February 10, 2025 • 25 mins
Sequestered. It’s a word most of us never think will apply to our lives, until it does. In this gripping first episode, Juror #11 takes us inside the moment she was called to serve on one of the most high-profile murder trials in Chattanooga’s history, TN vs Jason Chen.
From an unexpected voicemail about jury duty to the moment she surrendered her phone and freedom, Sara recounts the surreal experience of stepping into the legal process. She shares the tension of jury selection, the weight of being sworn in, and the shocking realization that she and 15 other strangers would decide the fate of Jason Chen—the man accused of brutally taking Jasmine Pace’s life.
This episode sets the stage for what’s to come: the isolation of sequestration, the emotional toll of the courtroom, and the responsibility of seeking justice. Through vivid storytelling and firsthand insight, SEQUESTERED pulls you into the heart of the trial, honoring Jasmine’s memory while uncovering the weighty reality of being a juror.
If you want to see photos and read the blog for this episode, click here!
Links from this episode:
Chattanooga Named "Best Place to Live in Tennesssee" by U.S. News & World Report
Crime Down Significantly Year-Over-Year in Chattanooga, New Statistics Show
Please rate, subscribe, and follow!
On our website, you can see more photos, videos, and blogs about each day of the trial, organized by episode. Go to SequesteredPod.com
Website: sequesteredpod.com
Instagram: @sequesteredpod
TikTok: @sequesteredpod
Thank you for listening.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:04):
I sequestered. It's not a word Iever thought would describe my
life, but for nine days it did.My phone was taken away. I
couldn't talk to my family, andevery decision about where I
went, what I ate, and even how Ispent my free time was made for
me. I was isolated, not justfrom the world, but from the
(00:24):
life I knew. And yet, as Ireflect on the trial, I can't
help but think that Jasmine,pace in her own way, was
sequestered too, separated fromher family, her friends, and
ultimately, her future. Whathappened to Jasmine wasn't just
tragic, it was cruel, and now itwas up to 12 strangers,
including me, to find the truthand seek justice for her. We
(00:49):
want
her home and we want her safe.Jasmine
pace hasn't been seen sinceNovember 22 Chattanooga Police
are investigating the case as amissing person. Police say she
may have turned to a boyfriendshe met several months ago on a
dating app to help her grievethey believe she may be with
that boyfriend.
(01:09):
Jasmine was a vibrant youngwoman, just 22 years old, she
had her whole life ahead of her,but in November of 2022 she went
missing her family and friendssearched desperately for her,
plastering her photo acrosssocial media and the local news.
It didn't take long for the townof Chattanooga to rally behind
them, hoping for her safereturn. But this story didn't
(01:33):
have the ending anyone hopedfor. Days later, her body was
discovered, and the man accusedof her murder, her boyfriend,
Jason Chen, was arrested. Whatfollowed was a trial that shook
the community and changed mylife forever. Chattanooga isn't
a place you'd expect to be thecenter of such a chilling story.
It's a picturesque town nestledbetween the mountains and the
(01:56):
Tennessee River, a place knownfor its charm and beauty, but in
the courtroom, I saw a differentside of this city, one filled
with grief, anger and adetermination for justice. This
podcast isn't just about thetrial. It's about Jasmine. It's
about the people who loved herand the strangers who fought for
(02:17):
her. It's about the experienceof being sequestered, both as a
juror and a human being, andit's about the choices we make
when the weight of justice restson our shoulders.
This is sequestered a juror'sperspective on the murder trial
(02:40):
for Jasmine. Pace, I'm Sarahjuror number 11. Each episode,
I'll take you inside thecourtroom, behind the scenes,
and into the weighty moments ofthis trial as we honor Jasmine's
life and navigate thecomplexities of seeking justice.
Let's begin you
(03:04):
This is episode one jury duty
in october 2024 I was caught offguard by a voicemail from the
Davidson County
Courthouse jury ServicesDivision. Our records indicate
(03:25):
that you were scheduled
to the message informed me thatI had failed to report for jury
duty. Jury Duty. I had nevereven received a summons. Unsure
of how this had happened, Iquickly followed the court's
instructions, filling out thenecessary information online to
rectify the situation over thenext several weeks, life moved
on as I traveled to New Zealandand Australia for work, but when
(03:48):
I returned home and dove intothe daunting task of catching up
on unopened mail, there it was,Jury Duty, clear as day. I
stared at the envelope, unawareof how profoundly it would shape
the weeks to come, the holidaysand New Year's celebrations came
and went, and before I knew it,2024 had ended. By January 8,
(04:13):
2025 I found myself walking intothe Davidson County Courthouse
in Nashville, Tennessee, joining117 other potential jurors in a
large, featureless room filledwith rows of chairs. I chose a
seat toward the back, pulled outmy phone and prepared to settle
in. It was clear we were goingto be here for a while. Some
(04:33):
people milled around the coffeestation at the front of the
room, pouring from a largecarafe and stirring in powdered
creamer before retreating totheir seats. Others were
engrossed in books, tapping onlaptops or scrolling mindlessly
on their phones. A few smallgroups formed, exchanging
grumbles about how thisunexpected civil duty was
disrupting their day. The airwas thick with a shared sense of
(04:56):
impatience and uncertainty as wewaited for our names to be
called. Men. We sat in the roomfor what felt like ages before,
a couple of important lookingmen called the first several
rows to stand. One man barkedinstructions about the third
floor and then escorted thegroup toward a set of elevators.
