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{{Short description|2008 murder of an American man in Mesa, Arizona}} | ||
{{Use American English|date=August 2024}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}} | |||
<!-- In subjects like this, very strict in-line sourcing needs to be applied and enforced. --> | <!-- In subjects like this, very strict in-line sourcing needs to be applied and enforced. --> | ||
{{Infobox |
{{Infobox civilian attack | ||
| |
| title = Murder of Travis Alexander | ||
| image |
| image = Photo of Travis Alexander.jpg | ||
| caption = Victim Travis Alexander | |||
| image_caption = | |||
| |
| location = ], ], U.S. | ||
| |
| date = {{start date and age|df=no|2008|06|04}} | ||
| type = ] by ], ], ] | |||
| birth_place = ], ], U.S. | |||
| weapons = ], ] | |||
| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|6|4|1977|07|28}} | |||
| |
| victim = Travis Victor Alexander, aged 30 | ||
| |
| perpetrator = Jodi Ann Arias | ||
| motive = <!--NOTE: Article sourcing and content does not determine a motive.--> | |||
*Blood loss due to stab wounds<ref>Lohr, David (January 9, 2013). . '']''.</ref> | |||
| verdict = ] | |||
* ] to head (inconclusive as to whether inflicted postmortem) | |||
| convictions = ]{{Infobox event | |||
| title = <br> | |||
| child = yes | |||
| sentence = ] without the possibility of ] | |||
}} | }} | ||
| body_discovered = | |||
| restingplace = | |||
| height = | |||
| education = | |||
| alma mater = | |||
| occupation = | |||
| employer = | |||
| home_town = | |||
| residence = | |||
| parents = | |||
| partner = | |||
| known for = Murder victim | |||
}} | |||
{{Infobox criminal | |||
| honorific_prefix = | |||
| name = Jodi Arias | |||
| image = Jodi Arias (inmate).png | |||
| image_upright = 0.7 | |||
| caption = 2015 mug shot of Arias | |||
| birth_name = Jodi Ann Arias | |||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|07|09|mf=yes}} | |||
| birth_place = ], U.S. | |||
| residence = | |||
| nationality = | |||
| other_names = | |||
| citizenship = | |||
| education = | |||
| criminal_charge = | |||
| conviction_penalty= Life imprisonment without parole | |||
| conviction_status = Incarcerated | |||
| parents = | |||
| motive = Jealousy | |||
| conviction = First-degree murder | |||
| victims = Travis Victor Alexander | |||
| date = June 4, 2008 | |||
| country = United States | |||
| states = ] | |||
| locations = ] | |||
| weapons = Knife, gun | |||
| apprehended = July 15, 2008 | |||
| imprisoned = ] , Lumley Unit | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Travis Victor Alexander''' (July 28, 1977 – June 4, 2008) was an |
'''Travis Victor Alexander''' (July 28, 1977 – June 4, 2008) was an American salesman who was murdered by his ex-girlfriend, '''Jodi Ann Arias''' (born July 9, 1980), in his house in ], ] while in the shower. Arias was convicted of ] on May 8, 2013, and sentenced to ] without the possibility of ] on April 13, 2015.{{refn|group=n|In the State of Arizona, a sentence of ''natural life'' requires that the defendant be incarcerated for the rest of their natural lifespan, with no possibility of parole or early release.}} | ||
Alexander sustained 27 stab wounds, a slit throat and a single gunshot wound to the forehead. Arias testified that she killed him in ], but she was convicted by the jury of first-degree murder. During the sentencing phase, the jury ] on the ] option, and Arias was sentenced to ] without the possibility of parole.<ref>{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Skoloff|url=https://news.yahoo.com/jodi-arias-convicted-first-degree-murder-205106003.html|title=Jodi Arias Convicted of First-Degree Murder|agency=]|via=]|date=May 8, 2013|access-date=March 26, 2018|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305000207/http://news.yahoo.com/jodi-arias-convicted-first-degree-murder-205106003.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Alexander's death and the subsequent investigation and trial attracted widespread media coverage in the United States.<ref name="usatoday_may6">{{cite news|first=Michelle|last=Washington|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/06/jodi-arias-trial-five-things/2138823/|title=Five things to get you up to speed in Jodi Arias trial|work=]|publisher=]|location=McLean, Virginia|date=May 6, 2013|access-date=March 26, 2018|archive-date=December 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211213705/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/06/jodi-arias-trial-five-things/2138823/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lohr3">{{cite news|first=David|last=Lohr|title=Jodi Arias Case: Twists And Delays In Alleged Femme Fatale's Murder Trial|work=]|date=December 29, 2011|access-date=January 3, 2013|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/29/jodi-arias_n_1174274.html|archive-date=June 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616044618/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/29/jodi-arias_n_1174274.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="abcnews1">{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-juror-dismissed-talking-trial/story?id=18864045 |title=Jodi Arias Juror Dismissed for Talking About Trial |last=Curry |first=Colleen |publisher=] |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001164230/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-juror-dismissed-talking-trial/story?id=18864045 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
