Episode 02: The Trial Begins

Summary

SEQUESTERED Podcast: Episode 02 - "The Trial Begins"

Introduction

In the second episode of SEQUESTERED: A Juror’s Perspective on the Murder Trial for Jasmine Pace, host Sara Reed, Juror #11, takes listeners deeper into the harrowing first day of the State of Tennessee v. Jason Chen trial. This episode meticulously details the unfolding courtroom drama, highlighting the emotional and ethical weight carried by the jurors as they navigate the complexities of seeking justice for Jasmine Pace.

Day One: Preparing for Trial

The episode opens on a chilly Monday morning, January 13, 2025, as Sara describes the initial steps of jury sequestration. At 6:00 AM, jurors are escorted from their hotel rooms under tight security, emphasizing the gravity of their role. The jurors gather in the hotel lobby dining room for breakfast, where curiosity from other guests underscores the high-profile nature of the case. By 8:00 AM, the group is transported to the courthouse, where they are led to a confined jury room. The room, described in vivid detail, becomes the jurors' temporary world, complete with minimal furnishings and strict instructions to remain inside until summoned by the judge.

Opening Statements: Prosecution vs. Defense

At 1:26 PM, the trial commences with Judge Patterson welcoming the jury and outlining the trial's framework. He emphasizes the presumption of innocence for Jason Chen and the burden of proof resting on the prosecution to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Prosecution's Case: The Brutal Murder of Jasmine Pace

District Attorney General Cody Womp delivers a chilling opening statement that sets the tone for the prosecution's case. At [12:25], Womp presents the gruesome discovery of Jasmine Pace's body in a suitcase, highlighting the 60 stab wounds, including a fatal neck injury and a broken knife tip lodged in her lung. She meticulously outlines the evidence linking Chen to the crime, including forensic findings and fingerprint analysis. A notable quote from Womp captures the severity of the crime:

"Dr. Coswell... stabbed her over and over and over again. Not seven times, not 29 times, not 43 times, but 60 stab wounds" ([12:25]).

Womp also introduces key evidence such as surveillance footage showing Chen purchasing items like band-aids and hydrogen peroxide—materials indicative of a cleanup effort—to further solidify her case against the defendant.

Defense's Argument: Voluntary Manslaughter Claim

In stark contrast, defense attorney Joshua Weiss presents a narrative of voluntary manslaughter, arguing that Jason Chen acted in the heat of the moment during a violent altercation. At [18:10], Weiss admits that Chen killed Jasmine but contends it was not premeditated. He paints a picture of a tumultuous relationship where Jasmine's discovery of incriminating Tinder messages led to a heated confrontation. Weiss describes the chaotic scene:

"He didn't do it with premeditation. This is a momentary lan of pretense... in fear, shame, and emotional distress" ([22:38]).

Weiss emphasizes Chen's fear and panic, suggesting that the act was a desperate attempt at self-defense rather than cold-blooded murder.

Emotional Weight: Juror Perspectives

Throughout the episode, Sara Reed shares her internal struggle to remain objective amidst the trial's brutality. She recalls feeling "gut-wrenching" upon hearing the prosecution's depiction of Jasmine's murder and the defense's attempt to mitigate Chen's actions. Sara's reflections underscore the immense pressure jurors face to balance empathy with impartial judgment.

Witness Testimonies: Katrina Bean's Heartbreaking Account

One of the most poignant moments comes when Jasmine's mother, Katrina Bean, takes the stand. Her emotional testimony provides a deeply personal insight into Jasmine's life and the impact of her loss. Katrina describes the frantic days following Jasmine's disappearance, detailing her own efforts to locate her daughter using phone records and tracking her movements. At [27:34], DA Womp prompts Katrina:

"Have you never heard the defendant admit that he murdered her daughter ever?" ([27:52]),

To which Katrina responds tearfully,

"I've spent two years trying not to remember every detail of that night. In all fairness, I don't remember." ([27:58]).

Katrina's testimony not only humanizes Jasmine but also highlights the family's relentless pursuit of justice, revealing the emotional toll of the trial on those closest to the victim.

Prosecution's Evidence: Building the Case Against Chen

The prosecution meticulously presents evidence to establish Chen's intent and actions post-murder. Surveillance footage shows Chen purchasing cleaning supplies shortly after Jasmine's disappearance, suggesting an attempt to cover up the crime. Additionally, lead investigator Zachary Crawford provides detailed accounts of the crime scene investigation, unveiling critical evidence like blood stains and a space in Chen's closet perfectly sized for a suitcase. Crawford's testimony at [37:46] emphasizes the lack of forced entry, countering any defense claims of a violent struggle initiated by Jasmine.