At least half of the room haddeparted by this point, leaving
(05:17):
the rest of us to wait. Hourslater, I found myself seated on
a wooden pew in the gallery of acourtroom. I chose a spot near
the back in the second row tothe last the remaining potential
jurors filled the other pews,and the two back rows were
reserved for what I assumed werefamily members connected to the
case. The courtroom had a senseof quiet gravity at the front of
(05:41):
the room, I immediately noticedthe judge, the bailiff and other
administrative staff moving withreverence. The defense team was
seated at a table facing thejury box, an attorney seated on
either side of the man I quicklyidentified as the defendant. His
name I would soon learn wasJason Chen. Chen appeared in the
courtroom with a reserveddemeanor. He had a slender
(06:04):
build, short black hair,glasses, and was dressed neatly
in professional attire. To me,He seemed nervous, though he
maintained a calm and composedpresence. His body language
restrained but alert in thiscourtroom, the jury box was
positioned across from thedefense table with general WAMP
(06:25):
and the prosecuting team seatedto the right, directly across
from them, presiding over thecourtroom with a calm authority
was Judge Patterson. It waspretty clear to me at this point
in the day that the process wasalready well underway. In the
jury box, 16 potential jurorsoccupied two rows of sleek black
office chairs. Each chair waspadded and noticeably
(06:48):
comfortable just in front ofthem, another five potential
jurors were seated in a singlerow of less accommodating
chairs, and their simpler designwas a stark contrast to the
cushy ones behind them. To me,the arrangement highlighted the
orderly and deliberate structureof the selection process,
underscoring the weight of thetask at hand. Judge Boyd
(07:11):
Patterson welcomed the remainingjurors into the courtroom. His
voice steady and authoritative.He began with introductions,
starting with District AttorneyGeneral, Cody WAMP and her co
counsel chief homicideprosecutor Paul Moyle, along
with defense attorneys JoshuaWeiss and Amanda Morrison, he
then provided a brief summary ofthe case, setting the stage for
(07:33):
what would become Anunforgettable experience. I
remember hearing something likethis.
The this is a high profilemurder case originating from
Chattanooga, which has garneredsignificant media attention to
ensure a fair and impartialtrial. 16 jurors will be
selected, 12 to serve on thejury panel, and four as
(07:55):
alternates. Due to the extensivecoverage and public interest in
the case, all selected jurorswill be sequestered in
Chattanooga to protect them fromoutside influence and to uphold
the integrity of the judicialprocess.
Judge Patterson addressed theroom with a straightforward
question, Has anyone heard ofthis case or recognized any of
(08:18):
the faces in this courtroomtoday? Hands hesitantly went up.
Those who raised their handswere called to the bench one by
one, where a few quiet wordswere exchanged. After each brief
interaction, those withinformation about the case and
the people involved were excusedfrom service. Once this initial
screening was complete, JudgePatterson delivered a formal
(08:39):
admonition to all potentialjurors, he instructed us not to
research the case, discuss itwith anyone, or form any
opinions based on outsideinformation. Then he dismissed
the room. We were to return tothe courthouse at 8:30am the
following morning on day two,the real work began selecting a
(09:04):
jury. Both legal teamsintroduced aspects of their case
and asked deeply personal andthought provoking questions of
those seated in the jury chairs.They asked about employment
history, marital status and theages of their children. Then
they dug into jurors, views onmurder, their ability to handle
graphic evidence, theirperspectives on law enforcement
(09:28):
and even whether they or someoneclose to them had ever been
arrested. What followed was astrategic and methodical
process, both sides volleyedeliminations, excusing jurors,
one by one slowly those seatedin the cheap seats were called
forward to fill the moreprominent jury chairs, and new
names were summoned to replenishthe front row. It was a delicate
(09:51):
game of musical chairs, each onebringing the trial one step
closer to beginning in earnestjust before our lunch break in.
My name was called. Whatfollowed lunch on this day was a
blur of events that seemed tohappen in mere minutes. My seat
was promptly upgraded to what Ireferred to as the first class
(10:11):
section in the jury box. Thelegal teams returned to their
sticky notes, deliberating onceagain, and before I had fully
processed what was happening,Judge Patterson had announced
that the jury had been selected.The remaining potential jurors
were excused from service, andthe final 1612, primary jurors
and four alternates wereofficially sworn in to serve for
(10:34):
the trial. With that, we werewhisked away into a jury room
tucked behind the courtroomwhere we received our official
instructions.