== Background == | == Background == | ||
Travis Alexander was born on July 28, 1977,<ref name=48hours>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6DyoR1lffI |title=48 Hours: Picture Perfect |publisher=YouTube |date=January 17, 2013}}</ref> in ], ] to Gary David Alexander (1948–1997) and Pamela Elizabeth Morgan Alexander (1953–2005). At the age of 11, Travis moved in with his paternal grandparents,<ref>, Forever Missed, 2008.</ref> who introduced him to ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pe/obituary.aspx?n=norma-jean-sarvey&pid=161803605 |publisher=Legacy.com |title=Norma Jean Sarvey Obituary |date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> After his father's death in July 1997,<ref></ref> his seven siblings were also taken in by their paternal grandmother. Alexander was a salesman and ] for ] (PPL).<ref>{{cite book|title=Basic training workbook|publisher=LegalShield|url=https://sites.legalshield.com/pdf/ao/.../BasicTrainingWorkbook.pdf}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Travis Alexander as a motivational speaker - video of Travis at a PPL conference|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Y55ihmQdM|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=February 18, 2014}}</ref> | |||
=== Travis Victor Alexander === | |||
Jodi Arias was born on July 9, 1980, in ]<ref>{{Cite book|first1=Steven|last1=Chermak|first2=Frankie Y.| last2=Bailey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=li1ZCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA33|title=Crimes of the Centuries: Notorious Crimes, Criminals, and Criminal Trials in American History : Notorious Crimes, Criminals, and Criminal Trials in American History|date=January 25, 2016|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=33|isbn=978-1-61069-594-7}}</ref> to William and Sandra (née Allen) Arias.<ref></ref> She and Alexander met in September 2006 at a PPL conference in ], ]. Arias converted to Alexander's ] faith and, on November 26, 2006, was baptized into the LDS Church in a ceremony in ].<ref name=timeline>{{cite news|first=David|last=Lohr|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/jodi-arias-timeline_n_2387245.html |title=Jodi Arias Timeline: Key Dates In Case Of California Woman Accused Of Stabbing Ex-Boyfriend 27 Times (UPDATED)|work=]|date=December 31, 2012|accessdate=March 26, 2018}}</ref> Alexander and Arias began dating in February 2007.<ref name=48hours/><ref name=timeline/> Arias moved to Mesa to live closer to Alexander.<ref>{{cite web| first=Graham| last=Winch |url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/01/01/jodi-arias-travis-alexander-killer-romance |title=Jodi Arias & Travis Alexander: Killer romance? |publisher=] |date=January 2, 2013 |accessdate=April 7, 2013}}</ref> In March 2007, she moved to ], and lived there with her grandparents.<ref name="Lohr3" /> | |||
Travis was born on July 28, 1977<ref name=48hours>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6DyoR1lffI |title=48 Hours: Picture Perfect |publisher=YouTube |date=January 17, 2013 |access-date=October 31, 2015 |archive-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227094128/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6DyoR1lffI |url-status=live }}</ref> in ], ] to Gary David Alexander and Pamela Elizabeth Morgan Alexander. At the age of 8, Travis moved in with his paternal grandparents. After his father's death in July 1997,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lYYCkFHyUh4C&q=travis+alexander+father+1997&pg=PT23|title=Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story: A Beautiful Photographer, Her Mormon Lover, and a Brutal Murder|first=Shanna|last=Hogan|date=September 3, 2013|publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group|isbn=9781250011008|via=Google Books|access-date=December 25, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001205137/https://books.google.com/books?id=lYYCkFHyUh4C&q=travis+alexander+father+1997&pg=PT23|url-status=live}}</ref> his seven siblings were also taken in by their paternal grandmother. Alexander told a friend that, prior to joining a church, he would frequently engage in fights.<ref> | |||
{{cite AV media| date =2021|title =If I Can't Have You: The Jodi Arias Story|language =English| url =https://www.facebook.com/1232457869/videos/10218039297793978?idorvanity=2980791382165767| publisher =]}}</ref> He performed ] under the alter ego "Eddie Snell".<ref></ref> Alexander was a salesman and ] for ] (PPL).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://allthatsinteresting.com/travis-alexander|work=All That's Interesting|title=Inside The Murder Of Travis Alexander, The Man Who Was Slaughtered By His Jealous Ex Jodi Arias|first=Kaleena|last=Fraga|editor-first=John|editor-last=Kuroski|date=October 21, 2022}}</ref> | |||