Defense's Cross-Examination: Challenging Evidence

During cross-examination, Weiss challenges the reliability of Katrina Bean's testimony, pointing out inconsistencies regarding how they gained entry to Jason Chen's apartment. However, Katrina's emotional state hinders her ability to recall specific details, underscoring the emotional strain of the trial.

Closing of Day One: The Emotional Toll on Jurors

As the day concludes, Judge Patterson reminds the jurors of their responsibilities to remain impartial and avoid external influences. The jurors, now deeply entrenched in the trial's emotional and factual complexities, prepare to deliberate on whether the prosecution has met its burden of proof. Sara reflects on the day's proceedings:

"Day one was emotionally exhausting, a harrowing introduction to the weight of the case we would be asked to deliberate on." ([35:27]).

Conclusion

Episode 02 of SEQUESTERED provides a compelling, in-depth look into the first day of a high-stakes murder trial. Through Sara Reed's firsthand account, listeners gain an intimate perspective on the intricate legal maneuvers, emotional testimonies, and mounting evidence that shape the pursuit of justice for Jasmine Pace. The episode effectively balances detailed procedural descriptions with the profound human impact of the case, setting the stage for subsequent episodes that continue to unravel the truth behind this tragic event.

Key Takeaways:

• The prosecution presents a graphic and detailed account of Jasmine Pace's murder, emphasizing premeditation and deliberate cover-up by Jason Chen.
• The defense argues for voluntary manslaughter, portraying Chen as acting out of emotional distress without premeditation.
• Emotional testimonies, particularly from Jasmine's mother, highlight the personal tragedy and the family's quest for justice.
• Jurors grapple with the emotional burden of their responsibility, striving to remain impartial amidst overwhelming evidence and personal narratives.

For more insights and updates on the trial, visit SequesteredPod.com.

Transcript

[Sarah Reed]

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.

[Cody Womp]

What's interesting in this case is that Judge Boyd Patterson actually lets the jurors ask their own questions. If there's something that they want to hear more on or they didn't get to hear on, they will send up a piece of paper. The attorneys will go up and read the questions, and then Judge Patterson will ask those questions of the witness.

[Sarah Reed]

As we step into the Hamilton county courtroom, the layout immediately defines the space where the trial will unfold. Judge Patterson's bench sits up off the ground and is positioned diagonally in the far left corner of the room, facing the courtroom entry doors. From this vantage point, he has a direct line of sight to the defense table, where attorneys Joshua Weiss and Amanda Morrison sit alongside the defendant, Jason Chen. Directly to their left at the prosecution's table, sit District Attorney General Cody Womp and Chief Homicide Prosecutor Paul Moyle. Beside them is a third person, one we would later learn to be lead investigator Zachary Crawford, a key figure in the case. To the right of the defense team, positioned along the right wall, is the jury. We sit in 16 blue office chairs, 14 of which are bolted to the ground and all of which are in dire need of WD40. At the back of the courtroom, centered between the jury box and the judge's bench, sits the witness stand. It faces forward, positioned so that the attorneys, the judge, the jury, and the gallery of onlookers can all see whoever takes the seat. This is where we would spend the next several days watching, listening, and waiting to unravel the truth. One of the jurors, an architect in his real life, sketched a detailed layout of the courtroom during the trial. If you want to see exactly how the room was arranged, you can check out his drawing on our website. Judge Patterson begins by reading his opening comments stating the official charges from the State of Tennessee.

[Joshua Weiss]

Ladies and gentlemen, the defendant has been charged by the State of Tennessee with violations of State Law for sentiment 315228 charged defendant with two offenses, first degree premeditated murder. The use of the courts presentment 315228 the defendant pleads not guilty. The defendant is presumed to be innocent of the charges against him. He may not be found guilty unless after hearing all the evidence, arguments, and instructions of law. The 12 jurors seated in this case unanimously fined. The state has proven this case beyond reasonable doubt.