Ladies and gentlemen, you havebeen selected to serve as jurors
in this case because of thenature of this trial, you will
be sequestered in Chattanoogafor the duration of the
(10:55):
proceedings. This means that youwill be isolated from the public
and certain outside influencesto ensure that you remain
impartial and base your verdictsolely on the evidence presented
in the courtroom. Please listencarefully to the following
instructions, as it is essentialfor the integrity of the trial
that these rules are strictlyfollowed. You must avoid any
(11:15):
contact with the media, newsoutlets or anyone who is not
directly involved in this trial,do not read, watch or listen to
any news reports about this caseor conduct your own research.
You may not discuss this casewith family, friends, coworkers,
or even among yourselves untilyou are directed by the judge.
You will stay in accommodationsarranged by the court during
(11:38):
your time there, you will besupervised by deputies from the
Chattanooga Police Department atall times to ensure compliance
with these instructions, yourphones, computers and other
electronic devices will becollected and securely stored,
and you will be allowed one fiveminute phone call once per day.
Contact information for thebailiff will be provided in case
your family needs to communicatewith you for any urgent reason.
(12:00):
Remember, the purpose ofsequestration is to protect the
fairness of the trial and toensure that your verdict is
based only on the evidence andtestimony presented. Your role
is critical, and I thank you foryour service and dedication to
this important responsibility.
(12:21):
And with that, we were excused.
Jury selection is complete forthe murder trial of Jason Chen,
the man charged in stabbingdeath of Jasmine pace two years
ago,
the jury was selected fromNashville because of extensive
publicity of the case inChattanooga Grayson. Gordon has
the latest from Davidson County.Grayson,
right. Cindy David now bringingthose jurors in from an outside
(12:42):
county is definitely unusual,but we're told that it's
necessary with this case, due tothe publicity that it's already
had, we had a jury dismissedthis morning from seeing
something on the case withinthat 24 hours Tuesday. State law
says that all criminalprosecutions, excluding death
penalty cases, it is up to thejudge to determine if a jury
should be sequestered, sincethis is the case for this trial,
(13:03):
girls will be put up at aHamilton County hotel with no
electronics, their friends andfamily will be given a phone
number to call in case of anemergency. This is a first
degree murder case, which isdefined by state law as the
premeditated and intentionalkilling of another person.
Premeditation means the intentto kill must have been formed
before the act itself. The trialbegins Monday at 9am in Hamilton
(13:25):
County, and we'll be bringing alive updates from that reporting
in Davidson County, BressonBorden, with three news
we were required to report backto the Davidson County
courthouse on Sunday, January12, at 2pm exactly two and a
half days later, that meant Ihad just two and a half days to
prepare to leave my life behindfor two weeks cut off from
(13:49):
technology and the outsideworld. Upon our departure from
Nashville, our phones would betaken, leaving us with just one
five minute call each day, nophone, no TV, no white noise to
fall asleep to, and, mostimportantly, no talking about
the case, not even to our fellowjurors. The isolation was
absolute, a stark adjustment tomodern life and a reminder of
(14:13):
the responsibility we carried.My producer snagged a recording
on her iPhone as we were pullinginto the parking lot that
Sunday. Here's a glimpse intothe feelings I was having at
that moment. So we're pulling
up here. Is there anything youwant to share before you take
off on this crazy journey? I
have a lot of feelings of like,having to leave, like, it feels
(14:38):
like I'm going to, like,therapy, retreat or something,
because I have to say goodbye tomy people and my animals and my
life for two weeks. It'sactually quite hard, yeah, so,
but I know I'll move in to like,the right mode, yeah, you know
when, as soon as I get out ofthis truck? Yeah? Okay, we're
(14:59):
here. We're pulling. Into publicsquare, and here are the other
jurors saying goodbye to theirchildren. It's so sad. I mean, I
can't even imagine Okay,
the word sequestered has takenon a profound meaning for me.
Since my time on this jury, Ihave found myself reflecting
deeply on this experience. Soonafter I returned home, I looked
(15:23):
up the word and the definitionstruck me, isolated, hidden
away, secluded, concealed,taken. As I began to write and
piece together my experiences onthe sequester jury, I couldn't
help but draw this heartbreakingparallel. Jasmine pace had been
(15:43):
taken, secluded, hidden away.Jasmine pace had been
sequestered too. Throughout thispodcast, I will share my
perspective of this trial, butmy goal is to keep Jasmine at
the forefront. She deserves tobe remembered, honored and
brought into the light, Jasminedid not deserve to be
(16:04):
sequestered from her family, herfriends, or the life that was
taken from her to ground.
