Valdosta, GA – November 21, 2012, 6:02pm – On Sunday 11-18-12 afternoon, fellow students found the body of 17-year-old Jasmine Benjamin on VSU’s campus.
Brian Childress, Valdosta Police Department, stated, “what if we do have a killer that we’re looking at? What if there’s somebody out there that might have hurt her? No we’re trying to determine that.”
No suspects have been identified but investigators are sure of one thing. Jasmine, known as Jazzie to her family and friends, was murdered.
Childress also stated, “this was a young lady. Her life was taken really before it even began.”
Jasmine was from Lawrenceville, Georgia. This was her first year at Valdosta State University. Her family has set up a fundraiser for her funeral costs.
Childress when on to say, “I want Jasmine to have a nice funeral. I want her to go out the proper way. It’s not a mourning, it’s a celebration for Jasmine. Everybody that knows her down in Valdosta and Lawrenceville and New York know how much she lightened a lot of people’s lives.”
As Jasmine’s family celebrates her life, authorities in Valdosta served search warrants in connection with this case.
Childress has said, “I don’t want to comment on what they were for or where they were at. I can just tell you I want the public to know that you’ve got GBI agents, detectives and officers and they’re out there right now and we’re not stopping.”
Investigators have said they plan to work through Thanksgiving to try and find Jasmine’s killer.
Donate to Jasmine’s Funeral Fundraiser
Valdosta, GA – November 21, 2012, 5:57pm – A 17-year old Valdosta State University student’s death is now being called A homicide.
Members of VSU’s police, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Valdosta Police have been working around the clock in what they’ve now confirmed is a homicide.
VSU Freshman Jasmine Benjamin’s body was found on Sunday afternoon in Georgia Hall on campus.
The coroner had initially said that foul play was not suspected. But after early results of an autopsy, investigators are now saying it was murder.
They’re not identifying any suspects at this time but have conducted search warrants in relation to the case.
Brian Childress, Valdosta Police Department, stated, “this young girl had a lot of friends which makes it even sad, a more sad situation. But we’re getting tremendous cooperation from the University and from the students. And that’s good but that’s also time consuming. And that makes it more complex, so we’re talking to a lot of people.”
Valdosta, GA – November 21, 2012 – 12:40pm – The death of 17-year old VSU student Jasmine Benjamin is now being ruled a homicide.
That’s according to the Valdosta Police Department which is working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and VSU’s Police Department on the case.
Investigators are executing search warrants related to Benjamin’s death, but cannot reveal if they have a suspect because it is an ongoing investigation.
We’ll have more on this developing story tonight on WCTV Eyewitness News.
Valdosta, GA – Foul play is not being ruled out in the death of a 17 year old Valdosta State University Student.
Early results from an autopsy have raised concerns about how Jasmine Benjamin died. Foul play is not being ruled out.
That’s according to the Valdosta Police Department. They’re helping investigate the case.
17-year old Jasmine Benjamin was found dead by fellow students on Sunday afternoon.
The coroner’s initial report indicated no signs of suicide or foul play. That assessment has now changed.
Brian Childress, Valdosta Police Department: “do we think there’s foul play involved? We’ve spoken with the medical examiner who did the autopsy in this case and based off of information that we got from the medical examiner we have some concerns.”
Jasmine’s body was found on a couch in this building, Georgia Hall, on VSU’s campus.
Brian Childress, Valdosta Police Department: “at this point we’ve not identified anybody that we’re ready to arrest in this case.”
Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent Turner: “we are not ruling out foul play. We are examining all avenues as to what may have killed her, what happened to her. And we are following all investigative leads to try and find out exactly what happened to her.”
Because it’s an ongoing investigation the police would not say what about Jasmine’s autopsy raised concern.
But investigators say there are unresolved issues.
This case is being supervised by the Valdosta State University Police Department. They requested assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Valdosta Police Department.
Valdosta, GA, November 19, 2012 – On Sunday afternoon Valdosta State University students discovered that one of their own had unexpectedly passed away.
17 year old Jasmine Cathleen Benjamin was a freshman from Lawrenceville Georgia. She died over the weekend and was discovered on Sunday around noon.
She was found lying on a couch in a study room in this building, Georgia Hall, on Campus.
Ryan Ryke is a Valdosta State University Student. He said “the last thing I would think of is death when going to college. Especially as a freshman.”
According to the Lowndes County Coroner Bill Watson there was no indication of suicide or foul play.
According to the coroner it could take months for the final results of an autopsy which will determine the exact cause of death As for now, staff and students are mourning the loss of someone so young.
Ryke went on to say “just to know that they probably had a really great future ahead of them and now they can’t pursue what they wanted to do is upsetting and I feel bad for the family and friends.”
Russell Mast is the Dean of Students at VSU. He said “we have professional counselors on staff and they have been available to our students since yesterday afternoon.
And any student who would like to see one of our counselors is more than welcome to. And we’re here on call 24 hours a day for them.”
The number for grief counselors is 229-333-5940