[Sarah Reed]

He emphasizes that Jason Chen is presumed innocent and can only be found guilty if the prosecution proves his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He outlined the trial process, explaining that evidence will include witness testimony, documents, and physical exhibits, and that the jurors may submit questions. He instructed jurors to avoid media coverage, outside research and discussions about the case until deliberations begin. He also clarified that if a guilty verdict is reached for first degree murder, a separate sentencing hearing will determine whether Chen receives life in prison or life without parole. He then invites District Attorney General Cody Womp to the stand. General Womp stood and commanded the room with a poised and confident presence. Slender, with long blondish brown hair and expressive brown eyes, she was smartly dressed, exuding professionalism and authority. Her confident demeanor was complemented by her clear, articulate speech, which carried both conviction and emotion, leaving no doubt about her intelligence and preparation. Standing tall and maintaining steady eye contact, she conveyed both strength and approachability, embodying the focus and determination of a seasoned prosecutor. She begins.

[Cody Womp]

State of Tennessee Criminal Court for Hamilton County 2023 count one. The grand jurors, upon their oath do present adjacent to 10 on or about the 23rd day of November 2022 in Hamilton County, Tennessee, and before the finding of this indictment that unlawfully, intentionally and with premeditation inflict mortal injuries on Jasmine Pace which resulted in the death of Jasmine Pace on or about the 23rd day of November 2023, in violation of Tennessee code annotated 39 13, 202 against the peace and dignity of the state.

[Joshua Weiss]

Has Mr. Chim please not his.

[Sarah Reed]

When DA Cody W. Began her opening statement, she didn't just tell us what happened to Jasmine Pace, she showed us. She begins her opening statement by putting on blue medical gloves and pulling a large suitcase out of a cardboard box. She rolled the suitcase intently, stopping just in front of the jury box. My stomach dropped. This wasn't just a suitcase. This was the suitcase, the very one that had carried Jasmine's body. It served as a stark and unrelenting reminder of the crime, and we would see the suitcase many times throughout the trial. With the suitcase in front of us, WAMP began laying out the horrific details. Jasmine's body was discovered on Suck Creek Road, a remote, winding roadway that runs along the Tennessee River. Known for its scenic views, the area's isolation made it an eerie and unsettling place for such a discovery. Inside the suitcase, Jasmine had been handcuffed and shackled in the fetal position, then wrapped in three black trash bags before being zipped, zipped inside and discarded along the river's edge. Her wounds were extensive, 60 stab and incised wounds in total, one of the wounds going straight through her neck, severing vital structures as it passed from right to left. Another was delivered with such force that the tip of the chef's knife used in the attack broke off inside of her lung, a detail the medical examiner would later uncover during the autopsy. Here's a clip of General Cody Womp's opening statement.

[Cody Womp]

The suitcase was located in a brushy area just yards from the bank of the Tennessee river and right off of Stump Creek Road. In it was the body of Jasmine Pace, who had been placed in a fetal position inside of three black trash bags. Her right ankle was handcuffed to her right wrist. Her left ankle had been shackled to her right arm. Her wounds were extensive. You will hear from Dr. Coswell, the medical examiner for Hamilton county, who will describe those wounds in great detail. He stabbed her over and over and over again. Not seven times, not 29 times, not 43 times, but 60 stab wounds. One wound a through and through from the right side of the neck all the way through the left. Another so deeply penetrated her rib cage that the tip of the knife broke off into her lung. You will see the tip of that knife eventually, and only because of the relentlessness of Jasmine Pace's family. The Chattanooga Police Department's homicide division executed a search warrant at Jason chin's apartment on November 28, 2022. The missing persons investigation quickly became a homicide investigation when, even despite his best efforts to clean it up, Jasmine Pace's blood, upon the execution of a search warrant, was located all over Jason Chin's heart. And when you think that you have seen enough evidence that Jason Chin killed Jasmine Pace, you will be convinced that he stuffed her body in this suitcase after placing it in trash bags, because you will hear from a fingerprint expert. The fingerprint expert will tell you that Jason Chin's fingerprints were found on the innermost trash bag that surrounded her father.

[Sarah Reed]