You in this story, it'simportant to share a little bit
about bit about Chattanooga,nestled in the southeastern
(16:27):
corner of Tennessee along theTennessee River. Chattanooga
borders Georgia to the south andsits at the very western edge of
the eastern time zone. It's hometo the University of Tennessee
at Chattanooga, which plays arole in this case, because
Jasmine Pace's boyfriend, JasonChen, was attending his senior
year at UTC majoring in ComputerScience at the time of her
(16:47):
death. Chattanooga, aptly namedthe Scenic City, is split by the
Tennessee River and sits at thejunction of the Ridge and Valley
Appalachians and the CumberlandPlateau, both part of the larger
Appalachian Mountains, the areadraws visitors year round with
its stunning natural beauty,including Lookout Mountain and
Ruby Falls, home to the world'stallest underground waterfall
(17:10):
open to the public during ouroff day. While sequestered, we
visited Ruby Falls. And I can'trecommend it enough if you ever
find yourself in the area,Chattanooga is internationally
recognized from Glenn Miller's1941 hit song. Chattanooga
downtown the city is connectedby four main bridges spanning
(17:33):
the Tennessee River. Thesepathways link the riverfront and
north shore to the TennesseeRiver Walk and the bluff view
art district, providing a uniquemix of outdoor and cultural
experiences. The history here isrich, offering countless stories
waiting to be uncovered. Ifyou're a curious mind like me,
I've included links in the shownotes to help you take a deeper
(17:55):
dive into Chattanoogafascinating past. Like many
cities, Chattanooga has facedits share of crime challenges.
However, according to a pressrelease from January 24 2025 the
city of Chattanooga and theChattanooga Police Department
reported an 11% overall drop inthe crime rate for 2024 despite
its challenges, Chattanooga hasearned a reputation as a vibrant
(18:18):
and desirable place to live andvisit. I always like to take a
peek at Reddit and see what thepeople are saying. My favorite
reply about what's it likeliving in Chattanooga read like
this.
It's great if you like outdoorsystuff, for sure, like climbers
come here from all over thecountry for the sandstone,
(18:39):
spoiled for choice of whitewaterrivers, we gotta hang gliding
launch if you want to learn howto do that. Hiking, of course,
is great, and there's so muchwithin an hour's drive. Oh, we
have both the greatestbiodiversity of salamanders on
Earth and the largest ones inNorth America, Hellbenders,
baby.
Turns out touch of the fishy isright. Chattanooga, Tennessee,
is home to an impressive varietyof salamanders, including the
(19:02):
Hellbender spotted salamanderand common mud puppy. If you're
a salamander enthusiast, you'llbe thrilled to know that the
Chattanooga zoo runs a programdedicated to repopulating the
Hellbender salamander, a speciesrapidly disappearing from the
area. Before my sequestration inChattanooga, I had visited the
(19:23):
city probably a half a dozentimes, living just two hours
away in Nashville, Chattanoogamakes for an easy go to weekend
getaway. The drive east onInterstate 24 where you emerge
from the mountains to thestunning view of Nick Ajak Lake
is one of my favorites. I'ddescribe Chattanooga as a
mountain town nestled along theriver, offering outdoor
adventures, creative energy andsurprisingly great food. As we
(19:49):
step into the first day oftrial, I want to bring you into
my head space. It's Sunday, 2pmin the afternoon, the time has
arrived. I'm being. Dropped offto join 15 other people and
start my jury service. I handover my phone, load my two large
suitcases into the back of a vanand climb in to meet my fellow
(20:11):
jurors for someone who isn'tnaturally outgoing. This was
like being thrown into the deepend of some wild social
experiment. It was just us. Thejurors split into 215, passenger
vans, oh, and the deputiesguarding and driving us to
Chattanooga. Some of us talked.Some had books or journals to
(20:32):
focus on, but there wasn't muchelse to distract us, except for
the task ahead. I watcheddowntown Nashville fade away
through the van window. Ialready missed my person and my
dogs. With a deep breath, I letacceptance settle over me. This
was my world now for the next 10to 14 days at least, when we
(20:56):
arrived at the hotel, I checkedinto my room and began unpacking
my clothes and other essentials,knowing this would be my home
for the foreseeable future, Imoved in to pass the time, I
sketched a diagram of my hotelroom. It's posted on our website
if you're curious about myartistic skills, the knocking on
a door would become a new formof communication for me, serving
(21:20):
both as my morning wake up calland signaling the jury that the
judge was ready for us, no TV,no phone, no electronics. This
was all to ensure we remainshielded from any media coverage
of the state of Tennessee versusJason Chen. The rules were
strict, but I understood whythis case had dominated the news
(21:42):
in Chattanooga. I've shared somuch about the city of
Chattanooga to help youunderstand why the jury for this
trial had to be brought in fromanother part of the state. Cases
like this are not common inChattanooga, and Jasmine Pace's
disappearance shook the entirecommunity. The search for
Jasmine was everywhere, on thenews, in the media, and on the
(22:05):
hearts and minds of the peopleall over town. This was a city
desperate for answers anddesperate to bring Jasmine home.
I understood the need forsequestration. This case, wasn't
just in the news, it was thenews in Chattanooga. Next time
(22:27):
on sequestered,
this is the suitcase in whichJason stuck
the 98 pound body of Jasmine.Pace. Early hours.
October, 23 2022 Jason killedjazz.
(22:53):
The trial begins with shockingopening statements that set a
defining tone. We'll hear from amother desperate for answers and
an investigator determined touncover the truth. This is just
the beginning. We'll see in thenext episode.
