CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – John Edward Bean IV, 44, was sentenced Tuesday to serve a life sentence plus 13 years in the 2021 Eagle View Drive home-invasion killing of his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, Trasbin Campbell.

On April 7, a Montgomery County jury found Bean guilty on multiple counts: first-degree murder, first-degree murder in the perpetration of a crime, employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and theft up to $1,000. He also was found guilty of the lesser included offense of attempted electronic tracking of a motor vehicle.

How 2021 home invasion murder unfolded

The killing happened in the early hours of March 27, 2021. Erica Lee testified that she awoke to Campbell in distress as a masked man dressed in black and wearing gloves entered her bedroom holding a gun. She said she recognized the gunman’s voice and eyes as Bean. Lee said after killing Campbell, the intruder left with her phone, Campbell’s phone and his car keys.

A medical examiner testified that Campbell suffered four gunshot wounds, four stab wounds and blunt force trauma to the face.

Lee told jurors Bean “wanted his family back.” Their daughter, Jonae, testified that Bean had asked her weeks earlier to place a tracking device in her mother’s car, prompting Lee to file for an order of protection.

The night before the killing, Jonae said Bean retrieved black clothing from his parents’ home before taking her to a Nashville hotel, where she slept from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. and woke to find him gone. She said her spare house key had been left unattended in the hotel room.

Investigators later found Lee’s phone and the folding knife used in the killing along Interstate 24 toward Nashville. Campbell’s phone was never recovered but blood matching Campbell’s was found on Jonae’s house key.

From Bean’s car, officers recovered a ski mask, black clothing, latex gloves and four tracking devices. A specialized lab used TrueAllele DNA analysis to identify statistical matches to Bean and Campbell, and a TBI forensic scientist testified that gunshot residue was found on Bean’s ski mask, hoodie and latex glove.

Hotel surveillance showed Bean leaving in a white Chevy Malibu around 2:36 a.m. and returning around 4:28 a.m.

Victim’s family describes ‘a void that can never be filled’

Campbell’s sister, Shacarra Jones, delivered a victim impact statement in court and read a letter from their mother.

“Trasbin was more than a victim in this case,” the statement read. “He was my son, a beloved member of our family and a person whose life had value and meaning. He was loved by many people and his loss has left a void that can never be filled.” She added that the impact was devastating and asked the court to impose the maximum sentence without parole.

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Jones then spoke for herself, describing her brother as “the kind of person who could bring light into any room.” She said his death left a wound that would never fully heal.

“I often find myself crying and wondering what could’ve been if he was still here. The future we planned together no longer exists. The pain of losing him goes far beyond me,” she said through tears, adding that Campbell left behind two daughters.

Jones told Bean she forgave him, but wanted him to know his actions caused immense pain.

Attorneys argue over Bean’s criminal history

District Attorney General Robert Nash said Bean is a “persistent offender.” He presented the court with eight prior felony convictions from Davidson County, including cocaine sales, possession for resale, attempted burglary and two counts of evading arrest by motor vehicle.

“The defendant certainly has a previous history—according to the pre-sentence report—of criminal convictions and criminal behavior,” Nash said.

He argued that Campbell was not the only victim in this case, but that Lee was the victim in the aggravated assault and aggravated burglary. Nash added that Bean had “devoted his life to criminal activity as a source of livelihood,” noting 28 convictions over 20 years.

Defense attorney Crystal Lewis argued that the prior convictions were not recent. “A lot of his convictions—the more serious convictions were older,” she said. “There’s a lot of driving on suspended licenses, assaults and other things that go into that.”

She also asked the court to consider his family support. “He does have strong family support,” Lewis said, adding that his mother and girlfriend were present for the trial.

Sentencing: Life plus 13 years

Judge William Goodman III classified Bean as a Range III offender, meaning he must serve at least 45% of certain sentences before parole consideration. He imposed a life sentence for first-degree murder, with additional time added consecutively.

Goodman sentenced Bean to 13 years for aggravated burglary and 13 years for aggravated assault, both running concurrently with the life sentence. He then imposed 13 years at 100% for employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, ordered to run consecutively. Bean was also sentenced to six months for attempted electronic tracking and 29 days for the theft conviction.

In total, Bean will serve 60 years for the life sentence plus 13 years and seven months, with the firearm sentence required to be served in full.

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