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Jasmine Mills
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Thursday, December 18, 2008 3:50 PM CST
Autopsy results still pending for victim of assault
By JEFF REINITZ, Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO — Authorities still don’t have an official cause of death for a young Waterloo woman who died following an assault in a convenience store parking lot.

Today marks one week since 18-year-old Jasmine Janese Mills died at Covenant Medical Center.

On Wednesday, police said the results of an autopsy that was performed Dec. 12 by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office are pending further tests.

Waterloo Police Capt. John Beckman said it is possible it will be several more days before medical examiner’s probe is complete.

He declined to disclose the nature of the pending tests.

Mills, a mother who worked as developmental assistant at a health care facility, was assaulted while she was with acquaintances in the parking lot of the Kum & Go store on San Marnan Drive in the early morning hours of Dec. 11.

She went to her home on nearby Ravenwood Road, and her friends took her to the Covenant emergency room after determining she needed medical attention.

Hospital staff performed CPR on Mills when she arrived, and she was later pronounced dead, according to the police report.

Police have said the attack didn’t appear random and Mills and her acquaintances may have known the alleged assailant.

In another matter, officers were sent to a disturbance at Mills’ funeral Tuesday. But when officers arrived there was no fight, and no one wanted to pursue charges, Beckman said.

Officers did provide a traditional police escort to the burial plot at Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or  jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.
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vjnorman3 wrote on Dec 18, 2008 12:55 PM:

" i would like to know why is it taking so long to identify what happen? we know this young lady was assulted. who did it? now we need to keep this family and the other people involved families in prayer. "

JC wrote on Dec 18, 2008 1:13 PM:

" Sorry but this is bull! The state medical examiner should know what the results are by now. What are they trying to do, find every single drug this person ever put into their body. Are the Police afraid to arrest someone? Someone is purposely dragging their feet. "

teltyl wrote on Dec 18, 2008 2:58 PM:

" The police know more than we think they do, they don't like to give out all of the information to the public. One thing about the Waterloo Police, they do get a lot of leads but they won't be leads if made public right away. I really feel like they are going to arrest someone but they have to take pre-cautions, if a name get out the person will most likely run. That could be why they are not giving all of the details about the autopsy. I feel justice will be served and if done properly, it may take longer. But if taking longer will help them catch a murderer, I would rather them do that. My prayers go out to her family. "

waterloo wrote on Dec 18, 2008 3:22 PM:

" Her name is not cindy so yes there gonna drag there feet! "

waterloo wrote on Dec 18, 2008 3:23 PM:

" I know your not gonna print my post this is something for you guys to think about at night. "

gramma of 2 wrote on Dec 18, 2008 3:44 PM:

" Well, my sister works at the same place that her mother works at and they said that it was gang related and a crowbar was used. Maybe the person or persons that did it are hiding out and they want to locate them first before any other info is released. "

NewsJunkie wrote on Dec 18, 2008 4:38 PM:

" Don't be so naive gramma of 2. That sounds like a very ignorant rumor that doesn't at all receive any more merit just because your sister works with her mother. Think before you post ... next time. "

IowaHawk1969 wrote on Dec 18, 2008 5:03 PM:

" Ouch News Junkie. bit bitter are we?

There have been several versions of this story printed by the Courier.

Answer this please...who's car was left in the parking lot of Kum & Go?

What was the estimated time of her death. Twice the Courier said they did CPR on her as soon as she arived so i assume she was dead when she got there.

If the friends or "acquaintances" may know who the assailant or assailants are why aren't they talking. "

shirley wrote on Dec 18, 2008 6:24 PM:

" I was wondering more about the disturbance at her funeral. That is really too bad. It is bad enough what happened to her but then people gotta start stuff at the funeral too and not let her go in peace:(
hang in their all of her family and friends, I am sure that the police know exactly what they are doing. I am very confident that they will catch the person(s) who did this. With the witness's and the camera from Kum and go they should have a very good clue as to who did it. Sometimes they wait until they have everything in thier hands before they pursue stuff.
RIP Jasmine "

mystical wrote on Dec 18, 2008 8:38 PM:

" vjnorman3---they have nothing because her friends are not talking about who did it.
JC---sure they know everything they need to know already. Most likely stalling because there is more to this story the reporters want you to know. And yes it was tragic the way she died. But, she made her bed she must lie in it.
NewsJunkie---Why so bitter? Do you know grammaof2's comment was rumor or fact???? You seem to take offense to what she said. Maybe you should think before you post. Everyone is entitled to what they write and if that is what she heard, (which i believe I have heard similar things from family members of Mills) then she has all right in the world to write what she wants.
shirley---Yes it is to bad someone had to show their true colors at the funeral. They should let her go in peace and let the family have time to grieve their loss. The family will not have closure till this is over. May Jasmine RIP "

sabira wrote on Dec 18, 2008 8:54 PM:

" so how did they bury the girl when they still need to do more tests? "

chatty1 wrote on Dec 18, 2008 10:04 PM:

" sabira: I'm sure they took all the xrays and scans, samples, photos they needed. I'm starting to think that maybe what she died of was something that was caused by the trauma of that assault rather than the assault itself. Wonder if this will wind up being a manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter thing? "

twoodsinarizona wrote on Dec 19, 2008 1:55 AM:

" Wow. I was shocked to log on to the Courier's website and read something so tragic. I left Waterloo and moved to Arizona about 11 years ago but I always like to know what is happening in my hometown. When I read this article I immediately thought about this young mother's child. Poor baby. When I was Jasmine's age I had a daughter and now that my daughter is 19, I can't imagine if she had to grow up without me over something so senseless. When I was growing up people may have made threats to one another, fought at the playground on recess, or perhaps even played on each others phone. But never did anyone kill each other over something which seems so senseless. There is no coming back from death and the people responsible for this will forever have to live with the fact that they took this young mother's life. So many lives affected by this forever. May God Bless the young child of Jasmine. God Bless the child that can hold it's own. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of everyone involved. "

NewsJunkie wrote on Dec 19, 2008 1:56 AM:

" @ Mystical, like I said before, she needs to think before she posts. I'm tired of people assuming any death of a black person is gang related. That sounds like something stupid started by someone ignorant. I know members of her paternal and maternal family. All we can do is wait for the truth.

