macomb County Jail since his arraignment in March 2024. He is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. on Thursday, December 3, by Macomb County Circuit Judge Matthew P. Sabaugh, who will set the actual prison terms under Michigan’s sentencing guidelines.
For the Mersina family, the conviction marks the end of a prosecution that stretched more than two and a half years from the night of the killing to the jury’s verdict.
What the Prosecutor Said
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido issued a statement after the verdict:
“I hope this conviction brings some measure of closure to the victims’ family,” Lucido said. “The defendant has been held accountable for his actions, but no verdict can undo the tragic loss or erase the pain this family has endured.”
At the time of Goler’s arraignment in 2024, Lucido had said: “The defendant allegedly chose to take the life of his pregnant girlfriend, someone who trusted and loved him. Justice demands that he face the consequences of his crimes.”
FAQ
Who was convicted in the Sterling Heights case?
Damarion Winston Goler, 33, of Sterling Heights, Michigan. A Macomb County jury convicted him on October 16, 2026, of second-degree murder, homicide causing the death of an unborn fetus, and tampering with evidence.
Who was the victim?
Talic Mersina, 31, Goler’s pregnant girlfriend. She died along with her unborn child after being stabbed at the couple’s apartment on March 24, 2024.
Where did the killing happen?
Near the door of the couple’s apartment at Sterling Park Apartments near 18 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
When was Goler arrested?
On March 24, 2024 — the same day as the killing. Clinton Township police found him covered in blood with Mersina in her car outside his mother’s apartment building.
What sentence could Goler face?
Second-degree murder in Michigan carries a sentence of life in prison or any term of years at the judge’s discretion. The fetal-homicide count carries the same maximum, and tampering with evidence in a homicide case carries up to 10 years. Judge Matthew P. Sabaugh will impose sentence on December 3.
Was Goler charged with first-degree murder?
A district court judge had bound him over for trial on first-degree, premeditated murder after finding evidence of premeditation. The jury ultimately convicted on second-degree murder.
Has Goler been out on bail?
No. He has been held without bond in the Macomb County Jail since his arraignment in March 2024.
Where can victims of domestic violence get help in Michigan?
Anyone in Michigan facing domestic violence can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at any hour by calling 1-800-799-7233 or texting START to 88788.
Featured image: The Macomb County Courthouse in Mount Clemens, Michigan, where the case was tried. Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sources: The Mitten Daily, Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office (via WDIV Local 4 and CBS Detroit reporting).