=== Jodi Ann Arias === | |||
Arias was born on July 9, 1980, in ],<ref>{{Cite book|first1=Steven|last1=Chermak|first2=Frankie Y.|last2=Bailey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=li1ZCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA33|title=Crimes of the Centuries: Notorious Crimes, Criminals, and Criminal Trials in American History : Notorious Crimes, Criminals, and Criminal Trials in American History|date=January 25, 2016|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=33|isbn=978-1-61069-594-7|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001131005/https://books.google.com/books?id=li1ZCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA33|url-status=live}}</ref> to William and Sandra (née Allen) Arias.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnQUjxICDA4C&q=william+sandra+allen+arias&pg=PT24|title=Exposed: The Secret Life of Jodi Arias|first=Jane|last=Velez-Mitchell|date=August 20, 2013|publisher=Harper Collins|isbn=9780062304001|via=Google Books|access-date=December 25, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001211430/https://books.google.com/books?id=gnQUjxICDA4C&q=william+sandra+allen+arias&pg=PT24|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Schiavo|first1=Amanda|url=https://www.latintimes.com/who-jodi-arias-latina-lady-convicted-brutally-murdering-her-boyfriend-has-captured-attention-nation|title=Who Is Jodi Arias? The Latina Lady Convicted Of Brutally Murdering Her Boyfriend Has Captured The Attention of The Nation |publisher=Latin Times|date=May 20, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2013|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001140416/https://www.latintimes.com/who-jodi-arias-latina-lady-convicted-brutally-murdering-her-boyfriend-has-captured-attention-nation|url-status=live}}</ref> She attended school until 11th grade, at which point she dropped out of Yreka Union High School.<ref name="Fuchs">{{cite news|work=]|title=Here's what we know about Jodi Arias, who finally got life in prison for killing her ex-boyfriend | |||
|first=Erin|last=Fuchs|date=April 15, 2013|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jodi-arias-profile-2015-4}}</ref> She was an aspiring photographer and worked odd jobs until she got a sales position with PPL.<ref name="Fuchs"/> | |||
Arias and Alexander met in September 2006 at a work conference in ], ].<ref name="Fuchs"/> Arias converted to ], of which Alexander was a member, and was baptized by him on November 26, 2006 in a ceremony in ].<ref name=timeline>{{cite news|first=David|last=Lohr|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/jodi-arias-timeline_n_2387245.html|title=Jodi Arias Timeline: Key Dates In Case Of California Woman Accused Of Stabbing Ex-Boyfriend 27 Times (UPDATED)|work=]|date=December 31, 2012|access-date=March 26, 2018|archive-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917031809/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/jodi-arias-timeline_n_2387245.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Alexander and Arias began dating in February 2007,<ref name=48hours/><ref name=timeline/> and Arias moved to Mesa to live closer to Alexander,<ref>{{cite web |first=Graham |last=Winch |url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/01/01/jodi-arias-travis-alexander-killer-romance |title=Jodi Arias & Travis Alexander: Killer romance? |website=] |date=January 2, 2013 |access-date=April 7, 2013 |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105030434/http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/01/01/jodi-arias-travis-alexander-killer-romance |url-status=live }}</ref> but in April 2008, she moved to ] and lived there with her grandparents.<ref name="Lohr3" /> Alexander and Arias dated intermittently for a year and a half, often in a ], taking turns traveling between their respective Arizona and California homes.<ref name="Hogan2014">{{cite book|first=Shanna|last=Hogan|authorlink=Shanna Hogan|date=2014|title=Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story|publisher=St. Martin's True Crime|location=New York City|isbn=978-1250003539}}</ref> Even when Alexander was in a different relationship, he and Arias would ] each other.<ref name="Coscarelli Bonkers">{{cite news|title=What You Missed in the Totally Bonkers and Disturbing Jodi Arias Trial|first=Joe|last=Coscarelli|date=May 7, 2013|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2013/05/jodi-arias-trial-explainer.html}}</ref> | |||
Alexander and Arias dated intermittently for a year and a half, often in a ], taking turns traveling between their respective Arizona and California homes.<Ref name="Hogan2014">] (2014). Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story (St. Martin's True Crime, {{ISBN|978-1250003539}}</ref> Alexander's friends who knew Arias and observed them together tended to have a negative opinion of her, stating that the relationship was unusually tumultuous and that Arias' behavior was worrying.<Ref name="Hogan2014"/> | |||