Hearing these details for the first time was gut wrenching. And it was only the beginning. I remember trying to sit up straight and focus on taking good notes. Attempting to process the sheer violence of it all was out of the question. It was terrible knowing that this young woman's life had ended in such a brutal and senseless way. But as a juror, my job wasn't to react. It wasn't to grieve or express outrage. It was to listen, to absorb the facts and assess them without bias. The prosecution would go on to lay out what they had intended to prove. That Jasmine's death was not accidental or impulsive, but a deliberate, premeditated act, and that Jason Chen was the one responsible. Defense attorney Joshua Weiss took the stand next, presenting a stark contrast to General Womp's commanding presence. Dressed in a blue suit with a white shirt and a muted plaid tie, Weiss had more of a relaxed appearance. His shaggy hair and full beard gave him somewhat of an unpolished every guy look. Think Zach Galifianakis. He probably gets that a lot. His demeanor was calm, but lacked the sheen and confidence of his opposing counsel. Speaking in a low tone, his delivery came across as more of a rehearsed story than a compelling argument, leaving an impression of restraint rather than authority. Still, the defense's opening statement took a vastly different approach. Weiss wasted no time in admitting that Jason Chen had killed Jasmine, but he insisted that it wasn't premeditated murder. Instead, he framed it as voluntary manslaughter, a crime of passion. Weiss painted Jason as someone who acted out of fear, shame and emotional distress. He claimed that what happened wasn't a calculated act, but a tragic moment that had spiraled out of control. According to the defense, Jasmine became enraged after discovering Tinder messages on Jason's phone. In response, Weiss alleged she grabbed a broken wine bottle and attacked Jason. In the chaos, Jason stabbed Jasmine not with the intent to kill, but in self defense. The way Weiss told it, Jason wasn't a murderer. He was simply a man caught in an emotionally charged moment, reacting out of panic. Here's a clip of attorney Joshua Weiss's opening statement.

[Joshua Weiss]

Early morning hours of November 23, 2022, Jason Chad killed. Yes. No case on. He didn't do it with premeditation. This is a momentary mass of peace. In November of 2022, he was a senior the year before he and Jasmine started communicating. They met on Tiffany in 2021. They dated for a few months but then lost touch. But then about eight months later in May of 2022, they begin with that much started dating, seeing each other more and more. And you're going to see through the text messages someone I was obviously going to this relationship with the other. Jasmine started getting feelings for Jason and you're going to see through those text messages that Jason can reciprocate that as much as she. Then you come to the week of November 22nd. It was Thanksgiving. Jasmine and her family lost their grandmother. She was grief and on the night of November 22, around 11pm she came over to Jason's house and they did what they always do. On the night of November 22nd they were drinking flying back edge. In order to open one bottle of wine in the bedroom, Jason had to go to the kitchen and get a kitchen knife, then take off that plastic wrap that goes around the top of wine bottles. So he was able to get off the top of the wine bottle with fastener and he placed it on his nightstand. At a certain point they finish off the bottle of wine and Jasmine goes back into the kitchen to get another bottle and there on the counter Ms. Jason's cell phone. Ding, ding, ding, ding. That familiar tinder ding that Jasmine and Jason knew so well because that's how they met. Jasmine looked at his phone and saw all these messages without the girls. And this was security to her. She was already in grief and it sent her in anger. These great. And they start yelling, fighting verbally. Jason came into the kitchen. Jasmine attacked Jason with an empty wine bottle. And in reaction Jason kicked her and she fell backwards knocking over wine glasses. She picked up one of the wine glasses and ran towards Jason. Jason treated going from the kitchen to his bedroom which you have to go through the bathroom. She chased after him and was trying to close the door to the bathroom but couldn't because the bathpack got in the way. Then tried to run from the bathroom into the bedroom but there was a pocket door and it's impossible to close. He gets back into his bedroom. Jasmine's right there coming at him with a smoking glass. Takes and seizes. The knife. Makes snap. You blacked out. Your heart is racing. You're in that fight or flight response. Your adrenaline is rushing. You're in a panic. You're in fear. You don't know what's going to happen next. Pain. He's laying over Jason's body, kneeling over. He's wet. Signified. Jason crawls on his hands and knees to the bathroom. Roams up. He lays there for minutes and then he goes back into the room and sees what he's done. Scared, In a panic. And he doesn't know what to do. And I wish I was telling you right now that call nine one that he called the police, but he didn't. From there, Jason decides that he hasn't covered us up. Gets the high place done, Places Jasmine and trash bags. Puts the handcuffs on her after she is dead so that way she can fit into the trash bags. And so they put her into that suitcase where he then takes her body in that suitcase and drops her by the next to the fence. He then sets on a horse to try to clean up the apartment to his death.

[Cody Womp]

Disability.

[Joshua Weiss]

He tries to hide the fact that what he did by texting Jason's parents, pretending to be here on social media. Whatever he can do is selfish and it's wrong. But he panicked and he thought this was the rest of his adventure. Jason Chen is guilty, but he's not guilty of the crime that he's charged me.

