Delores Martes Jackson, affectionately known as Dee Dee Jackson, was the former wife of Tito Jackson, a founding member of the Jackson 5, and the mother of musicians Taj, Taryll, and TJ Jackson. She married Tito in 1972, when both were teenagers, and spent much of her adult life raising their children while the Jackson family achieved worldwide fame. Her life ended tragically on August 27, 1994, when she was 39 years old. Although her death was initially investigated as an accidental drowning, a subsequent murder conviction established a far more disturbing account. Her sons have since preserved her memory through music and charitable work.
Delores Martes Jackson (1955–1994), also known as Dee Dee Jackson, was Tito Jackson’s former wife and the mother of their three sons, Taj, Taryll, and TJ, who formed the musical group 3T. She died at age 39 in August 1994. Her former boyfriend, Donald Bohana, was subsequently convicted of second-degree murder.
Family Profile
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Delores Martes Jackson |
| Also Known As | Dee Dee Jackson |
| Birth Year | 1955 |
| Date of Death | August 27, 1994 |
| Age at Death | 39 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Family Heritage | Dominican ancestry reported in published biographical accounts |
| Former Husband | Tito Jackson |
| Marriage | 1972; ended in divorce |
| Children | Taj Jackson, Taryll Jackson, TJ Jackson |
| Famous Relatives | Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and the Jackson family through marriage |
| Known For | Former wife of Tito Jackson and mother of the musical group 3T |
| Cause of Death | Drowning in a case resulting in a second-degree murder conviction |
Who Was Delores Martes Jackson?
Delores Martes Jackson was an important figure in the personal history of the Jackson musical family. Although she never pursued the same public recognition as her famous relatives, she was closely connected to the family during decades when the Jackson 5 and later the Jacksons became internationally recognized performers.
Born in 1955, she spent part of her youth in Los Angeles. Genealogical listings identify her birthplace as Manhattan, New York, although that detail is less firmly documented than her marriage and family history. Her personal biography is best understood through contemporary reporting, Tito Jackson’s recollections, and interviews with their children.
Delores met Tito Jackson while they were students at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. During a 2017 ABC News interview, Tito remembered her as outgoing and affectionate, contrasting her personality with his own youthful shyness.
Their relationship began before their marriage in 1972 and continued during an extraordinary period in American popular music. While Tito traveled and performed with his brothers, Dee Dee became a central presence in the lives of their three children.
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Delores Martes Jackson and Tito Jackson’s Marriage
Delores and Tito Jackson married in June 1972, shortly after finishing high school. Tito was 18, and Dee Dee was 17, according to later reporting by People magazine.
Their marriage placed Dee Dee within one of the most recognizable musical families in the United States. The Jackson 5 had already enjoyed enormous success with Motown recordings, and Tito’s professional commitments included performances, touring, and recording with his brothers.
Despite this public attention, Dee Dee concentrated primarily on family life. In his later recollections, Tito described her as someone warmly accepted by the wider Jackson family. Their sons similarly remembered their mother as an essential source of stability while their father maintained a demanding entertainment career.
When Did Tito and Delores Jackson Divorce?
Their marriage eventually ended, although published accounts differ on the exact divorce year. Contemporary Los Angeles Times reports from 1994 identify 1988, while a later ABC News retrospective gives 1993. Other accounts distinguish their separation from the formal end of the marriage.
What is firmly established is that they had divorced before Dee Dee’s death in 1994. Their relationship nevertheless remained important because they shared three sons. Tito’s later public comments about his former wife’s death also demonstrated the lasting significance of their family history.
Their Three Sons: Taj, Taryll, and TJ Jackson
Delores and Tito Jackson had three children who eventually followed their father into the entertainment industry. Their eldest son, Taj Jackson, was born in 1973. Taryll Jackson followed in 1975, and their youngest son, TJ Jackson, was born in 1978.
Together, the brothers formed 3T, an American R&B and pop group that carried the Jackson musical tradition into another generation. Their father encouraged their musical development, while their uncle Michael Jackson became an important mentor and supporter.
Their mother also played a significant role in nurturing their interest in music. According to the group’s official biography, Dee Dee affectionately referred to her sons as the Three T’s, a name connected with their eventual musical identity.
In interviews, the brothers have emphasized that their mother wanted them to experience a relatively ordinary childhood despite their famous surname. Taryll described how she cared for them while their father was away on tour.
The brothers’ debut album, Brotherhood, was released in 1995, the year after their mother’s death. Her memory became closely associated with their early musical career, and the family continued acknowledging her influence in subsequent interviews and projects.
Delores Martes Jackson’s Ethnicity, Nationality, and Family Background
Questions about Delores Martes Jackson’s ethnicity and race frequently appear alongside searches about the Jackson family. Published biographical material provides some information about her ancestry, but it is important to distinguish family heritage from personal racial identity.
Journalist Randall Sullivan, in his 2012 biography Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson, describes Dee Dee as the daughter of Dominican immigrants. This supports accounts connecting her maternal family line to Dominican heritage.
Dominican ancestry, however, does not establish how someone personally identified in racial terms. The Dominican Republic has a diverse population, and racial identity cannot reliably be determined from a surname, photograph, or family relationship.
Genealogical records identify Dee Dee as having been born in New York, supporting her identification as American. They also contain additional information about her parents, but some entries rely on compiled family histories rather than independently reviewed primary documents.
