Sequestered: A Juror’s Perspective on the Murder Trial of Jasmine Pace 

Episode 2: The Trial Begins

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Before we begin, please be advised that this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence as presented during the trial. Please take care while listening.

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It's Monday morning, January 13, 2025, 6 a.m. 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.

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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 officers 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.

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By 8 a.m., we are loaded into our designated vans and driven to the courthouse. Upon arrival, 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 pre-trial matters are still being handled, and the judge will let them 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.

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The room is small, maybe 20 feet long by 10 feet wide. On the wall opposite 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.

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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.

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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 Wintergreen Life Savers, which everyone appreciated.

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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.

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Then at 1:26 p.m., the bailiff knocks on the jury room door. The judge is ready for us.

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This is Sequestered: A Juror's Perspective on the Murder Trial for Jasmine Pace.

I'm Sara, Juror #11. Each episode, I'll take you inside the courtroom, behind the scenes, and into the weighty moments of this trial as we honor Jasmine's life and navigate the complexities of seeking justice. Let's begin.

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Episode 2: 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.

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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.

"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."

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As we step into the Hamilton County courtroom, the layout immediately defines the space where the trial will unfold. Judge Patterson’s bench sits elevated 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 Coty Wamp and Chief Homicide Prosecutor Paul Moyle. Beside them is a third person, who we would later learn to be lead investigator Zachary Crawford, a key figure in the case.

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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, all of which are in dire need of WD-40. 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:

"Violations of state law for statute 39-13-202, charging the defendant with first-degree premeditated murder. The defendant pleads not guilty. The defendant is presumed to be innocent for the charge against him. He may not be found guilty unless, upon considering all the evidence and instructions of law, 12 jurors in this case unanimously find that the state has proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt."

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 outlines the trial process, explaining that evidence will include witness testimony, documents, and physical exhibits, and that the jurors may submit questions.

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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.

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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 7 p.m. 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 Coty Wamp, 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 FBI, and canine teams. The warrant for 110 Tremont Street, apartment 210, was granted and executed at 11:45 p.m. on November 27, allowing investigators to enter and begin their search.

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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.

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As Crawford testified, a series of photos taken during the search were presented, including images of Chen’s hallway, front entrance, and bathroom tiles, all of which showed positive reactions to Bluestar—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.

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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.

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As he walked the jury through 56 photos of evidence, the prosecution carefully built the foundation for their case. Jason Chen had not acted out of panic; instead, he 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.

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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 6 p.m., 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 9:30 a.m. the following morning.

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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.

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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.

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Next Time on Sequestered

"When you arrived at the home of the parents of Jason, I advised them that I had a search warrant for the residence. Was Jason Chen in the residence?"

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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.

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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 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.

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This is a BP production. The show is written, edited, and produced by me, Sara Reid, with co-production by Andrea Kleid. News clips featured in this episode were sourced from WTVC News Channel Nine, Local Three News Chattanooga, and the Law and Crime Network. Music and sound design are curated to reflect the gravity and sensitivity of this story, with the intent to honor Jasmine, her family, and the community affected by her death.

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For more information or to connect with us, visit SequesteredPod.com or follow us on Instagram at @sequesteredpod.

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Thank you for listening. Until next time, stay curious and stay safe.

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