Juror to recount Jason Chen trial in podcast

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Two weeks ago, Jason Chen was convicted of premeditated first degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in the 2022 killing of Jasmine Pace.

Evidence at trial showed Chen stabbed Pace 60 times, then left her body inside of a suitcase on the side of Suck Creek Road.

One of the 16 jurors who was brought in from Nashville for the Jason Chen trial is now sharing her perspective.

Sara Reid showed up to the Davidson County Courthouse on January 8th not knowing what to expect.

The last thing she expected was to be one of the jurors selected to be whisked away and sequestered to Chattanooga to determine the fate of Jason Chen.

Reid described, “It was just the most brutal, I mean there were moments I was just like, “Oh my gosh, how could anyone do this to someone?””

Reid says the tone of the trial was set by Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp’s decision to show the jury the suitcase Jasmine Pace was found in.

Reid said, “That was the last place that she was found and here this vessel, if you will, is living in that courtroom for the nine days we were there, it was eerie.”

She says throughout the trial, she was waiting to see if the defense could prove its opening statement that Pace went after Chen with a wine bottle.

District Attorney Wamp commented after the trial that she had never had that version of events.

Reid says after asking numerous questions when the jury got their chances to do so, the defense’s claims did not add up.

“Here’s an example, when he said he got a knife out to get the wine bottle. Like yeah you get the paper thing or the plastic thing off, but how do you get the cork out? You’re not using a knife to get the cork out of the bottle,” she said.

Reid says that ultimately, the thorough presentation of the prosecution’s case made this an easy decision.

Reid refenced Chief Homicide Prosecutor Paul Moyle’s closing argument where he compared Chen having multiple opportunities to make different decisions to running a yellow light.

“Moyle opening up with the yellow light analogy, using it as an analogy for premeditation was key for me in the deliberation room,” Reid said.

She says it didn’t take very long to convict Chen, as it only took roughly 40 minutes for the verdict to be reached.

Reid said however, it was actually much shorter than that, which shocked court staff.

“There’s a light switch you can flip on when you’re done, and it notifies the bailiff to know that you are done, to let everybody know, and he came and he asked, “Did you guys know had that on.” We were like “Yeah.”, and he was like, “Oh.”, she said 

Now she hopes a ten episode podcast called “Sequestered” will be a way to process this experience.

Reid said, “It’s one thing to be on a jury, it’s another thing to be pulled from your life for a period of time to do this heavy work, and it’s important work, and you just tossed back into your life like nothing ever happened, you know?”

She says her heart will always be with Pace’s family.

“I think they fought incredibly hard, and I think they did all of the right things to find their daughter,” said Reid.

The first two episodes of the “Sequestered” podcast release on Monday, February 10th, and will be available on all streaming platforms.

The episodes will be as follows: