Jasmine Benjamin, Valdosta State freshman, was murdered, police say

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Jasmine Benjamin

/ WGCL

(CBS/AP) ATLANTA - The family of Valdosta State University freshman Jasmine Benjamin, who was found dead on campus and whose death was recently declared a homicide, say they found out about her passing on Facebook, CBS affiliate WGCL reports.

Authorities initially did not declare foul play after Benjamin, a 17-year-old from Lawrenceville, Ga., was found dead around noon on Sunday, Nov. 18 in a study room of her dormitory.

Maj. Brian Childress, an investigator with campus police, told several news outlets that the preliminary results of an autopsy led authorities to declare her death a homicide.

Benjamin's parents, mother Judith Brogdon and stepfather James Jackson, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that they were initially told their daughter died of natural causes.

"To find out it was a homicide and that somebody actually murdered our daughter changed everything," Jackson said. "It was like hearing the news all over again."

The university said the standard procedure is to contact the law enforcement agency in the hometown of the student's parents or next of kin. A Gwinnett County sheriff's deputy notified Benjamin's parents of her death on Sunday afternoon, hours after her body was found.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI are working the case.

Maj. Childress told the Journal-Constitution that authorities have interviewed students, but said the Thanksgiving holiday break slowed the probe since so many students left Valdosta.

Benjamin's parents, meanwhile, are urging her fellow students to assist in the investigation. "Someone knows something," Jackson, her stepfather, said.

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by Wildwood1966 November 29, 2012 2:47 PM EST

very very sad - my daughter graduated from Valdosta - there but by the Grace of God - rest in peace Jasmine

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by xaxmka December 5, 2012 12:09 AM EST: Truly sad. My daughter is still a student there and I've always had concern about the campus being so open. We had an incident with my daughter's room mate stilling from her and was told that cameras would possibly help to catch the incident. Camera's... don't know if they even worked, but we go problem solved with our own investigation. I refuse to let her live on campus again due to other issues. I also have a great-nephew in school there, but not on campus. I pray that justice is served, and the info needed will be given to help find true answers. Praying for Hwer parents and other love ones. Just so saddened by this.

by Em112 November 29, 2012 1:24 AM EST

Responsible reporting. Try it sometime. Sometime soon. Perhaps then you would know what the police were actually saying about the death of this girl. The Valdosta Daily Times is practicing responsible reporting. Start there.

http://valdostadailytimes.com/local/x983008681/Authorities-still-probing-VSU-death

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by LMB310 December 3, 2012 9:07 AM EST: Actually, the article you reference was published prior to this one. Maybe new information has come to light since then.


by chrisjhathcock257 November 28, 2012 10:31 PM EST: i talked with jasmine Benjamin just a couple of weeks ago on Facebook.; Reply to this comment