[Sarah Reed]

I remember writing furiously during the defense's statement. Every word felt critical. I wanted to document each of the defense's claims so that I can weigh them against the evidence I knew was yet to come. I needed to see if the facts aligned with the story. Weiss was trying to sell or if the truth would tell us something entirely different. You know, during sequestration I had a lot of time to think and honestly I kept wishing I had a spirit so that I could just listen to a great book. That's why I love audiobooks. Whether I'm driving, walking the dogs or traveling, I can just press play and get lost in an amazing story anytime and anywhere. One of my all time favorites is New York by Edward Rutherford. This epic historical novel spans over 400 years, following generations of families through the city's most pivotal moments, from its Dutch settlement days and all the way to 9 11. It was one of the first audiobooks I had ever listened to. It felt like the narrator was reading the story just for me. I was completely hooked. Here's some good news. You can listen to New York or any other book for free. Audible is giving Sequestered listeners a free audiobook with a 30 day trial. Just go to audibletrial.com forward sl sequestered that's one free book, yours to keep forever. So find something you love and get listening. Go to audibletrial.com sequestered foreign if you've been following the podcast, we've got something new for you. Now you can dive even deeper into each episode on our website, SequesteredPod.com we've added exclusive blogs for every episode, packed with extra details, behind the scenes insights and key moments from the trial. Plus, we've organized all the trial and news coverage by each day of the trial so you can follow along just like we did in the jury room. Head over to SequesteredPod.com now to explore the case in a whole new way. After the opening statements, the prosecution called their first witnesses. One of the more emotional moments came when Jasmine's mother, Katrina Bean, took the stand. The weight of the moment was heavy. DA Wamp says the state's going to.

[Cody Womp]

Call sustain Katrina Bean.

[Sarah Reed]

But before she could take the stand, Katrina asked for a moment and stepped out of the courtroom to compose herself. It wasn't until after the trial that I had fully grasped the gravity of this moment. Just earlier, during the defense's opening statement, Katrina had heard for the first time that Jason Chen was admitting to murdering her daughter. And then almost immediately, she was called to take the stand as the first witness in the trial for that very murder. Yeah, I would have needed a moment too. The weight of that revelation still hung in the air as she returned to the room and took her seat in the witness stand. She was sworn in when she finally began her voice was unsteady and thick with grief. The emotion in the room was palpable, and it was impossible not to feel the sheer heartbreak of a mother being forced to relive the worst moment of her life in front of a jury, in front of the man responsible.

[Cody Womp]

Jasmine's mother was the first witness to testify.

[Sarah Reed]

Bean had to take a moment before coming up to the stand, because in the defendant's opening statement, it was the.

[Cody Womp]

First time she had heard Chen's attorney.

[Sarah Reed]

Admit that Chen had killed her daughter.

[Cody Womp]

You've never heard the defendant admit that he murdered her daughter ever?

[Joshua Weiss]

No, never.

[Cody Womp]

First time you heard that story was today? Yes. That was back to you when you were first?

[Joshua Weiss]

Yes.

[Cody Womp]

Yes, it was.

[Sarah Reed]

Katrina recounted the last time she saw Jasmine alive. Painting a vivid picture of her daughter's vibrant spirit, she spoke about Jasmine's energy, her kindness, her plans for the future, each word a painful contrast to the brutal reality of why we were all in that corner courtroom. The jury listened intently, some shifting in their seats, others taking notes in quiet concentration. Katrina's testimony reminded everyone that this wasn't just a murder case. It was a family's worst nightmare, a mother's unbearable loss, and a young life stolen far too soon. One significant detail in this case was the past passing of Jasmine Pace's great grandmother on her mother's side, a woman Jasmine was deeply close to. On November 22, just hours before Jasmine was last seen, her great grandmother was taken to the emergency room, where she passed away later that evening. By all accounts, this loss weighed heavily on Jasmine and was mentioned during the trial as a possible factor in her emotional state leading up to her disappearance appearance. The defense argued that Jasmine's grief played a role in seeking comfort in her interactions with Jason Chen, ultimately leading her to visit his apartment that night. While the prosecution didn't directly link this event to the crime, it added another layer of complexity in understanding Jasmine's mindset in her final hours. A reminder that she was not only a victim of violence, but also a young woman carrying the weight of profound personal loss.

[Cody Womp]

At some point after her grandmother passed away, were you not able to get in touch with Jasmine? Correct. The next day, were you calling her? I was calling and didn't get an answer. I sent messages. Was that abnormal tonight hear from Jasmine?

[Sarah Reed]

Yes.

[Cody Womp]

And for her not to be there for her family?

[Joshua Weiss]

Yes.

[Sarah Reed]

Katrina was desperate to find her daughter. Days had gone by without any communication, and as each hour passed, her fear grew. She refused to sit back and wait, so she became an investigator herself. On November 26, determined to track Jasmine's movements, Katrina went to a Verizon store and had her daughter's account loaded into a new iPhone. It was a brilliant move because doing so gave her access to Jasmine's My Chevy app, allowing Katrina to see the vehicle's recent location and movements. They started with the Last recorded address, 900 Mountain Creek Road. Jasmine's sister Gabby called their father, Travis Pace, and they all rushed to the parking lot, gathering in front of Jasmine's white Chevy Equinox. The vehicle sat there, locked and undisturbed, but Jasmine was nowhere to be found. A wave of panic set in as they realized this wasn't just a misunderstanding. Something was seriously wrong. Desperation took over. The family sprang into action, banging on apartment doors, calling out Jasmine's name, and questioning residents, hoping for even the smallest clue leading to her whereabouts. Some tenants barely cracked their doors open, groggy and confused. Others shook their heads, saying they hadn't seen anything, each dead end heightening their fear. Time was slipping away, and Jasmine was still missing.

[Cody Womp]

We went to 900 Mountain Creek Road. What was located at 900 Mountain Creek Road? My daughter's car.

[Sarah Reed]

Eventually, Katrina called the police. Officer Pierre of the Chattanooga Police Department was dispatched and met the family near Jasmine's vehicle to take a statement. While Officer Pierre was on site, Katrina turned to the Verizon phone logs on Jasmine's account, searching for any clue. Scrolling through the recent calls, she noticed one number that stood out. Jasmine had spent 71 minutes on the phone with this person on the morning of November 22nd. Katrina didn't know who the number belonged to, but she dialed. A man answered and identified himself as Jason Chen. From the start, something felt off. Jason played coy, acting casual, almost indifferent, claiming that he hadn't seen or spoken to Jasmine in a while. But Katrina knew that wasn't true. She was staring at the phone records that proved otherwise. When she pressed him for details, Jason gave her an address. 500 Tremont Street. The family would later check that address and discover it was a vacant house still under construction. One thing was clear. Jason was lying. Officer Pierre was still standing by and overheard the conversation. After reviewing the phone records himself, he confirmed what Katrina already knew. Jason had spoken to Jasmine that day, and now he was trying to cover it up. After gathering these details, Officer Pierre would leave the family to sort through, having the vehicle tower towed back to their house. Later that night, he would officially enter Jasmine into the national database for missing persons, ensuring law enforcement agencies across the country would be alerted to her disappearance. Waiting for the car to be towed. Katrina continued searching for answers and something clicked. Scrolling through her text thread with Jasmine, she noticed a location pin that Jasmine had sent her at 2:18am on the morning of November 23rd. Third. She had missed seeing this before because the text just above was a pin that Katrina had sent Jasmine from the hospital where her grandma was admitted the afternoon prior. The text messages must have blurred together. But now, staring at her phone, Katrina can clearly see that Jasmine had sent this new location. Sadly, this would have been the last text that Jasmine herself would ever send her mom. A final text that in many ways would help solve her own murder.

[Cody Womp]

And we went back to the apartments to view this tree footage. While doing so, I looked back at Maya and Jasmine's messages. Okay. And seen that she had sent me a pen and draw her location. And that's why we went to the ones in Tremont. What caused you to look back at your adjustments and when you say conversations, you mean your text thread? Yes, our text thread. What caused you to go back and look at that? I don't remember. We were trying to get the footage burping at the apartments and I didn't notice it before because I had sent her a pin drop on the 22nd because we normally had been taken my grandmother to the hospital downtown and we didn't that day and so I had sent her a pin drop showing her what hospital we were at.

[Joshua Weiss]

So.

[Cody Womp]

And I didn't notice that she had sent a pin drop because I thought it was a pin drop I sent to her.

