Jasmine Ivy-Dede

Jasmine Ivy-Dede was a brilliant, quick-witted, and loving woman who, at 42 years old, was a dedicated lawyer and mother. A graduate of the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law, she was remembered by her family as a loving mother, daughter, sister, and friend who cared deeply for those around her. Her only daughter, Amarah Ivy, recalled her mother as a magical person who loved to sing and dance, often making funny faces or breaking into song at random moments. Amarah cherished her mother's beauty and the lessons she taught her, holding on to the memories of her mother’s vibrant personality.

In the early hours of New Year's Day 2024, Jasmine’s life was cut short in Indianapolis. Around 5:45 a.m., officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to what appeared to be a single-vehicle accident at the intersection of Michigan Road and Grandview Drive. They discovered a crashed pickup truck with Jasmine and 45-year-old Indianapolis firefighter Justin Boyd II inside. The initial report of a crash quickly turned into a homicide investigation when first responders realized both Jasmine and Justin had sustained gunshot wounds.

The investigation revealed that Justin had been driving the truck with Jasmine in the front passenger seat. A third person, Justin’s 52-year-old half-brother, Jason Dante Lapsley, was in the backseat. Investigators believe Lapsley shot both Jasmine and his brother from behind, causing the truck to crash just a short distance from Jasmine’s home. The case came together quickly after Lapsley himself called 911, claiming he had shot someone who was trying to carjack or rob him. He was later found on a porch, where a witness provided police with a cell phone recording of Lapsley admitting to the shooting. He was arrested later that day.

Jason Lapsley was formally charged with two counts of murder. According to court documents, he told witnesses he had fallen asleep in the truck and, upon waking, believed he was being carjacked by two strangers. He claimed he heard a clicking noise from Jasmine that he interpreted as her racking a gun, prompting him to pull his own weapon and shoot them both before fleeing the scene.

Lapsley later waived his right to a jury trial in favor of a bench trial, where a judge will decide the verdict. His defense attorneys also filed a motion to pursue an insanity defense. As of the scheduling of his trial, the murder case remains pending, with court proceedings set to begin in November 2024.