Alexander's friends who knew Arias and observed them together reportedly had a negative opinion of her, stating that the relationship was unusually tumultuous and that Arias's behavior was worrying.<ref name="Hogan2014"/> | |||
== Murder == | |||
Alexander was killed on June 4, 2008.<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831130838/http://www.cayleedaily.com/2013/03/killing-of-travis-alexander/ |date=August 31, 2013}}</ref> He sustained 27 to 29 stab wounds, a slit throat, and a gunshot wound to the head.<ref name="Owens"/><ref name="Glynn">{{cite news|first=Casey|last=Glynn|title=Jodi Arias trial begins in macabre '08 murder of boyfriend Travis Alexander|publisher=]|date=January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 2, 2013|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57561666-504083/jodi-arias-trial-begins-in-macabre-08-murder-of-boyfriend-travis-alexander/}}</ref> ] Kevin Horn testified that Alexander's ], ], and ] had been slashed and that Alexander had ] on his hands. Horn further testified that Alexander "may have" been dead at the time the gunshot was inflicted, and that the back wounds were shallow.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://us.topnewstoday.org/us/article/4180486/|work=Examiner|title=Jodi Arias murder trial reveals Travis Alexander fought off brutal attacker|author=Cindy Adams|date=January 8, 2013|access-date=April 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607042251/http://us.topnewstoday.org/us/article/4180486|archive-date=June 7, 2013|dead-url=yes|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref></ref><ref></ref> Alexander's death was ruled a ]. He was buried at Riverside's ].<ref></ref> | |||
==Murder== | |||
Alexander was murdered at his house in Mesa, Arizona on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 while he was taking a shower.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cayleedaily.com/2013/03/killing-of-travis-alexander/ |title=Killing of Travis Alexander |website=The Caylee Daily |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831130838/http://www.cayleedaily.com/2013/03/killing-of-travis-alexander/ |archive-date=August 31, 2013}}</ref> He sustained 27 stab wounds, a slit throat, and a gunshot wound to the head.<ref name="Owens"/><ref name="Glynn">{{cite news|first=Casey|last=Glynn|title=Jodi Arias trial begins in macabre '08 murder of boyfriend Travis Alexander|work=]|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=January 2, 2013|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-trial-begins-in-macabre-08-murder-of-boyfriend-travis-alexander/|archive-date=March 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319020500/https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57561666-504083/jodi-arias-trial-begins-in-macabre-08-murder-of-boyfriend-travis-alexander/|url-status=live}}</ref> ] Kevin Horn would later testify that Alexander's ], ], and ] had been slashed and that he had ] on his hands. Horn further testified that Alexander might have been dead at the time the gunshot was inflicted and that the back wounds were shallow.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://us.topnewstoday.org/us/article/4180486/|work=Examiner|title=Jodi Arias murder trial reveals Travis Alexander fought off brutal attacker|author=Cindy Adams|date=January 8, 2013|access-date=April 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607042251/http://us.topnewstoday.org/us/article/4180486|archive-date=June 7, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>Curry, Colleen; Druckerman, Shana (January 8, 2013). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308195519/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-jury-views-photos-deep-gashes-boyfriend/story?id=18160526 |date=2021-03-08 }}. ABC News.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories/2013/Jan29/AriasMurderTrial.html |title=Arias Murder Trial has Niagara Falls Connection |last=Hudson |first=Mike |publisher=] |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623213054/http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories/2013/Jan29/AriasMurderTrial.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Alexander's death was ruled a ]. He was buried at Riverside's ] cemetery.<ref>Brooks, Richard (May 5, 2013). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001174742/https://www.pe.com/2013/05/05/riverside-graveside-vigil-held-for-man-killed-by-jodi-arias/ |date=2021-10-01 }}. '']''.</ref> | |||
==Discovery and investigation== | ==Discovery and investigation== | ||
] | |||