[Sarah Reed]

If you didn't catch that last part, Katrina said. So I sent her a pin drop showing her what hospital we were at. So I didn't notice she had sent me a pin drop because I thought it was the pin drop I sent to her. The pin Jasmine sent led to an address at 110 Tremont Street a three story apartment building housing over 50 individual units. It was the middle of the night, but that didn't stop them. They moved through the first floor, knocking on doors and showing photos of Jasmine to groggy tenants, hoping someone had seen her. As they made their way to the second floor, they encountered a neighbor who mentioned something chilling late on November 22. He had heard a woman's scream coming from apartment 210. With fear and urgency mounting, they knocked on the door of 210 much more emphatically than the others. No response. Taking matters into their own hands, they forced entry, desperate to find any clue that could lead them to Jasmine. Once inside, they found startling evidence. Jasmine's driver's license and credit cards were tucked neatly inside of a desk drawer. Her travel bag sat on the counter, untouched. It was undeniable. Jasmine had been here immediately. They exited the apartment and called 911. Two officers arrived and performed a walkthrough of apartment 210. Photos later taken from the officer's body cam footage showed the front door and the desk where Jasmine's ID and credit cards were now placed out in the open, intentionally positioned for the police to see upon entry. Yet despite this evidence, the officers concluded that they found nothing suspicious inside. They said they would pass the information along and they left. Feeling unheard and unsupported. Jasmine's family refused to stand by. In fact, Katrina would re enter the apartment multiple times over the following days, taking crucial belongings with her. Jasmine's ID and credit cards, her travel bag and some clothing. She also collected a box containing four smartphones, a tablet, a Polaroid camera and a number of spiral bound notebooks. Items she thought might hold the answers the police had failed to pursue.

[Cody Womp]

What was your reaction when you saw this location drop? I was scared because that was not normal. Jasmine had never sent me up to the location of the night. At the time that you saw the location drop, did you know of anybody that's lived or. No. Frequented this this building? So you travel to this location. Do you recall what the address was? It's 11031 street and it's an apartment building. Is that correct? Yes. Okay, everybody's together. And so how did you get into the apartment building? Actually a gentleman that lived there let us in. And did something cause you to to arrive at apartment 210? Yes. What was that? Spoke to a neighbor that said that he heard a woman scream within several minutes of the pin drop that I had received from my daughter. And Jason's apartment door was the only one that someone didn't answer. So the person told you that the screen had come from a certain apartment. Was that a part that you attend? It was. And did you and your family knock on that door? We did. No one answered it. Okay, explain to the jury what you and your family members then proceeded to do. We broke into the apartment. I just. I knew, I knew something is to too close to where my daughter sent me a pen of her coordinates. The coordinates were almost exact. Was anybody there? No. What did you start doing when you got into the apartment? Open up Dutch doors. Found my daughter's ID and credit cards that I had seen on the counter. A little travel bag that put.

[Joshua Weiss]

She.

[Cody Womp]

Would painted some Jasmine. I did.

[Sarah Reed]

