“The Pin at Apartment 210”: Dateline Reports on Jasmine Pace Homicide April 13 2025

On Sunday, April 13, 2025, NBC’s Dateline will air “The Pin at Apartment 210” at 10/9c. Reported by Blayne Alexander, this harrowing episode examines the 2022 murder of Jasmine “Jazzy” Pace, a 22-year-old college student from Chattanooga, Tennessee. What begins as a missing persons report evolves into a disturbing and calculated murder investigation, with Jasmine’s boyfriend, Jason Chen, at the center.

Through interviews, trial footage, and law enforcement testimony, Dateline presents an in-depth look at the events surrounding Jasmine’s death and the complex trial that followed. The episode captures the emotional gravity of a family’s loss and the relentless pursuit of justice that brought her killer to account.

The Victim and Her Disappearance

Jasmine Pace was last seen on November 22, 2022. After telling her mother she would be away for a few days, she stopped responding to calls and texts. Concerned, her family began a frantic search, tracing her last known whereabouts to the apartment of her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Jason Chen.

Her vehicle was later found parked at Signal View Condominiums. Police entered her information into the national missing persons database, and her family—especially her mother, Catrina Bean—began visiting Chen’s apartment and asking neighbors about Jasmine. Their fears grew as they discovered some of Jasmine’s belongings in Chen’s unit. On December 1, 2022, Jasmine’s body was found stuffed inside a suitcase near Suck Creek Road. She had been handcuffed, shackled, and stabbed 60 times.

The Investigation and Early Evidence

Investigators soon focused on Jason Chen. Surveillance footage from multiple sources—including Walmart, Walgreens, and a condominium security system—showed Chen making suspicious purchases and movements on the night Jasmine disappeared. He was also captured dragging a suitcase similar to the one found with her body.

Police executed a search warrant at Chen’s apartment, finding blood evidence throughout the unit. Using Bluestar, a reagent that highlights blood traces, crime scene investigators identified extensive blood patterns consistent with a violent attack. Forensic tests later confirmed the blood belonged to Jasmine Pace.

Chen was located at his parents’ home in Nolensville, Tennessee, and arrested. His demeanor at the time of arrest and the items found in his vehicle and residence added to the body of evidence against him.

The Trial: Evidence, Testimony, and Forensics

The trial of Jason Chen began on January 13, 2025, after jury selection was completed in Davidson County. The prosecution, led by District Attorney Coty Wamp and Chief Homicide Prosecutor Paul Moyle, presented a compelling timeline supported by forensic evidence, surveillance footage, and testimony from 18 witnesses.

The medical examiner, Dr. Steven Cogswell, described Jasmine’s wounds in graphic detail. She suffered 60 stab wounds, most concentrated on her right side, consistent with her being attacked while in a bound, fetal position. She had also been handcuffed with low-grade restraints and showed injuries consistent with strangulation.

Cell phone data and surveillance video placed Chen near Suck Creek Road at the time Jasmine’s body was dumped. DNA evidence, fingerprint analysis, and digital forensic data confirmed Chen’s involvement at every stage.

The Defense Strategy and Rebuttals

Chen’s defense attorneys did not deny he killed Jasmine but argued that the act was not premeditated. They sought a voluntary manslaughter conviction, claiming Jasmine attacked Chen during an argument, and he reacted impulsively. They also questioned the integrity of the crime scene and law enforcement procedures, including the use of Bluestar and potential contamination.

The defense brought in expert witnesses, including a crime scene reconstructionist, to challenge the prosecution’s narrative. They also called Jasmine’s father, Travis Pace, who admitted to entering Chen’s apartment before police involvement—an angle used to suggest evidence tampering.

However, the prosecution successfully countered these arguments. During closing statements, prosecutors emphasized Chen’s calm and calculated behavior after the killing—purchasing cleaning supplies, disposing of Jasmine’s body, and attempting to mislead others with a staged social media post from Jasmine’s account.

The Verdict and Sentencing

After six days of testimony and final arguments on the seventh day, the jury deliberated for just 44 minutes. On January 20, 2025, Jason Chen was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and abuse of a corpse.

He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The swift deliberation reflected the strength of the evidence and the jury’s rejection of the defense’s claim that the murder was not planned.

District Attorney Coty Wamp stated during trial: “Jasmine Pace is not just some girl listed in an autopsy report. She is not the photos you have seen. Don’t minimize her to a name on an indictment. She is a person. She had family that loved her.”

Legacy and Aftermath

The case of Jasmine Pace sent shockwaves through Chattanooga. Friends, family, and the broader community held vigils, shared memories, and called for changes in domestic violence prevention. A local café even named a drink in Jasmine’s honor, preserving her memory in the place she once frequented.

Her case also drew national attention due to its disturbing nature and the use of technology in both committing and solving the crime. It underscored the importance of digital forensics, community involvement, and victim advocacy in modern criminal investigations.

Dateline’s “The Pin at Apartment 210” gives viewers an unflinching look at this tragedy—from Jasmine’s vibrant life to the courtroom showdown that delivered justice. It’s a sobering reminder of the darkness that can hide behind closed doors—and the determination of a family unwilling to give up.