(23:13):
Thank you for listening tosequester a juror's perspective
on the murder trial for Jasminepace, each episode brings us
closer to understanding thetrial, the people involved, and
the weight of seeking justice.If this story speaks to you,
please follow, share andcontinue the conversation with
us. Jasmine's story deserves tobe remembered. This is a BP
(23:37):
production. The show is written,edited and produced by me Sarah
Reed, with CO production byAndrea Kleid. News clips
featured in this episode weresourced from wtvc News Channel
Nine, local three newsChattanooga and the law and
crime network. Music and sounddesign are curated to reflect
(23:58):
the gravity and sensitivity ofthis story, and with the intent
to honor Jasmine, her family andthe community affected by her
death. For more information orto connect with us, visit
sequestered pod.com or follow uson Instagram at sequestered pod.
Thank you for listening untilnext Time, stay curious and stay
(24:18):
safe. You
I sequestered. It's not a word Iever thought would describe my
life, but for nine days it did.My phone was taken away. I
couldn't talk to my family, andevery decision about where I
went, what I ate, and even how Ispent my free time was made for
me. I was isolated, not justfrom the world, but from the
(00:24):
life I knew. And yet, as Ireflect on the trial, I can't
help but think that Jasmine,pace in her own way, was
sequestered too, separated fromher family, her friends, and
ultimately, her future. Whathappened to Jasmine wasn't just
tragic, it was cruel, and now itwas up to 12 strangers,
including me, to find the truthand seek justice for her. We
(00:49):
want
her home and we want her safe.Jasmine
pace hasn't been seen sinceNovember 22 Chattanooga Police
are investigating the case as amissing person. Police say she
may have turned to a boyfriendshe met several months ago on a
dating app to help her grievethey believe she may be with
that boyfriend.
(01:09):
Jasmine was a vibrant youngwoman, just 22 years old, she
had her whole life ahead of her,but in November of 2022 she went
missing her family and friendssearched desperately for her,
plastering her photo acrosssocial media and the local news.
It didn't take long for the townof Chattanooga to rally behind
them, hoping for her safereturn. But this story didn't
(01:33):
have the ending anyone hopedfor. Days later, her body was
discovered, and the man accusedof her murder, her boyfriend,
Jason Chen, was arrested. Whatfollowed was a trial that shook
the community and changed mylife forever. Chattanooga isn't
a place you'd expect to be thecenter of such a chilling story.
It's a picturesque town nestledbetween the mountains and the
(01:56):
Tennessee River, a place knownfor its charm and beauty, but in
the courtroom, I saw a differentside of this city, one filled
with grief, anger and adetermination for justice. This
podcast isn't just about thetrial. It's about Jasmine. It's
about the people who loved herand the strangers who fought for
(02:17):
her. It's about the experienceof being sequestered, both as a
juror and a human being, andit's about the choices we make
when the weight of justice restson our shoulders.
This is sequestered a juror'sperspective on the murder trial
(02:40):
for Jasmine. Pace, I'm Sarahjuror number 11. Each episode,
I'll take you inside thecourtroom, behind the scenes,
and into the weighty moments ofthis trial as we honor Jasmine's
life and navigate thecomplexities of seeking justice.
Let's begin you
(03:04):
This is episode one jury duty
in october 2024 I was caught offguard by a voicemail from the
Davidson County
Courthouse jury ServicesDivision. Our records indicate
(03:25):
that you were scheduled
to the message informed me thatI had failed to report for jury
duty. Jury Duty. I had nevereven received a summons. Unsure
of how this had happened, Iquickly followed the court's
instructions, filling out thenecessary information online to
rectify the situation over thenext several weeks, life moved
on as I traveled to New Zealandand Australia for work, but when
(03:48):
I returned home and dove intothe daunting task of catching up
on unopened mail, there it was,Jury Duty, clear as day. I
stared at the envelope, unawareof how profoundly it would shape
the weeks to come, the holidaysand New Year's celebrations came
and went, and before I knew it,2024 had ended. By January 8,
(04:13):
2025 I found myself walking intothe Davidson County Courthouse
in Nashville, Tennessee, joining117 other potential jurors in a
large, featureless room filledwith rows of chairs. I chose a
seat toward the back, pulled outmy phone and prepared to settle
in. It was clear we were goingto be here for a while. Some
(04:33):
people milled around the coffeestation at the front of the
room, pouring from a largecarafe and stirring in powdered
creamer before retreating totheir seats. Others were
engrossed in books, tapping onlaptops or scrolling mindlessly
on their phones. A few smallgroups formed, exchanging
grumbles about how thisunexpected civil duty was
disrupting their day. The airwas thick with a shared sense of
(04:56):
impatience and uncertainty as wewaited for our names to be
called. Men. We sat in the roomfor what felt like ages before,
a couple of important lookingmen called the first several
rows to stand. One man barkedinstructions about the third
floor and then escorted thegroup toward a set of elevators.