Defense attorney Weiss would have his chance to question Katrina Bean on the stand next. During his cross examination, Weiss would highlight inconsistencies in Katrina's testimony. She admitted to initially lying to police, stating that they had knocked on Jason Chen's door with enough force for it to open. However, she later testified that Jasmine's father, Travis Pace, had used a credit card to open the door. When pressed about a specific moment at Chen's door involving a police officer, Katrina candidly replied, I've spent two years trying not to remember every detail of that night. In all fairness, I don't remember. Her response underscored the emotional toll of the case and the strain of reliving those events. As day one of the trial progressed, we would hear from key witnesses who provided crucial surveillance footage that helped piece together Jason Chen's actions after Jasmine's disappearance. Megan Bean, a Walmart asset protection employee, and Kelsey Campbell, a Walgreens manager, both testified about store records and receipts showing video footage of Chen purchasing items like band aids, isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide at various times in the afternoon hours of November 23. Coinciding with the timeline of his cleanup efforts, surveillance footage from Walmart clearly shows Chen at the register purchasing these items with an eerily calm demeanor. The prosecution keen to point out a number of notable items in the shot, such as the red and white Hennything Goes hat, a pair of white laced van shoes on his feet, and the card holder on his iPhone case with a logo of Boston College on it. Scott Miller, a security officer for the Signal View apartments and condos, took the stand. Next, he described collecting and reviewing footage from a parking lot security camera that captured Jasmine's car passing by the front office of the Signal view Condos at 900 Mountain Creek Road. The footage from the evening hours of November 23rd showed the white Chevy Equinox quickly driving in and out of the camera's frame of view. Then, minutes later, a dark colored Toyota Prius follows the same route. Footage from the RTIC or Arctic cams will later show this Prius dropping off a passenger about 12 minutes later in front of the lofts at Tremont at 110 Tremont Street. These pieces of evidence were critical in building the prosecution's case, further demonstrating Chen's calculated attempts to cover his tracks and mislead authorities. Before the court adjourned for the evening, the prosecution called their sixth witness to the stand, lead investigator Zachary Crawford of the Chattanooga Police Department. Crawford took the stand, gave his oath, and spoke his name for the record. He then explained his professional background and experience in law enforcement. On Sunday evening, November 27, while at home with his family, a colleague prompted him to look at some Facebook posts about Jasmine Pace's disappearance. The posts, along with emerging details around her disappearance, immediately caught his attention. By 7pm that night, the case had been escalated to a homicide investigation and Crawford would be assigned as the lead investigator on the case. With careful prompting from DA Cody Womp, investigator Crawford began walking the jury through the extensive crime scene investigation. He detailed the search efforts that involved multiple units, including homicide, crime scene, fugitive investigations, the FDA, FBI, and K9 teams. The warrant for 110 Tremont St. Apartment 210 was granted at 11:45pm on Nov. 27, allowing investigators to enter and begin their search. Crawford methodically explained how crime scene investigators processed Jason Chen's apartment. Upon entry, the apartment was empty, but the evidence left behind told its own story. Story as Crawford testified, a series of photos taken during the search are presented, including images of Chen's hallway, front entrance and bathroom tiles, all of which showed positive reactions to Blue Star, a forensic agent used to detect hidden blood. He described the removal of a carpet sample due to a dark red stain, blood trapped in the grout of the bathroom floor, and the eerie void inside Chen's closet exactly the size of a suitcase. Additionally, Crawford clarified there were no signs of forced entry in the apartment, contradicting any claims of a struggle initiated by Jasmine. He also noted that despite the defense's previous statements, there was no detectable smell of marijuana in the unit. As he walked the jury through 56 photos of evidence. The the prosecution carefully built the foundation for their case. Jason Chen had not acted out of panic, but instead had taken deliberate steps to cover up his crime. Listening to all this, I couldn't help but imagine how devastating it must have been for Jasmine's family to sit in that courtroom and hear these details unfold. The sheer brutality of what happened to her contrasted sharply with the defense's attempts to downplay the severity of the crime, shifting the blame onto Jasmine herself. It felt unjust, unsettling, like an attempt to rewrite her story. But the prosecution would methodically lay out the evidence piece by piece, and it would become clear that Jasmine's truth was undeniable. It was the evidence itself that would speak the loudest on her behalf. By now it was after 6pm And Judge Patterson noted that it would be a good stopping point for the day. He reminded the jurors of their obligation not to discuss the case or seek any outside information, and the court was adjourned set to reconvene at 9:30am the following morning. The courtroom stood as the 16 of us rose and exited out the back door. Soon we would be piling into our 15 passenger vans and being shuttled off to dinner with our four deputies who were quickly becoming our friendly support system. Day one was emotionally exhausting, a harrowing introduction to the weight of the case we would be asked to deliberate on. The prosecution had already begun piecing together the final moments of Jasmine's life, and with each new revelation, the gravity of our role as jurors became more real. This was not just a story anymore, it was a tragedy with real lives impacted forever. Next week on Sequestered we arrived at the home.

[Cody Womp]

Who is in the office?

[Joshua Weiss]

The parents of Jason Chin and her two emergency I advised them that I had a search warrant for the residence.

[Cody Womp]

Was Jason Chin at the residence?

[Joshua Weiss]

He was.

[Sarah Reed]

The evidence begins to stack up as investigators uncover blood stains, suspicious items near the dumpster, and chilling handwritten notes that tighten the case against Jason Chen, leading to his arrest at his parents house in Nolensville, Tennessee. The story continues. Stay with us. Thank you for listening to Sequestered A Juror's perspective on the murder trial for Jasmine Pace. Each episode brings us closer to understanding the trial, the people of involved and the weight of seeking justice. If this story speaks to you, please follow, share and continue the conversation with us. Jasmine's story deserves to be remembered. This is a BP production. The show is written, edited and produced by me, Sarah Reed with co production by Andrea Clyde. News clips featured in this episode were sourced from WTVC News Channel, Channel 9 Local 3 News, Chattanooga and the Law and Crime Network. Music and sound design are curated to reflect the gravity and sensitivity of this story and with the intent to honor Jasmine, her family and the community affected by her death. For more information or to connect with us, visit sequesteredpod.com or follow us on Instagramquesteredpod. Thank you for listening. Until next time Time Stay curious and stay safe.