Two women have confessed in court to their involvement in planning and executing the brutal murder of an 18-year-old Broward high school student, which stemmed from a love triangle nearly three years ago.
Christie Parisien, aged 20, and Jaslyn Smith, aged 19, have admitted to committing second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and conspiring to commit murder in front of Broward Circuit Court Judge Ernest Kollra. As a result, they have been sentenced to 25 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation.
During the sentencing, prosecutor Kristine Bradley challenged Parisien and Smith with evidence, questioning them about the events that took place on October 17, 2021, leading to the tragic death of 18-year-old Dwight Grant. Parisien, Smith, and Andre Clements III ambushed Grant for over thirty minutes, even going as far as plunging a sword into his chest, at his residence in the Miramar apartment complex.
Clements was driven to commit the murder out of anger towards his ex-girlfriend, who he believed had been intimate with Grant. Seeking assistance, he enlisted the help of Smith and Parisien, his on-again, off-again girlfriend.
The trio, comprising individuals who were all juveniles at the time of the killing, have been charged as adults. Clements is set to face trial in the beginning of next year.
According to investigators, the couple allegedly discussed their plans for the murder through a series of text messages.
Clements sent a text to Parisien, expressing his belief that a murder would occur in the near future.
“I wish I could assist you,” Parisien replied. “However, resorting to murder at this moment is not the solution we require.”
During her flight to South Florida, Grant’s aunt Nadine Dixon watched the movie “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and reminisced about how thrilled Grant was when she bought him the book series as a child.
Tears streamed down Dixon’s face as he uttered the heartbreaking words, “He will never be able to pass on his love for reading to his kids… He will never be able to read his favorite books again.”
When Grant was killed, Dixon had already been planning a trip to celebrate his graduation. Unfortunately, his loved ones couldn’t witness him walking across the stage to receive his high school diploma.
They will forever feel the absence of a loved one at family gatherings, a constant reminder of the void left behind.
“We were deprived of that joyful moment,” she lamented. “Deprived of witnessing his potential. Deprived of experiencing the joy of seeing him as a father. Deprived of witnessing his wedding…”
Madgelyn Emile, Grant’s mother, held a photo of her son as she turned to the judge. She expressed her profound grief over the injustice of never being able to hear him say “I love you” again. Meanwhile, the loved ones of Parisien and Smith have the privilege of hearing those words, even while they are in prison.
Parisien and Smith were overcome with emotion as Grant’s family shared the heartbreaking impact of the teenager’s tragic death.
She expressed her deep sorrow, saying, “We are left with nothing but a cemetery. He was snatched away from me, and his family.”
A coordinated attack?
Grant’s mother provided crucial information to the police, leading them to Parisien. Initially, Parisien claimed that she had arranged to meet Grant due to her distress over her boyfriend’s infidelity.
According to police, Grant made multiple attempts to escape, but Smith assisted in subduing him during the surprise attack.
The Parisien took care of cleaning up the blood, as per the police.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted searches of the teenagers’ residences and discovered clothing that could possibly be the same as what they were wearing during the incident. However, Parisien informed the police that Clements and Smith had disposed of their clothes in a bonfire behind Smith’s apartment.
During the investigation, authorities discovered a burn spot as well as various pieces of clothing in the lake.