At least half of the room haddeparted by this point, leaving
(05:17):
the rest of us to wait. Hourslater, I found myself seated on
a wooden pew in the gallery of acourtroom. I chose a spot near
the back in the second row tothe last the remaining potential
jurors filled the other pews,and the two back rows were
reserved for what I assumed werefamily members connected to the
case. The courtroom had a senseof quiet gravity at the front of
(05:41):
the room, I immediately noticedthe judge, the bailiff and other
administrative staff moving withreverence. The defense team was
seated at a table facing thejury box, an attorney seated on
either side of the man I quicklyidentified as the defendant. His
name I would soon learn wasJason Chen. Chen appeared in the
courtroom with a reserveddemeanor. He had a slender
(06:04):
build, short black hair,glasses, and was dressed neatly
in professional attire. To me,He seemed nervous, though he
maintained a calm and composedpresence. His body language
restrained but alert in thiscourtroom, the jury box was
positioned across from thedefense table with general WAMP
(06:25):
and the prosecuting team seatedto the right, directly across
from them, presiding over thecourtroom with a calm authority
was Judge Patterson. It waspretty clear to me at this point
in the day that the process wasalready well underway. In the
jury box, 16 potential jurorsoccupied two rows of sleek black
office chairs. Each chair waspadded and noticeably
(06:48):
comfortable just in front ofthem, another five potential
jurors were seated in a singlerow of less accommodating
chairs, and their simpler designwas a stark contrast to the
cushy ones behind them. To me,the arrangement highlighted the
orderly and deliberate structureof the selection process,
underscoring the weight of thetask at hand. Judge Boyd
(07:11):
Patterson welcomed the remainingjurors into the courtroom. His
voice steady and authoritative.He began with introductions,
starting with District AttorneyGeneral, Cody WAMP and her co
counsel chief homicideprosecutor Paul Moyle, along
with defense attorneys JoshuaWeiss and Amanda Morrison, he
then provided a brief summary ofthe case, setting the stage for
(07:33):
what would become Anunforgettable experience. I
remember hearing something likethis.
The this is a high profilemurder case originating from
Chattanooga, which has garneredsignificant media attention to
ensure a fair and impartialtrial. 16 jurors will be
selected, 12 to serve on thejury panel, and four as
(07:55):
alternates. Due to the extensivecoverage and public interest in
the case, all selected jurorswill be sequestered in
Chattanooga to protect them fromoutside influence and to uphold
the integrity of the judicialprocess.
Judge Patterson addressed theroom with a straightforward
question, Has anyone heard ofthis case or recognized any of
(08:18):
the faces in this courtroomtoday? Hands hesitantly went up.
Those who raised their handswere called to the bench one by
one, where a few quiet wordswere exchanged. After each brief
interaction, those withinformation about the case and
the people involved were excusedfrom service. Once this initial
screening was complete, JudgePatterson delivered a formal
(08:39):
admonition to all potentialjurors, he instructed us not to
research the case, discuss itwith anyone, or form any
opinions based on outsideinformation. Then he dismissed
the room. We were to return tothe courthouse at 8:30am the
following morning on day two,the real work began selecting a
(09:04):
jury. Both legal teamsintroduced aspects of their case
and asked deeply personal andthought provoking questions of
those seated in the jury chairs.They asked about employment
history, marital status and theages of their children. Then
they dug into jurors, views onmurder, their ability to handle
graphic evidence, theirperspectives on law enforcement
(09:28):
and even whether they or someoneclose to them had ever been
arrested. What followed was astrategic and methodical
process, both sides volleyedeliminations, excusing jurors,
one by one slowly those seatedin the cheap seats were called
forward to fill the moreprominent jury chairs, and new
names were summoned to replenishthe front row. It was a delicate
(09:51):
game of musical chairs, each onebringing the trial one step
closer to beginning in earnestjust before our lunch break in.
My name was called. Whatfollowed lunch on this day was a
blur of events that seemed tohappen in mere minutes. My seat
was promptly upgraded to what Ireferred to as the first class
(10:11):
section in the jury box. Thelegal teams returned to their
sticky notes, deliberating onceagain, and before I had fully
processed what was happening,Judge Patterson had announced
that the jury had been selected.The remaining potential jurors
were excused from service, andthe final 1612, primary jurors
and four alternates wereofficially sworn in to serve for
(10:34):
the trial. With that, we werewhisked away into a jury room
tucked behind the courtroomwhere we received our official
instructions.
Ladies and gentlemen, you havebeen selected to serve as jurors
in this case because of thenature of this trial, you will
be sequestered in Chattanoogafor the duration of the
(10:55):
proceedings. This means that youwill be isolated from the public
and certain outside influencesto ensure that you remain
impartial and base your verdictsolely on the evidence presented
in the courtroom. Please listencarefully to the following
instructions, as it is essentialfor the integrity of the trial
that these rules are strictlyfollowed. You must avoid any
(11:15):
contact with the media, newsoutlets or anyone who is not
directly involved in this trial,do not read, watch or listen to
any news reports about this caseor conduct your own research.
You may not discuss this casewith family, friends, coworkers,
or even among yourselves untilyou are directed by the judge.
You will stay in accommodationsarranged by the court during
(11:38):
your time there, you will besupervised by deputies from the
Chattanooga Police Department atall times to ensure compliance
with these instructions, yourphones, computers and other
electronic devices will becollected and securely stored,
and you will be allowed one fiveminute phone call once per day.
