Transcript
Sarah Reed (0:02)
Hey, it's Sarah, juror number 11 from the sequestered podcast. Here's exciting news. Dateline NBC has just released a new episode titled the pen at apartment 210. In this episode, DATELINE correspondent Blaine Alexander explores the investigation, the trial, and the key moments that define the search for justice in the murder of Jasmine Pace. If you've been listening to Sequestered, you know how personal this case became for me. I had the opportunity to briefly share about my experience as a juror in this episode, and I feel incredibly honored to be a part of something that helps amplify Jasmine's story on a national level. This episode isn't about the trial or the jurors. It's about Jasmine, her voice, her family, and the lasting impact of what happened. Now streaming on Peacock. You can watch this episode of Dateline tonight or anytime you want, so check it out and help us continue to honor Jasmine Pace's memory. Go to peacocktv.com to start your free trial. Before we begin, please be advised that this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence as presented during the trial. Please take care while listening. It's Monday morning, January 13, 2025. 6:00am I hear a knock at my door. At 6:27. I emerge from my hotel room and make my way down to the elevator where four deputies and my fellow jurors are already gathered. We are counted multiple times before piling into the elevator. Once in the hotel lobby dining room, we grab breakfast, coffee, waffles, whatever we can stomach, while other hotel guests glance at us curiously, their eyes shifting between us and the uniformed officer standing guard. After breakfast, we are counted again, collected, and then sent back up the elevators to our rooms so we can get ready for the day. By 8am we are loaded into our designated vans and driven to the courthouse. Upon arrival at the courthouse, we are escorted inside and led directly to our jury room. We would spend a lot of time in this room starting that morning. The bailiff informs us that pretrial matters are still being handled and the judge will let him know when it's time for us to enter the courtroom. In the meantime, we are to remain in this room. If we need anything at all, we are told to knock on the door, but otherwise we wait. The room is small, maybe 20ft long by 10ft wide. On the wall opposite of the door, three windows overlook Cherry Street. From our third floor vantage point, we have a direct view of the stark, windowless walls of the former Hamilton County Jail, which now sits vacant. In the center of the room, a large wooden conference table dominates the space, surrounded by 14 black cushioned office chairs. Against the right wall in the far corner sits a small counter with just enough room for a sink and a commercial coffee maker. Above it, a set of cabinets. On the floor next to the counter stands a filtered water dispenser and a trash can. Beside the trash can, a small opening in the wall reveals a coat rack hanging between two bathroom doors. A deputy rolls two more chairs into the room and reminds us again to knock on the door if we need anything. The 16 of us claim a chair and begin to settle in. Some immediately dive into books, others close their eyes, and a few initiate a game of Uno. Thankfully, I'd come prepared with board games, a deck of cards, and an ample supply of Winto green Lifesavers, which everyone appreciated. Lunch arrives at noon and we are escorted down the hall into another, larger room to eat. With full bellies and hours of waiting behind us, we are ready to get this trial underway. Then, at 1:26pm the bailiff knocks on the jury room door. The judge is ready for us. This is sequestered A Juror's Perspective on the Murder Trial For Jasmine Pace, I'm Sarah, juror number 11. Each episode I'll take you inside the courtroom, behind the scenes and and into the weighty moments of this trial as we honor Jasmine's life and navigate the complexities of seeking justice. Let's begin. This is episode two. The trial begins. Everyone is standing as the jurors enter the courtroom, waiting for each of us to shuffle into the jury box and take our seats. Judge Patterson invites the room to be seated and welcomes the jury. The bailiff swears us in. Next, a line of deputies moves in front of our jury box, standing shoulder to shoulder and facing the judge. They too are sworn in, not just as officers of the court, but as our protectors for the duration of the trial, a visible reminder of the weight of our role and the seriousness of the case before us. Then Judge Patterson delivers an announcement. The jurors will be allowed to submit anonymous questions to witnesses throughout the trial. This would turn out to be quite a unique opportunity for us.
