Jordan Hazel is a man who was convicted of murdering his wife and two young children in their home in Clarksville, Tennessee, in September 2017. He pleaded guilty to three counts of premeditated first-degree murder and was sentenced to two life sentences plus 110 years in prison. This article will provide an overview of his life, his crimes, and his motives.
Early Life and Marriage
Jordan Michael Hazel was born on June 9, 1990, in Texas. He met Keara Hazel, his future wife, in college. They dated for a year before she became pregnant. The couple got married soon after and moved to an apartment at 221 Mills Drive, Clarksville. On July 29, 2014, Keara gave birth to a baby boy named Kayden. A few years later, she welcomed their second child, Jaylynn, on December 12, 2016. Jordan worked as a mechanic at a car dealership, while Keara worked as a front desk clerk at a hotel.
The Murders
On September 13, 2017, Keara’s mother, Karen Griffin, babysat her grandchildren while Keara went to work. She said that they had a happy family time and exchanged hugs and kisses. She also said that Keara and Jordan seemed to have a good relationship and did not show any signs of trouble. However, later that night, Jordan shot Keara in the head and neck with a shotgun in their bedroom. He then left the home, but returned shortly after and shot Kayden and Jaylynn, who were sleeping in the hallway and the crib. He then took a shower and went to bed.
The next day, Jordan’s mother, Cindy Soliz, called Karen and asked her to check on Keara, as she had not heard from her. Karen went to the apartment and found the bodies of her daughter and grandchildren. She screamed and alerted the neighbors, who called the police. Officers arrived at the crime scene and found blood and tissues all over the walls. They also found Jordan sleeping in the bedroom, with the shotgun next to him. He was arrested and taken into custody.
The Motive and the Trial
During the investigation, Jordan confessed to the murders. He told the detectives that he had financial problems and thought that killing his family would solve them. He said, “I was thinking it (the murders) would solve problems for everybody” and “I would get my life back.” He also said that he did not feel any remorse or regret for what he had done. He was indicted on three charges of premeditated first-degree murder.
Jordan’s trial was scheduled to begin on August 24, 2020, but he entered a surprise guilty plea on August 18, 2020, in Judge William Goodman’s court. He pleaded guilty as charged and agreed to three life with parole sentences. The agreement ultimately gave him two life sentences, as two of the charges would be served at the same time, but in conjunction with the other. He will serve 110 years before being eligible for parole.
Keara’s family was present in the courtroom and expressed their grief and anger. Karen Griffin said that she forgave Jordan, but hated what he did. She said, “This Bible verse was in Keara’s purse laying on top: 1 John 3:18: ‘My children our love should not be just words and talk, it must be true love which shows itself in action.’ Jordan, your actions were not love. Your actions were pure evil, but I serve a mighty God who forgives and redeems.”
According to The Cinemaholic, Jordan Hazel’s case was featured on the Investigation Discovery’s show ‘Evil Lives Here: Shadows Of Death: 360 Degrees of Terror’, which aired on October 2, 2020. The episode followed the tragic murder mystery and the investigation process that finally saw the perpetrator get the punishment he deserved.