Contact information for thebailiff will be provided in case
your family needs to communicatewith you for any urgent reason.
(12:00):
Remember, the purpose ofsequestration is to protect the
fairness of the trial and toensure that your verdict is
based only on the evidence andtestimony presented. Your role
is critical, and I thank you foryour service and dedication to
this important responsibility.
(12:21):
And with that, we were excused.
Jury selection is complete forthe murder trial of Jason Chen,
the man charged in stabbingdeath of Jasmine pace two years
ago,
the jury was selected fromNashville because of extensive
publicity of the case inChattanooga Grayson. Gordon has
the latest from Davidson County.Grayson,
right. Cindy David now bringingthose jurors in from an outside
(12:42):
county is definitely unusual,but we're told that it's
necessary with this case, due tothe publicity that it's already
had, we had a jury dismissedthis morning from seeing
something on the case withinthat 24 hours Tuesday. State law
says that all criminalprosecutions, excluding death
penalty cases, it is up to thejudge to determine if a jury
should be sequestered, sincethis is the case for this trial,
(13:03):
girls will be put up at aHamilton County hotel with no
electronics, their friends andfamily will be given a phone
number to call in case of anemergency. This is a first
degree murder case, which isdefined by state law as the
premeditated and intentionalkilling of another person.
Premeditation means the intentto kill must have been formed
before the act itself. The trialbegins Monday at 9am in Hamilton
(13:25):
County, and we'll be bringing alive updates from that reporting
in Davidson County, BressonBorden, with three news
we were required to report backto the Davidson County
courthouse on Sunday, January12, at 2pm exactly two and a
half days later, that meant Ihad just two and a half days to
prepare to leave my life behindfor two weeks cut off from
(13:49):
technology and the outsideworld. Upon our departure from
Nashville, our phones would betaken, leaving us with just one
five minute call each day, nophone, no TV, no white noise to
fall asleep to, and, mostimportantly, no talking about
the case, not even to our fellowjurors. The isolation was
absolute, a stark adjustment tomodern life and a reminder of
(14:13):
the responsibility we carried.My producer snagged a recording
on her iPhone as we were pullinginto the parking lot that
Sunday. Here's a glimpse intothe feelings I was having at
that moment. So we're pulling
up here. Is there anything youwant to share before you take
off on this crazy journey? I
have a lot of feelings of like,having to leave, like, it feels
(14:38):
like I'm going to, like,therapy, retreat or something,
because I have to say goodbye tomy people and my animals and my
life for two weeks. It'sactually quite hard, yeah, so,
but I know I'll move in to like,the right mode, yeah, you know
when, as soon as I get out ofthis truck? Yeah? Okay, we're
(14:59):
here. We're pulling. Into publicsquare, and here are the other
jurors saying goodbye to theirchildren. It's so sad. I mean, I
can't even imagine Okay,
the word sequestered has takenon a profound meaning for me.
Since my time on this jury, Ihave found myself reflecting
deeply on this experience. Soonafter I returned home, I looked
(15:23):
up the word and the definitionstruck me, isolated, hidden
away, secluded, concealed,taken. As I began to write and
piece together my experiences onthe sequester jury, I couldn't
help but draw this heartbreakingparallel. Jasmine pace had been
(15:43):
taken, secluded, hidden away.Jasmine pace had been
sequestered too. Throughout thispodcast, I will share my
perspective of this trial, butmy goal is to keep Jasmine at
the forefront. She deserves tobe remembered, honored and
brought into the light, Jasminedid not deserve to be
(16:04):
sequestered from her family, herfriends, or the life that was
taken from her to ground.
You in this story, it'simportant to share a little bit
about bit about Chattanooga,nestled in the southeastern
(16:27):
corner of Tennessee along theTennessee River. Chattanooga
borders Georgia to the south andsits at the very western edge of
the eastern time zone. It's hometo the University of Tennessee
at Chattanooga, which plays arole in this case, because
Jasmine Pace's boyfriend, JasonChen, was attending his senior
year at UTC majoring in ComputerScience at the time of her
(16:47):
death. Chattanooga, aptly namedthe Scenic City, is split by the
Tennessee River and sits at thejunction of the Ridge and Valley
Appalachians and the CumberlandPlateau, both part of the larger
Appalachian Mountains, the areadraws visitors year round with
its stunning natural beauty,including Lookout Mountain and
Ruby Falls, home to the world'stallest underground waterfall
(17:10):
open to the public during ouroff day. While sequestered, we
visited Ruby Falls. And I can'trecommend it enough if you ever
find yourself in the area,Chattanooga is internationally
recognized from Glenn Miller's1941 hit song. Chattanooga
downtown the city is connectedby four main bridges spanning
(17:33):
the Tennessee River. Thesepathways link the riverfront and
north shore to the TennesseeRiver Walk and the bluff view
art district, providing a uniquemix of outdoor and cultural
experiences. The history here isrich, offering countless stories
waiting to be uncovered. Ifyou're a curious mind like me,
I've included links in the shownotes to help you take a deeper
(17:55):
dive into Chattanoogafascinating past. Like many
cities, Chattanooga has facedits share of crime challenges.
