Two women admitted in court to their roles in plotting and carrying out the gruesome murder of an 18-year-old Broward high school student over a love triangle nearly three years ago.
Christie Parisien, 20, and Jaslyn Smith, 19, pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit murder before Broward Circuit Court Judge Ernest Kollra. They were sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation.
At the sentencing, prosecutor Kristine Bradley questioned both Parisien and Smith — confronting them with evidence — about the events of Oct. 17, 2021, which ended in the killing of 18-year-old Dwight Grant. Parisien, Smith and Andre Clements III ambushed Grant for more than half an hour — even plunging a sword into his chest — at his Miramar apartment complex.
The murder, authorities say, occurred because Clements was enraged that his ex-girlfriend had sex with Grant. So, he recruited Smith and Parisien, his on-off again girlfriend, to help him.
The trio, who were all juveniles at the time of the killing, were charged as adults. Clements is scheduled to go to trial early next year.
On Thursday, Parisien divulged what led up to the brutal slaying, pointing to Clements, her former boyfriend, as the instigator. She also said she didn’t think Clements was serious when he first texted her about murdering Grant.
The couple, investigators say, brewed plans for the murder in a series of text messages.
“Murder will definitely happen soon,” Clements texted Parisien days before the killing.
“I would help you,” Parisien responded. “but becoming a murderer [right now] isn’t what is needed.”
‘We were robbed’
On her flight to South Florida, Grant’s aunt Nadine Dixon saw the movie “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and recalled how excited Grant was when she purchased him the book series as a young child.
“He will never be able to pass on his love for reading to his kids,” Dixon said, breaking down in tears. “…He will never be able to read his favorite books again.”
At the time of Grant’s killing, Dixon said she had already been planning a trip to celebrate his graduation. His loved ones weren’t able to see him walk across the stage to collect his high school diploma.
And, for the rest of their lives, they will always have an empty seat at family gatherings.
“We were robbed of that joyous occasion,” she said. “Robbed of what he would become. Robbed of seeing his children. Robbed of seeing him getting married…”
Turning to the judge, Grant’s mother Madgelyn Emile held a photo of her son. She mourned how unjust it was that she will never be able to hear him say ‘I love you’ again, but Parisien’s and Smith’s loved ones can, even when they’re in prison.
Parisien and Smith sobbed as Grant’s family detailed their anguish since the teen’s slaying.
“All we have now a cemetery,” she said. “He was taken away from me. His family.”
A coordinated attack?
After reporting Grant missing on Oct. 17, 2021, the teen’s mother told police that security camera footage showed two people beating up her son in a stairwell, according to investigators. An officer noticed signs of blood and, shortly after, found Grant’s body in the bushes.
Grant’s mother led police to Parisien, who initially told authorities she was supposed to meet up with Grant because she was upset that her boyfriend was cheating on her.
Smith told investigators that Clements told her he needed help to “fight a boy.” Clements, she said, brought a knife and sword to the complex. They had planned for Parisien to “seduce” Grant into the stairwell, where Smith and Clements were waiting for him.
Grant tried to break away several times, police say. But Smith helped restrain him during the ambush.
At one point, Clements took the small knife and stabbed Grant in the neck, Smith said. He then stabbed Grant in the chest with a sword, and Smith helped Clements drag Grant’s body to the bushes.
Parisien, meanwhile, cleaned up the blood, according to police.
Officers searched the teens’ homes and found clothing they may have been wearing, though Parisien told police that Clements and Smith burned their clothes in a bonfire behind Smith’s apartment.
Investigators found a burn spot and several items of clothing in the lake.
Source Agencies
