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When Sara received an unexpected voicemail about jury duty, she never could have imagined where it would lead. Selected as Juror #11 in the high-profile murder trial of Jason Chen, accused of killing 22-year-old Jasmine Pace, Sara found herself sequestered for nine days in Chattanooga, TN, completely cut off from her normal life. This experience—of being removed from the world, living under strict rules, and bearing witness to a tragic case—forms the foundation of Sequestered: A Juror’s Perspective on the Murder of Jasmine Pace.

Here’s news coverage about why the jurors had to be brought in from Nashville. (WTVC)

A Case That Shook Chattanooga

Jasmine Pace, a young woman from Chattanooga, disappeared right before Thanksgiving in November 2022. What began as a missing persons case turned into something far worse when her body was discovered, leading to the arrest of her boyfriend, Jason Chen. The case gained significant media attention, making jury sequestration a necessity to ensure a fair trial.

For the 16 jurors (including 4 alternates) that were brought in from Nashville, TN, sequestration meant strict isolation—no media, no outside conversations, and no personal research on the case. In this episode, Sara details how these rules shaped her experience and shares the emotional weight of being part of a jury responsible for delivering justice in such a devastating case.

Jury Selection: A Strategic Process

Before stepping into the trial itself, Sara recounts the jury selection process at the Davidson County Courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee. She describes the courtroom’s layout, the presence of the defendant, and the legal teams at work:

Judge Boyd Patterson presiding over the trial
District Attorneys General Coty Wamp and Paul Moyle representing the prosecution
Defense attorneys Joshua Weiss and Amanda Morrison advocating for Jason Chen

Davidson County Courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee (Credit: Nashville Downtown Partnership)

As potential jurors were questioned, Sara quickly realized that jury selection is as much a strategic game as it is a legal process. Both sides aimed to choose individuals they believed would best serve their case, probing for biases, personal experiences, and perspectives on justice. When Sara was officially selected, she was immediately briefed on sequestration rules, which would shape her daily life until the trial concluded.

Life Under Sequestration

Few people experience what it’s like to be truly cut off from the outside world, and Sara describes the emotional and psychological challenges of this sudden isolation. Jurors surrendered their phones, avoided news coverage, and lived under constant supervision. They were transported together, stayed in court-arranged accommodations, and had their daily lives carefully managed to prevent outside influence.

Sara draws a poignant parallel between her experience and Jasmine Pace’s fate. While the jury’s isolation was temporary and served a higher purpose, Jasmine had no choice. She was forcibly separated from her family and friends in an act of violence that ended her life far too soon.

Here’s a news report from Local 3 news once the jury selection was complete:

Chattanooga: The Setting for Justice

As the trial moved forward, Sara gained a deeper appreciation for Chattanooga, the city where Jasmine’s life was tragically taken. She reflects on its natural beauty, history, and crime statistics, providing context for the case that gripped the local community.

While this first episode lays the groundwork for Sara’s experience as a sequestered juror, the coming episodes will dive deeper into the trial itself—the evidence presented, the testimonies that shaped the case, and the heavy burden of deciding Jason Chen’s fate.

Hamilton County Courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee (Credit: Brian Stansberry)

Honoring Jasmine Pace

Above all, Sequestered seeks to honor Jasmine Pace’s life. Sara’s journey through the justice system is not just about the legal process—it’s about ensuring that Jasmine is remembered, that her family’s loss is recognized, and that the truth of what happened to her is fully told.

Stay tuned for Episode 2, where Sara delves into the prosecution’s opening statements and the gripping first day of trial testimony.

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