However, according to a pressrelease from January 24 2025 the
city of Chattanooga and theChattanooga Police Department
reported an 11% overall drop inthe crime rate for 2024 despite
its challenges, Chattanooga hasearned a reputation as a vibrant
(18:18):
and desirable place to live andvisit. I always like to take a
peek at Reddit and see what thepeople are saying. My favorite
reply about what's it likeliving in Chattanooga read like
this.
It's great if you like outdoorsystuff, for sure, like climbers
come here from all over thecountry for the sandstone,
(18:39):
spoiled for choice of whitewaterrivers, we gotta hang gliding
launch if you want to learn howto do that. Hiking, of course,
is great, and there's so muchwithin an hour's drive. Oh, we
have both the greatestbiodiversity of salamanders on
Earth and the largest ones inNorth America, Hellbenders,
baby.
Turns out touch of the fishy isright. Chattanooga, Tennessee,
is home to an impressive varietyof salamanders, including the
(19:02):
Hellbender spotted salamanderand common mud puppy. If you're
a salamander enthusiast, you'llbe thrilled to know that the
Chattanooga zoo runs a programdedicated to repopulating the
Hellbender salamander, a speciesrapidly disappearing from the
area. Before my sequestration inChattanooga, I had visited the
(19:23):
city probably a half a dozentimes, living just two hours
away in Nashville, Chattanoogamakes for an easy go to weekend
getaway. The drive east onInterstate 24 where you emerge
from the mountains to thestunning view of Nick Ajak Lake
is one of my favorites. I'ddescribe Chattanooga as a
mountain town nestled along theriver, offering outdoor
adventures, creative energy andsurprisingly great food. As we
(19:49):
step into the first day oftrial, I want to bring you into
my head space. It's Sunday, 2pmin the afternoon, the time has
arrived. I'm being. Dropped offto join 15 other people and
start my jury service. I handover my phone, load my two large
suitcases into the back of a vanand climb in to meet my fellow
(20:11):
jurors for someone who isn'tnaturally outgoing. This was
like being thrown into the deepend of some wild social
experiment. It was just us. Thejurors split into 215, passenger
vans, oh, and the deputiesguarding and driving us to
Chattanooga. Some of us talked.Some had books or journals to
(20:32):
focus on, but there wasn't muchelse to distract us, except for
the task ahead. I watcheddowntown Nashville fade away
through the van window. Ialready missed my person and my
dogs. With a deep breath, I letacceptance settle over me. This
was my world now for the next 10to 14 days at least, when we
(20:56):
arrived at the hotel, I checkedinto my room and began unpacking
my clothes and other essentials,knowing this would be my home
for the foreseeable future, Imoved in to pass the time, I
sketched a diagram of my hotelroom. It's posted on our website
if you're curious about myartistic skills, the knocking on
a door would become a new formof communication for me, serving
(21:20):
both as my morning wake up calland signaling the jury that the
judge was ready for us, no TV,no phone, no electronics. This
was all to ensure we remainshielded from any media coverage
of the state of Tennessee versusJason Chen. The rules were
strict, but I understood whythis case had dominated the news
(21:42):
in Chattanooga. I've shared somuch about the city of
Chattanooga to help youunderstand why the jury for this
trial had to be brought in fromanother part of the state. Cases
like this are not common inChattanooga, and Jasmine Pace's
disappearance shook the entirecommunity. The search for
Jasmine was everywhere, on thenews, in the media, and on the
(22:05):
hearts and minds of the peopleall over town. This was a city
desperate for answers anddesperate to bring Jasmine home.
I understood the need forsequestration. This case, wasn't
just in the news, it was thenews in Chattanooga. Next time
(22:27):
on sequestered,
this is the suitcase in whichJason stuck
the 98 pound body of Jasmine.Pace. Early hours.
October, 23 2022 Jason killedjazz.
(22:53):
The trial begins with shockingopening statements that set a
defining tone. We'll hear from amother desperate for answers and
an investigator determined touncover the truth. This is just
the beginning. We'll see in thenext episode.
(23:13):
Thank you for listening tosequester a juror's perspective
on the murder trial for Jasminepace, each episode brings us
closer to understanding thetrial, the people involved, and
the weight of seeking justice.If this story speaks to you,
please follow, share andcontinue the conversation with
us. Jasmine's story deserves tobe remembered. This is a BP
(23:37):
production. The show is written,edited and produced by me Sarah
Reed, with CO production byAndrea Kleid. News clips
featured in this episode weresourced from wtvc News Channel
Nine, local three newsChattanooga and the law and
crime network. Music and sounddesign are curated to reflect
(23:58):
the gravity and sensitivity ofthis story, and with the intent
to honor Jasmine, her family andthe community affected by her
death. For more information orto connect with us, visit
sequestered pod.com or follow uson Instagram at sequestered pod.
Thank you for listening untilnext Time, stay curious and stay
(24:18):
safe. You
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