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I sequestered. It's not a word I ever thought would describe my life, but for nine days it did.

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My phone was taken away. I couldn't talk to my family, and every decision about where I went, what I ate, and even how I spent my free time was made for me. I was isolated, not just from the world, but from the life I knew. And yet, as I reflect on the trial, I can't help but think that Jasmine, pace in her own way, was sequestered too, separated from her family, her friends, and ultimately, her future. What happened to Jasmine wasn't just tragic. It was cruel, and now it was up to 12 strangers, including me, to find the truth and seek justice for her. We want her home and we want her safe.

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Jasmine pace hasn't been seen since November 22 Chattanooga Police are investigating the case as a missing person. Police say she may have turned to a boyfriend she met several months ago on a dating app to help her grieve they believe she may be with that boyfriend.

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Jasmine was a vibrant young woman, just 22 years old, she had her whole life ahead of her, but in November of 2022 she went missing. Her family and friends searched desperately for her, plastering her photo across social media and the local news.

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It didn't take long for the town of Chattanooga to rally behind them, hoping for her safe return. But this story didn't have the ending anyone hoped for. Days later, her body was discovered, and the man accused of her murder, her boyfriend, Jason Chen, was arrested. What followed was a trial that shook the community and changed my life forever. Chattanooga isn't a place you'd expect to be the center of such a chilling story.

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It's a picturesque town nestled between the mountains and the Tennessee River, a place known for its charm and beauty, but in the courtroom, I saw a different side of this city, one filled with grief, anger and a determination for justice. This podcast isn't just about the trial. It's about Jasmine. It's about the people who loved her and the strangers who fought for her. It's about the experience of being sequestered, both as a juror and a human being, and it's about the choices we make when the weight of justice rests on our shoulders.

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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 into the weighty moments of this trial as we honor Jasmine's life and navigate the complexities of seeking justice.

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Let's begin you This is episode one jury duty in october 2024 I was caught off guard by a voicemail from the Davidson County Courthouse jury Services Division, our records indicate that you were scheduled to the message informed me that I had failed to report for jury duty. Jury Duty. I had never even received a summons. Unsure of how this had happened, I quickly followed the court's instructions, filling out the necessary information online to rectify the situation over the next several weeks, life moved on as I traveled to New Zealand and Australia for work, but when I returned home and dove into the daunting task of catching up on unopened mail, there it was jury duty, clear as day. I stared at the envelope, unaware of how profoundly it would shape the weeks to come. The holidays and New Year's celebrations came and went, and before I knew it, 2024 had ended. By January 8, 2025 I found myself walking into the Davidson County Courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee, joining 117 other potential jurors in a large, featureless room filled with rows of chairs. I chose a seat toward the back, pulled out my phone and prepared to settle in. It was clear we were going to be here for a while. Some people milled around the coffee station at the front of the room, pouring from a large carafe and stirring in powdered creamer before retreating to their seats. Others were engrossed in books, tapping on laptops or scrolling mindlessly on their phones. A few small groups formed exchanging grumbles about how this unexpected civil duty was disrupting their day. The air was thick with a shared sense of impatience and uncertainty as we waited for our names to be called. Club. We sat in the room for what felt like ages before a couple of important looking men called the first several rows to stand. One man barked instructions about the third floor and then escorted the group toward a set of elevators.

