The murder trial continues against a Tennessee man accused killing his girlfriend, Jasmine Pace, in 2022.
Pace was last seen alive in November 2022, and her boyfriend, Jason Chen, is now accused of killing her as CrimeOnline previously reported.
Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp said Wednesday that evidence found in Chen’s apartment was enough to charge him with Pace’s death, although she had not been found at the time, Court TV reports.
The incident unfolded after Pace’s parents tracked her location and broke into Chen’s apartment on November 23, 2022, an affidavit stated. They told police they found Pace’s identification and credit cards but couldn’t find Pace or the defendant.
Days later, police executed a search warrant and discovered blood throughout Chen’s apartment.Ine of the investigators noted that “a large volume of blood had been cleaned up.”
On December 1, 2022, police found Pace’s body stuffed inside the suitcase. Local 3 News reports that her ankles were handcuffed and shackled to her right arm. A medical examiner confirmed that she had been stabbed more than 60 times.
Defense lawyer Josh Weiss testified that Chen ran from Pace to a bathroom and then to the bedroom, while she chased him with a broken wine bottle. Chen then found a knife and began stabbing her.
Weiss claimed that Chen blacked out during the attack and later woke up to discover Pace dead.
The Chattanooga reports that Weiss told the jury that Chen then handcuffed Pace and put her body in garbage bags before putting her in a suitcase at Suck Creek Road, by the Tennessee River.
He added that Chen poorly attempted to clean up the blood and made several texts and calls after her death in an effort to create an alibi.
While Wes called a killing a “crime of passion.” Wamp contended that Chen took efforts to conceal the murder, including purchasing a bath towel, peroxide, and asparagus on November 23.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Jasmine Pace/Handout]