She made her bed?? So someone deserves DEATH for not making the best of choices? I'm sure you're no saint so you have no right throwing stones at anyone. It's a shame that Iowans are the most self righteous people I've ever had the displeasure of living around.

You're right, everyone is entitled to post their opinions. Just as I'm entitled to voice my opinion as to how ignorant she sounds.

"SHOW THEIR TRUE COLORS", mystical?? REALLY? How racist does that sound? Absolutely nauseating. "

sabira wrote on Dec 19, 2008 6:53 AM:

" mystical you are going to feel pretty (bad) when they come out and say it actually was gang related.
i work with a girl who's boyfriend is jasmine's cousin and they say the same thing! "

gramma of 2 wrote on Dec 19, 2008 9:54 AM:

" NewsJunkie, Like I said; my sister works with Jasmines mother at Covenant Medical Center. Why would the mother make up a lie about her own daughter? Just because you would doesn't mean that a normal person would. You think that I am ignorant for saying something that come from the mother's mouth, I think you are a MORON for saying that I sound ignorant. You need to get the facts straight before you voice your opinion! "

rj wrote on Dec 19, 2008 11:00 AM:

" It is beyond my understanding how some posters can be so cold and thoughtless as to speculate in a public forum as to what happened to Jasmine. This isn't a TV show. You have real neighbors in your city hurting from the tragic and senseless death of their family member and friend.

Grow up. Show some dignity. Show some thought for the feelings of others. Give your condolences to comfort those who are hurting instead of adding to their pain. Then go watch a soap if you need some drama in your pathetic lives. "

MYSTICAL wrote on Dec 19, 2008 1:09 PM:

" NEWSJUNKIE---I never said any death of a black person was gang related, grammaof2 did and that is because that is what Jasmine's mother and other family members have said. Now, they are waiting to find out all the details from that is what I was told by J. Mills closest family members. And I agree with "grammaof2" when she coutnered you for calling her ignorant. This child's mother is telling people that yes the cops believe it is gang related and they believe that is what type of weapon was used. Grammaof2 just happens to be like me, that know members of close family to this girl and know what is being said by the police and family.
And my comment about she made her bed she must lie in it. WAS NOT about her death, after I re read my comment and talked to her mother yes that is what it came across as. My comment was about her lifestyle and the choices she made in her life. Criminal wise she made her bed and she must lie in it. But, this girl was a wonderful mother and her child was all that mattered to her.
And my comment about showing their true color's. Has nothing to do with race. So you can stop your race card their. Yes, I am proud I'm a white women in today's society. But, I am also proud to be married to a loving kind BLACK man in today's society who has blessed me with 4 wonderful children and great life. No one knows who they are going to fall in love with and marry, but my husband is hard working and just as honest as the next man. He makes his momma proud of him growing up to be a strong, smart, profession seeking son. Yes, there are bad in every race. But, I never once bought up the race card and I refuse to battle it with you. Maybe you should think before you talk about your posts. And I agree with Grammaof2:maybe you should get your facts straight before you post. Because I think both our sources are alot closer then yours. And I am sorry to tell you, I'm very upset about how Jasmine died. But there is nothing I can do about it or the rest of the family can do about it. Except to stay strong and hope justice will not let this family down. RIP JASMINE you'll never be forgetten! & will always be missed.....love ya baby girl!!!!! "

MYSTICAL wrote on Dec 19, 2008 1:18 PM:

" SABRIA---Why would I feel bad when they eventually say it was and is gang related??? I never brought that up grammaof2 did. And, yes I do believe it is gang related but all the details have not been told to the family and the ones that DO care about this child. I just posted another post right before this one. And I am sick everyone assuming that I am just some joe blow off the street that knows nothing about Jasmine or this family. I have cried my share fair of tears for Jasmine, and I will in the future I assume. But, let me tell you something. Don't tell me how I will or will not feel down the road when the truth comes out. Untill you are put in this family's shoes and know how it feels to loose one so tragically and because of something so senseless as violence. Then you tell me how am I going to feel when the public finds out what exactly happened to Jasmine. You don't know me and niether does NEWSJUNKIE---but I think I have more room to talk then either of you. You both get your information from sources that heard from so and so that heard it from so and so. Grammaof2 and I both heard it from the mother and I have heard it from family members that I talk to daily. So, unless you get directly from the family both you of need to sit back and think before you post. Because I am down right sick of people on here thinking I'm just on here for the drama posting just to post. That isn't the case, if you haven't figured it out it's a three letter word called "KIN" "

sabira wrote on Dec 19, 2008 7:38 PM:

" sorry mystical. i meant that comment to be towards newsjunkie. not sure why i typed your name. "

shirley wrote on Dec 20, 2008 12:47 AM:

" mystical i am very sorry fo ryour loss. I hope your family is doing okay. DO not let these people on here or anyone on the streets get to you. It takes a lot of different personalities to make the world go around and it is too bad a lot of them are just plain ignorant.
Stay strong:) "

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