Her educational background is more clearly established through accounts identifying Fairfax High School as the place where she and Tito met. Beyond her family involvement, dependable public reporting provides comparatively little information about a separate professional career.
What Happened to Delores Martes Jackson in 1994?
On August 27, 1994, Delores Jackson died after an incident at the Ladera Heights, California, home of businessman Donald James Bohana, whom she had been dating. She was 39 years old.
Initial reports described her death as an accidental drowning in Bohana’s swimming pool. However, the findings of the Los Angeles County coroner raised serious questions about that explanation.
According to contemporary Los Angeles Times reporting, the autopsy documented blunt-force injuries alongside evidence of drowning. Investigators subsequently reconsidered the circumstances surrounding her death.
Family members also questioned the accident account. Tito and his sons later explained that Dee Dee had been afraid of deep water and was not known to be a capable swimmer. Bohana maintained that she had been swimming and that he attempted to rescue her.
Donald Bohana’s Trial and Murder Conviction
In March 1997, authorities charged Bohana in connection with Dee Dee’s death. The case proceeded to trial, where prosecutors presented medical evidence and witness testimony concerning her injuries and the circumstances of the drowning.
In 1998, a jury found Bohana guilty of second-degree murder. He received a prison sentence of 15 years to life.
The California Court of Appeal’s 2000 decision in People v. Bohana upheld his conviction. The court concluded that the evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s finding, including testimony concerning Dee Dee’s inability to swim and the injuries she sustained before her death.
The precise sequence of events was disputed during the trial. The conviction should therefore not be expanded into unsupported claims about a particular motive or every moment preceding her death.
Bohana continued to maintain that he had not murdered Dee Dee. According to People magazine’s September 2024 retrospective, he was released on parole in December 2022 after approximately 24 years in prison.
How Delores Jackson’s Death Affected Her Family
Dee Dee’s death profoundly affected her three sons, who were still young adults and teenagers when they lost their mother. Their later interviews reveal how the experience shaped their understanding of family, grief, and responsibility.
In the 2017 ABC News documentary coverage, Tito and the brothers discussed their memories of the tragedy and their efforts to pursue justice. They also recalled Dee Dee’s caring personality and her commitment to providing a supportive home.
Michael Jackson played an important part in helping his nephews cope with their loss. Taj later explained that his uncle was both a musical mentor and an important source of emotional support during that period.
Their experiences eventually inspired a charitable initiative designed to support other families dealing with bereavement. Rather than allowing Dee Dee’s public story to be defined solely by the circumstances of her death, her children sought to preserve the values they associated with her life.
The Dee Dee Jackson Foundation and Her Lasting Legacy
In 2015, Taj, Taryll, and TJ established the Dee Dee Jackson Foundation in their mother’s memory. The nonprofit organization focuses on grief support, community engagement, and activities that use music to help people process loss.
According to the foundation’s official website, Dee Dee valued generosity, community involvement, and helping others. Her sons have presented these qualities as guiding influences behind the organization’s mission.
Its activities have included music therapy workshops, grief education, and conversations about coping with bereavement. The foundation also provides a public connection between Dee Dee’s family story and its broader charitable mission.
In 2022, the organization received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, according to its official materials. This recognition illustrates how the family’s remembrance of Dee Dee developed into an ongoing community initiative.
Her former husband Tito Jackson continued supporting efforts to honor her memory. He died on September 15, 2024, at age 70, leaving their three sons to carry forward the musical and family traditions associated with both parents.
Conclusion
Delores Martes Jackson was more than the former wife of a Jackson 5 musician. She was the mother of Taj, Taryll, and TJ Jackson, a central influence in their upbringing, and an important part of the family’s history. Although her life ended tragically in 1994, her sons have continued honoring her through their music and the Dee Dee Jackson Foundation. Her legacy remains closely connected to family, remembrance, and the support of others experiencing loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was Delores Martes Jackson’s cause of death?
Delores Jackson died on August 27, 1994, at age 39. Her death initially appeared to be an accidental drowning, but the investigation uncovered evidence of traumatic injuries. Donald Bohana was convicted of second-degree murder in 1998, and his conviction was upheld on appeal in 2000.
2. Was Delores Martes Jackson Dominican or Black?
Published biographical accounts describe Dee Dee as the daughter of Dominican immigrants, indicating Dominican family ancestry. However, dependable sources do not clearly establish how she personally identified racially. Dominican heritage and racial identity are distinct, so it would be inappropriate to assign her a definitive racial label without stronger evidence.
3. How many children did Tito Jackson and Delores Martes Jackson have?
They had three sons: Taj Jackson, born in 1973; Taryll Jackson, born in 1975; and TJ Jackson, born in 1978. The brothers formed the pop and R&B group 3T and later established the Dee Dee Jackson Foundation in their mother’s honor.
4. Who was Donald Bohana in Delores Jackson’s life?
Donald James Bohana was a Los Angeles businessman who was dating Dee Dee Jackson when she died in August 1994. He was convicted of her second-degree murder in 1998 and sentenced to 15 years to life. He maintained his innocence and was released on parole in December 2022.
5. Where was Delores Martes Jackson’s funeral held?
Dee Dee Jackson died in the Los Angeles area in August 1994, but the reporting used for this biography does not establish a dependable funeral venue or burial location. Obituaries for other women named Delores Jackson should not be confused with records concerning Tito Jackson’s former wife.
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