4 lessons from the trial of King Mao's execution: evidence from the car accident, Google history, defendant's testimony

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – As the fourth day of trial for Jaelyn Gant, who is accused of the murder and armed robbery of a Chinese restaurant employee in 2020, came to a close, the jury heard testimony from over 30 witnesses, including DNA and firearms experts, as well as Gant herself.

On December 2, 2020, at approximately 12:45 p.m., officers responded to King Mao Chinese Restaurant on Needmore Road where an armed robbery resulted in the death of an employee, 28-year-old Seth Stephens. The suspect fled and remained at large for nearly two years.

An investigation by the Clarksville Police Department's Special Operations Task Force Homicide Unit, with assistance from the Joliet, Illinois Police Department, led to the identification of Jaelyn Deon Gant as a suspect. Gant, who was in custody in Illinois on unrelated charges, was extradited from the Western Illinois Correctional Center to the Montgomery County Jail on November 9, 2022.

1. Evidence left behind in a car accident

In the early morning hours of January 15, 2021, Gant drove his then-girlfriend Wilmarie Rivera to work in Illinois. After dropping her off, he drove her gray Kia Sorento to nearby Kankakee. She later received a call from Gant, who told her he had been in an accident and her car was on its roof in a field. Gant sent her a photo of the wrecked car.

Illinois State Police arrived and searched the abandoned wreck to determine who owned it. They found a silver revolver on the roof of the car, a cell phone, and a greeting card signed “Jae.”

After the Kia was taken to the evidence pool, investigators found a black hoodie with a large white “Champions” logo. On the phone, they found several internet searches for “Clarksville, Tennessee shooting on December 2, 2020.” When they saw the suspect's photo in the relevant Clarksville Now articles, they recognized the hoodie and called CPD.

2. DNA and mechanical fingerprinting

CPD Detective Keenan Carlton came to Illinois in 2021 after obtaining a search warrant to collect DNA from Gant, who had since been arrested on other charges. Carlton entered the Illinois jail and explained to Gant that he needed to collect a saliva sample.

“He was no longer cooperative,” Carlton said. “With the help of several officers, he was handcuffed. I tried to take the first swab, but he jumped forward and bit the swab stick.”

Carlton was able to take a swab from Gant and send it off for testing. Militza Kennedy, a forensic biology expert with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, determined that the swab from the gun's trigger guard and the black hoodie matched Gant.

Connor Lamberson, a firearms and toolmark identification expert with TBI, examined the revolver found in the wreckage and said it matched the bullet removed from the victim's pelvis.

3. Google History

A phone found at the scene of the accident and another phone confiscated by police showed a picture of the overturned car and a video of Gant holding a silver revolver.

The Google search history on the phone included: “shooting in Clarksville, Tennessee” and “shooting in Clarksville, Tennessee, December 2, 2020.”

When Gant was arrested by authorities in Illinois, they provided a second phone with additional browser history: “Clarksville, Tennessee shooting,” “Clarksville, Tennessee shooting, December 2, 2020,” and “Seth Stephens.” Gant visited the Clarksville Now website several times to read the articles about the shooting.

4. “I have nothing to hide”

On the witness stand, Gant said, “I have nothing to hide from anyone in this matter.”

Gant explained that in the days before the shooting, he had been having relationship problems with his girlfriend in Illinois, so he and his sister went on a trip she had planned to Clarksville. However, Gant and his sister had an estranged relationship, and as soon as they arrived, arguments began.

On December 2, 2020, Gant and his sister returned to Illinois after a particularly heated argument. He said his sister dropped him off at his girlfriend's house and left. Much later, his sister told him about one of her friends in Clarksville who wanted to get rid of a gun and offered to sell it. Gant asked her to buy it for him, and not long after she did, the gun ended up in Illinois and in Gant's possession.

He said he only realized the revolver was a “hot gun” when he got hold of it.

The trial will continue on Friday morning with jury deliberations.

DON'T MISS A STORY: Sign up for the free daily Clarksville Now email newsletter