A Tennessee man accused of killing his girlfriend in 2022 allegedly kept detailed notes about her past at his family’s home, according to investigators.
Jasmine Pace, 22, was found fatally stabbed and handcuffed inside a suitcase along a road in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in December 2022, just days after she was reported missing by her family... Continue reading here ▶
After her family pressured police, they searched the home of Pace’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, Jason Chen, and charged him with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. This week, as Chen stands trial, more details about their troubled relationship are being revealed.
During a search of Chen’s family home in Nolensville, police discovered that Chen had pinned notes on his wall about Pace’s past. Detective Zack Crawford testified in court on January 14 that the notes included a timeline of their relationship and interactions with Pace.
Some notes contained detailed information about Pace’s childhood, describing it as troubled. The notes also mentioned that she had once been homeless and had run away, even fleeing to Canada at one point.
A photo shown in court revealed sticky notes of various colors, some with notes and some with drawings.
Further evidence presented in court showed blood found under the carpet in Chen’s home, which was consistent with someone being put under the bed.
Prosecutors allege that Pace was stabbed 60 times before being placed in the suitcase, with each of her arms handcuffed to her legs.
The investigation into Pace’s murder only gained momentum after her family persistently pushed for answers.
They tracked her phone to Chen’s home and even broke in using a credit card, finding several of Pace’s belongings. This led police to investigate, and they later found Chen at his family’s home three hours away in Nolensville.
Chen’s defense team admits he killed Pace but argues that it should be considered voluntary manslaughter, not first-degree murder.
The defense claims that after Pace learned Chen had been messaging other women, she attacked him with a wine bottle, and he stabbed her in self-defense, then blacked out. When he woke up, he found Pace unconscious.
If convicted of voluntary manslaughter, Chen could face up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If convicted of first-degree murder, he could face the death penalty, life imprisonment without parole, or life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. The trial is ongoing.
