Talking Dateline: The Pin at Apartment 210

Wed Apr 23 2025

Dennis Murphy sits down with Blayne Alexander to discuss her recent episode, “The Pin at Apartment 210.” When 22-year-old Jasmine “Jazzy” Pace went missing just before Thanksgiving of 2022, her family became their own detectives. What followed was a horrific crime scene, an arrest, and a bombshell twist at trial from the defense. Blayne tells Dennis about the family’s determined search for Jazzy and the clues they found along the way. Later, Blayne shares a podcast-exclusive clip from an interview with one of the jurors. Plus, Dennis and Blayne answer your questions from social media. If you have a question for Talking Dateline, send us an audio message on social @datelinenbc. Listen to the full episode of “The Pin at Apartment 210” on Apple: https://apple.co/44AZi43 Listen to the full episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/14y93y2XlJCQhcYqgrbrj6

Summary

Dateline NBC: "The Pin at Apartment 210" – Detailed Summary

Introduction to the Episode

In the April 23, 2025 release of Dateline NBC, host Dennis Murphy engages in an insightful discussion with his colleague Blaine Alexander on the episode titled "The Pin at Apartment 210." This episode delves deep into the harrowing true-crime case of Jasmine "Jazzy" Pace, a 22-year-old woman who mysteriously vanished around Thanksgiving 2022. Through meticulous investigation and compelling storytelling, the episode unpacks the intricate details of Jazzy's disappearance, the relentless search by her family, and the eventual unraveling of a chilling homicide case.

Case Overview: Jasmine Pace's Disappearance

The episode centers on Jazzy Pace's sudden disappearance following a tumultuous family period marked by the passing of their beloved great-grandmother, Granny Pace. As Dennis Murphy recaps, "Jazzy went missing a few days after Granny died, creating a tightly wound spiral of grief and urgency within the family" (01:25). Jazzy was known to be vivacious, deeply connected to her family, and actively engaged in her studies as a computer science major. Her absence was immediately felt, given her close-knit relationship with her family, making her unexplained disappearance all the more distressing.

The Investigation

Katrina Pace, Jazzy's mother, became increasingly concerned when Jazzy failed to appear for Thanksgiving festivities. Despite initial police involvement, Katrina took proactive steps, diverging from official recommendations to conduct her own investigation. Blaine Alexander highlights the family's determination: "They started looking into her phone records and reached out to friends like Emma, uncovering irregularities that suggested foul play" (05:13). This relentless pursuit led them to discover Jazzy's connections and ultimately the pivotal pin drop that would steer the investigation forward.

Discovery at Apartment 210

A significant breakthrough occurred when the family traced a distress pin sent by Jazzy at 2:18 AM on a Wednesday (10:04). This pin directed them to apartment 210, inhabited by Jason Chen, a computer science student and son of Chinese immigrants. Upon locating Jazzy's vehicle, noted as missing, the family accessed the apartment using a credit card, revealing disturbing evidence: Jazzy's overnight bag, multiple cell phones, and an extensive amount of blood throughout the unit. Blaine remarks, "The sheer volume of blood found was a clear indication of a violent incident" (15:40).

Arrest and Charges

Jason Chen was promptly located and arrested based on the compelling digital evidence and the physical trauma observed at the crime scene. Despite being a tech-savvy individual, Jason refused to provide any information to the authorities. As Blaine explains, "The phone told the story, and without these digital footprints, he likely wouldn't have been apprehended" (17:22). The investigation swiftly moved towards building a case centered on the hypothesis that Jazzy's death was a premeditated homicide.

The Trial

The legal proceedings focused on establishing premeditation in Jason Chen's actions. Blaine discusses the defense's strategy to mitigate the charges from murder to manslaughter by portraying the incident as a reaction to interpersonal conflict: "The defense argued that Jazzy confronted Jason about his interactions on Tinder, leading to a heated altercation where Jason acted in self-defense" (19:00). This nuanced argument presented the jury with the challenging task of discerning intent and foresight in Jason's actions.

Juror Perspectives

An exclusive insight from juror Sarah (Juror #11) sheds light on the deliberation process. She shared, "The DA's red light analogy helped me understand premeditation as a split-second decision, much like choosing to accelerate or brake at a yellow light" (20:26). This analogy underscored the complexity jurors faced in evaluating whether Jason's actions were premeditated or reactive.

Viewer Reactions

The episode resonated deeply with audiences, eliciting heartfelt responses. Viewer Valerie Lynn Smith Bowen expressed empathy for the family's actions, stating, "I would have done exactly what her mama and family did." Meanwhile, Stephen from Pasadena highlighted the personal impact of seeing a familiar locale affected by such a tragedy: "I'm shocked watching this on my TV set because these are streets and people I know" (27:38). These reactions underscore the universal themes of loss, grief, and the quest for justice portrayed in the episode.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Dennis Murphy commended Blaine Alexander and her team for their profound storytelling and thorough investigation: "You and your team did a remarkable job in pulling this whole thing together and telling us who the victim was, which is so important" (28:52). Blaine echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the honor of uncovering Jazzy's story and giving voice to her and her family's ordeal.

Dateline NBC's "The Pin at Apartment 210" serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate interplay between technology, family bonds, and the pursuit of truth in unraveling true-crime mysteries. Through diligent reporting and empathetic narrative, the episode not only chronicles a tragic event but also honors the resilience and determination of those seeking justice for a loved one lost too soon.

Notable Quotes:

Blaine Alexander (02:21): "Jackie was incredible. She really was kind of like the heart and soul of our story."
Dennis Murphy (04:45): "Granny suddenly dies, family is in grief, and it's about to be Thanksgiving. When did they start to become alarmed about Jazzy, and where is Jazzy?"
Juror Sarah (20:26): "We've all been faced with this choice... it's just like making that quick decision to stop at a yellow light."
Blaine Alexander (26:27): "It's a terrifying answer because you don't know what's going on behind their normal facade."

Dateline NBC continues to captivate its audience by bringing to light the most compelling true-crime stories, blending thorough investigation with humanizing narratives that resonate deeply with viewers.