Jason Chen, a former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga student, was found guilty of the murder of 22-year-old Jasmine Pace in less than an hour of jury deliberations on January 20, 2025. The seven-day trial, held in downtown Chattanooga, concluded with Chen being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on January 21, 2025.
During the trial, the court heard powerful testimony from both Pace’s family and Chen’s relatives. Chen, who chose not to testify, was represented by his family through a Zoom call with an interpreter. His mother, Shu, defended her son, claiming he “knows right from wrong” and was “a very good kid.”
Pace’s older sister, Gabrielle Pace, delivered a heartfelt statement demanding justice for her sister, while cousin Jacklyn White offered a moving tribute. White, visibly emotional, placed sixty blue marbles into a jar, each one representing the stab wounds found on Jasmine’s body. She spoke passionately about the cowardice of the attack and its devastating impact on the family.
White also reflected on the deep bond she shared with Jasmine, who had a panda tattoo matching White’s, symbolizing their close connection. She condemned Chen for the cruelty of his actions, saying, “Your last victim, Jason, is your own family.”
Travis Pace, Jasmine’s father, also addressed the jury, remembering his daughter’s fierce determination and successful aspirations. He described the immense pain caused by her loss, noting that it would affect the family for generations to come.
Chen’s father, Min Yon Chen, offered a brief apology to Jasmine’s family, expressing sorrow for their loss through the interpreter.
District Attorney Coty Wamp gave her closing statement, calling Chen’s actions “heinous and atrocious” and urging the jury to deliver a verdict that would hold him accountable for taking Jasmine’s life.
The trial marked the conclusion of a long legal journey following the tragic events of November 22, 2022, when Jasmine Pace was violently attacked and murdered. The case began with her disappearance and led to Chen’s arrest, bond hearing, probable cause hearing, and ultimately the trial that led to his life sentence.