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At least half of the room had departed by this point, leaving the rest of us to wait. Hours later, I found myself seated on a wooden pew in the gallery of a courtroom. I chose a spot near the back in the second row to the last the remaining potential jurors filled the other pews, and the two back rows were reserved for what I assumed were family members connected to the case. The courtroom had a sense of quiet gravity at the front of the room, I immediately noticed the judge, the bailiff and other administrative staff moving with reverence. The defense team was seated at a table facing the jury box, an attorney seated on either side of the man I quickly identified as the defendant. His name I would soon learn was Jason Chen. Chen appeared in the courtroom with a reserve demeanor. He had a slender build, short black hair, glasses, and was dressed neatly in professional attire. To me, He seemed nervous, though he maintained a calm and composed presence. His body language restrained but alert in this courtroom, the jury box was positioned across from the defense table with general WAMP and the prosecuting team seated to the right, directly across from them, presiding over the courtroom with a calm authority was Judge Patterson. It was pretty clear to me at this point in the day that the process was already well underway. In the jury box, 16 potential jurors occupied two rows of sleek black office chairs. Each chair was padded and noticeably comfortable. Just in front of them, another five potential jurors were seated in a single row of less accommodating chairs, and their simpler design was a stark contrast to the cushy ones behind them. To me, the arrangement highlighted the orderly and deliberate structure of the selection process, underscoring the weight of the task at hand. Judge Boyd Patterson welcomed the remaining jurors into the courtroom. His voice steady and authoritative.

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He began with introductions, starting with District Attorney General, Cody WAMP and her co counsel chief homicide prosecutor Paul Moyle, along with defense attorneys Joshua Weiss and Amanda Morrison, he then provided a brief summary of the case, setting the stage for what would become An unforgettable experience. I remember hearing something like this. I This is a high profile murder case originating from Chattanooga, which has garnered significant media attention to ensure a fair and impartial trial. 16 jurors will be selected, 12 to serve on the jury panel and four as alternates, due to the extensive coverage and public interest in the case, all selected jurors will be sequestered in Chattanooga to protect them from outside influence and to uphold the integrity of the judicial process.

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Judge Patterson addressed the room with a straightforward question, Has anyone heard of this case or recognized any of the faces in this courtroom today? Hands hesitantly went up.

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Those who raised their hands were called to the bench one by one, where a few quiet words were exchanged. After each brief interaction, those with information about the case and the people involved were excused from service. Once this initial screening was complete, Judge Patterson delivered a formal admonition to all potential jurors, he instructed us not to research the case, discuss it with anyone, or form any opinions based on outside information. Then he dismissed the room. We were to return to the courthouse at 8:30am the following morning on day two, the real work began selecting a jury. Both legal teams introduced aspects of their case and asked deeply personal and thought provoking questions of those seated in the jury chairs.

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They asked about employment history, marital status and the ages of their children. Then they dug into jurors, views on murder, their ability to handle graphic evidence, their perspectives on law enforcement and even whether they or someone close to them had ever been arrested. What followed was a strategic and methodical process, both sides volleyed eliminations, excusing jurors, one by one slowly those seated in the cheap seats were called forward to fill the more prominent jury chairs, and new names were summoned to replenish the front row. It was a delicate game of musical chairs, each one bringing the trial one step closer to beginning in earnest just before our lunch break in.

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My name was called. What followed lunch on this day was a blur of events that seemed to happen in mere minutes. My seat was promptly upgraded to what I referred to as the first class section in the jury box. The legal teams returned to their sticky notes, deliberating once again, 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, and the final 1612, primary jurors and four alternates were officially sworn in to serve for the trial. With that, we were whisked away into a jury room tucked behind the courtroom where we received our official instructions.

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Ladies and gentlemen, you have been selected to serve as jurors in this case because of the nature of this trial, you will be sequestered in Chattanooga for the duration of the proceedings. This means that you will be isolated from the public and certain outside influences to ensure that you remain impartial and base your verdict solely on the evidence presented in the courtroom. Please listen carefully to the following instructions, as it is essential for the integrity of the trial that these rules are strictly followed. You must avoid any contact with the media, news outlets or anyone who is not directly involved in this trial, do not read, watch or listen to any news reports about this case or conduct your own research.

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You may not discuss this case with family, friends, co workers, or even among yourselves until you are directed by the judge. You will stay in accommodations arranged by the court during your time there, you will be supervised by deputies from the Chattanooga Police Department at all times to ensure compliance with these instructions, your phones, computers and other electronic devices will be collected and securely stored, and you will be allowed one five minute phone call once per day. Contact information for the bailiff will be provided in case your family needs to communicate with you for any urgent reason. Remember, the purpose of sequestration is to protect the fairness of the trial and to ensure that your verdict is based only on the evidence and testimony presented. Your role is critical, and I thank you for your service and dedication to this important responsibility.

