In the quiet farm country of Nebraska, the story of Jasmine Garnett, a 25-year-old Caucasian female, came to a tragic end in September of 2022. She was reported missing on September 16th of that year, sparking concern among her family and friends. For weeks, her whereabouts remained a mystery, a painful silence hanging over those who knew her. The search concluded in the most heartbreaking way imaginable on October 5, 2022.
A person working in a field in Clay County, just outside the small town of Harvard, discovered human remains. Investigators were called to the scene, and it was soon confirmed that the body was that of Jasmine Garnett. The cause of her death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head, and the case was immediately treated as a homicide.
The investigation into Jasmine's death fell to the Nebraska State Patrol. As they pieced together the events leading to her demise, their attention focused on one individual: Anthony Mattison, a 35-year-old from Osceola. Family members reported that Mattison was the last person known to have seen Jasmine alive. The evidence against him began to mount. Cell phone records placed his phone just a mile away from where Jasmine's body was ultimately found. A crucial piece of evidence came from an unrelated incident that occurred just ten days after Jasmine was reported missing. Mattison had been involved in a shootout with Hastings police. Investigators discovered that the shell casings found near Jasmine's body matched the shells from the firearm Mattison used in his confrontation with law enforcement, linking him directly to the scene of the murder.
In April 2024, Anthony Mattison was formally charged with the murder of Jasmine Garnett. The charges were severe: first-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and improper disposal of human remains. His initial court appearance took place in May 2024, where a judge set his bond at a formidable $2 million. Mattison's legal journey was complicated by other pending charges from his shootout with police and a previous ruling that had found him incompetent to stand trial for those offenses. After treatment, he was deemed fit to face the charges against him.
Rather than proceeding to a full trial for the murder of Jasmine Garnett, Anthony Mattison eventually accepted a plea agreement. He pleaded no contest to the charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony. In exchange for his plea, the remaining charges, including improper disposal of human remains, were dismissed. This plea deal brought a conviction in the case, though it spared the victim's family the further anguish of a lengthy trial. Mattison is now awaiting sentencing for his crimes, which will take into account his convictions in both the murder of Jasmine Garnett and the related shootout with police in Hastings. He faces the possibility of a life sentence in prison for his actions.