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And with that, we were excused.

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Jury selection is complete for the murder trial of Jason Chen, the man charged in the stabbing death of Jasmine pace two years ago, the jury was selected from Nashville because of extensive publicity of the case in Chattanooga Grayson. Gordon has the latest from Davidson County.

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Grayson, right Cindy David, now bringing those jurors in from an outside county is definitely unusual, but we're told that it's necessary with this case, due to the publicity that it's already had, we had a jury dismissed this morning from seeing something on the case within that 24 hours. Tennessee State law says that all criminal prosecutions, excluding death penalty cases, it is up to the judge to determine if a jury should be requested, since this is the case for this trial, jurors will be put up at a Hamilton County hotel with no electronics. Their friends and family will be given a phone number to call in case of an emergency. This is a first degree murder case, which is defined by state law as the premeditated and intentional killing of another person.

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Premeditation means the intent to kill must have been formed before the act itself, and the trial begins Monday at 9am in Hamilton County, and we'll be bringing a live updates from that reporting in Davidson County, Brest and warden, with three news we were required to report back to the Davidson County courthouse on Sunday, January 12, At 2pm exactly two and a half days later, that meant I had just two and a half days to prepare to leave my life behind for two weeks cut off from technology and the outside world upon our departure from Nashville, our phones would be taken, leaving us with just one five minute call each day, no phone, no TV, no white noise to fall asleep to, and, most importantly, no talking about the case, not even to our fellow jurors. The isolation was absolute, a stark adjustment to modern life and a reminder of the responsibility we carried.

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My producer snagged a recording on her iPhone as we were pulling into the parking lot that Sunday. Here's a glimpse into the feelings I was having at that moment.

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So we're pulling up here. Is there anything you want to share before you take off on this crazy journey? I have a lot of feelings of like, having to leave. Like, it feels like I'm going to, like, therapy, retreat or something, because I have to say goodbye to my people and my animals and my life for two weeks. It's actually quite hard, yeah, so I know I'll move in to, like, the right mode, you know, when, as soon as I get out of this truck? Yeah? Okay, we're here. We're pulling. Into public square, and here are the other jurors saying goodbye to their children. It's so sad. I mean, I can't even imagine Okay, the word sequestered has taken on a profound meaning for me.

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Since my time on this jury, I have found myself reflecting deeply on this experience. Soon after I returned home, I looked up the word and the definition struck me, isolated, hidden away, secluded, concealed, taken. As I began to write and piece together my experiences on the sequester jury, I couldn't help but draw this heartbreaking parallel, Jasmine pace had been taken, secluded, hidden away.

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Jasmine pace had been sequestered too throughout this podcast, I will share my perspective of this trial, but my goal is to keep Jasmine at the forefront. She deserves to be remembered, honored and brought into the light, Jasmine did not deserve to be sequestered from her family, her friends, or the life that was taken from her to ground.

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You in this story, it's important to share a little bit about bit about Chattanooga, nestled in the southeastern corner of Tennessee along the Tennessee River. Chattanooga borders Georgia to the south and sits at the very western edge of the eastern time zone. It's home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which plays a role in this case, because Jasmine Pace's boyfriend, Jason Chen, was attending his senior year at UTC majoring in Computer Science at the time of her death. Chattanooga, aptly named the Scenic City, is split by the Tennessee River and sits at the junction of the Ridge and Valley Appalachians and the Cumberland Plateau, both part of the larger Appalachian Mountains, the area draws visitors year round with its stunning natural beauty, including Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls, home to the world's tallest underground waterfall open to the public during our off day. While sequestered, we visited Ruby Falls, and I can't recommend it enough if you ever find yourself in the area, Chattanooga is internationally recognized from Glen Miller's 1941 hit song. Chattanooga downtown the city is connected by four main bridges spanning the Tennessee River. These pathways link the riverfront and north shore to the Tennessee River Walk and the bluff view art district, providing a unique mix of outdoor and cultural experiences. The history here is rich, offering countless stories waiting to be uncovered. If you're a curious mind like me, I've included links in the show notes to help you take a deeper dive into Chattanooga, fascinating past. Like many cities, Chattanooga has faced its share of crime challenges.

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However, according to a press release from January 24 2025 the city of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Police Department reported an 11% overall drop in the crime rate for 2024 despite its challenges, Chattanooga has earned a reputation as a vibrant and desirable place to live and visit. I always like to take a peek at Reddit and see what the people are saying. My favorite reply about what's it like living in Chattanooga red like this.

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It's great if you like outdoorsy stuff, for sure, like climbers come here from all over the country for the sandstone, spoiled for choice of whitewater rivers, we got a hang gliding launch if you want to learn how to do that. Hiking, of course, is great, and there's so much within an hour's drive. Oh, we have both the greatest biodiversity of salamanders on Earth and the largest ones in North America, Hellbenders, baby.

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Turns out touch of the fishy is right. Chattanooga, Tennessee, is home to an impressive variety of salamanders, including the Hellbender spotted salamander and common mud puppy. If you're a salamander enthusiast, you'll be thrilled to know that the Chattanooga zoo runs a program dedicated to repopulating the Hellbender salamander, a species rapidly disappearing from the area. Before my sequestration in Chattanooga, I had visited the city probably a half a dozen times, living just two hours away in Nashville, Chattanooga makes for an easy go to weekend getaway. The drive east on Interstate 24 where you emerge from the mountains to the stunning view of Nick ajack Lake is one of my favorites. I described Chattanooga as a mountain town nestled along the river, offering outdoor adventures, creative energy and surprisingly great food. As we step into the first day of trial, I want to bring you into my head space. It's Sunday, 2pm in the afternoon, the time has arrived. I'm being. Dropped off to join 15 other people and start my jury service. I hand over my phone, load my two large suitcases into the back of a van and climb in to meet my fellow jurors for someone who isn't naturally outgoing. This was like being thrown into the deep end of some wild social experiment. It was just us. The jurors split into 215, passenger vans, oh, and the deputies guarding and driving us to Chattanooga. Some of us talked.

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Some had books or journals to focus on, but there wasn't much else to distract us, except for the task ahead. I watched downtown Nashville fade away through the van window. I already missed my person and my dogs. With a deep breath, I let acceptance settle over me. This was my world now for the next 10 to 14 days at least, when we arrived at the hotel, I checked into my room and began unpacking my clothes and other essentials, knowing this would be my home for the foreseeable future, I moved in to pass the time, I sketched a diagram of my hotel room. It's posted on our website if you're curious about my artistic skills. The knocking on a door would become a new form of communication for me, serving both as my morning wake up call and signaling the jury that the judge was ready for us, no TV, no phone, no electronics. This was all to ensure we remained shielded from any media coverage of the state of Tennessee versus Jason Chen. The rules were strict, but I understood why this case had dominated the news in Chattanooga. I've shared so much about the city of Chattanooga to help you understand why the jury for this trial had to be brought in from another part of the state. Cases like this are not common in Chattanooga, and Jasmine Pace's disappearance shook the entire community. The search for Jasmine was everywhere, on the news, in the media, and on the hearts and minds of the people all over town. This was a city desperate for answers and desperate to bring Jasmine home.

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I understood the need for sequestration. This case, wasn't just in the news, it was the news in Chattanooga. Next time on sequestered.

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This is the suitcase in which Jason stuck the 98 pound body, Jasmine pace, early morning hours, November, 23 2022 Jason killed jazz.

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The trial begins with shocking opening statements that set a defining tone. We'll hear from a mother desperate for answers and an investigator determined to uncover the truth. This is just the beginning. We'll see in the next episode.

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Thank you for listening to sequester 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.

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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 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, 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 sequestered pod.com or follow us on Instagram at sequestered pod.

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Thank you for listening until next Time, stay curious and stay safe. You