In early 2008, Alexander told people that Arias would join him for a work-related trip to ], ], scheduled for June 15.<ref name="week1">{{cite news|url=http://www.hlntv4u.com/article/2013/01/04/jodi-arias-trial-week-1-highlights|title=Recap: Week 1 of Jodi Arias trial|publisher=HLNtv.com|accessdate=April 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508054123/http://www.hlntv4u.com/article/2013/01/04/jodi-arias-trial-week-1-highlights|archive-date=May 8, 2013|dead-url=yes|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kpho.com/story/21303931/friend-recalls-last-meeting-of-alexander-arias-in-public|title=Friend recalls last meeting of Alexander, Arias in public|publisher=CBS5AZ|date=March 8, 2013|accessdate=May 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502104410/http://www.kpho.com/story/21303931/friend-recalls-last-meeting-of-alexander-arias-in-public#|archive-date=May 2, 2013|dead-url=yes|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In April, Alexander asked to change his travel companion to another female friend.<ref name=HLN_Cancun>{{cite web|url=http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/03/22/was-jodi-booked-cancun-trip-travis|title=Was Jodi booked on Cancun trip with Travis?|publisher=HLN|date=March 23, 2013 |accessdate=May 17, 2013}}</ref> On May 28, 2008, a ] occurred at the residence of Arias' grandparents, with whom Arias was living. Among the missing objects was a ] which was never recovered.<ref name="Graham">{{cite web|last=Winch |first=Graham |url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/01/14/arias-i-have-never-owned-gun |title=Jodi Arias on tape: I have never owned a gun |publisher=] |date=January 17, 2013 |accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref> This later became significant as a shell casing from a spent .25 caliber round was found near Alexander's body at the murder scene.<ref name="people.com">{{cite web|first=Howard|last=Breuer|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20665952,00.html|title=Jodi Arias Trial: Prosecution Rests as Evidence Mounts|work=]|date=January 18, 2013|accessdate=April 8, 2013}}</ref> | |||
Alexander missed an important ] on the evening of June 4. The following day, Arias met Ryan Burns in the ] suburb of ] and attended business meetings for the conference. Burns later said that he noticed that Arias's formerly blonde hair was now dark brown and that she had cuts on her hands.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|first1=Graham|last1=Winch|first2=Emily|last2=Kean|url=http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2013/02/11/jodi-arias-trial-tragic-roadtrip/|title=Jodi Arias trial: The tragic road trip|website=HLN|date=February 11, 2013|access-date=March 26, 2018|archive-date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212034139/http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2013/02/11/jodi-arias-trial-tragic-roadtrip/|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 6, she left Salt Lake City and drove west toward California. She called Alexander several times and left several ] messages for him. She also accessed his cell-phone voicemail system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/01/call-me-jodi-arias-bombarded-travis-alexanders-cell-phone-after-she-allegedly-butchered-him/ |first=Chris|last=Arvan|title=Call Me? Jodi Arias Bombarded Travis Alexander's Cell Phone After She Allegedly Butchered Him |work=] |publisher=] |location=New York City |date=January 15, 2013 |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224071752/http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/01/call-me-jodi-arias-bombarded-travis-alexanders-cell-phone-after-she-allegedly-butchered-him/ |url-status=live }}</ref> When Arias returned the car on June 7, it had been driven about {{convert|2800|mi}}. The rental clerk testified that the car was missing its floor mats and had red stains on its front and rear seats.<ref name="auto"/> However, it could not be verified that the car had floor mats when Arias had picked it up, and the red stains could not be analyzed as the car had been cleaned before police could examine it. | |||
On June 9, having been unable to reach Alexander, a concerned group of friends went to his home. His roommates had not seen him for several days, but they believed that he was out of town and thus did not suspect that anything was amiss. After finding a key to Alexander's bedroom, the group entered and found large pools of blood in the hallway to the master bathroom and Alexander's body in the shower.<ref name="week1">{{cite news |url=http://www.hlntv4u.com/article/2013/01/04/jodi-arias-trial-week-1-highlights |title=Recap: Week 1 of Jodi Arias trial |website=HLN |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508054123/http://www.hlntv4u.com/article/2013/01/04/jodi-arias-trial-week-1-highlights |archive-date=May 8, 2013}}</ref> In the ] call (not heard by the jury), the dispatcher asked whether Alexander had been suicidal or if anyone was angry enough to hurt him. Alexander's friends mentioned Arias by name as a possible suspect, stating that Alexander had told them that she had been stalking him, accessing his ] account, and slashing his car's tires.<ref>{{YouTube|gNfBCAmuwyY|911 call about Travis Alexander}}. Retrieved March 14, 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Mark|last1=Mooney|first2=Colleen|last2=Curry|first3=Marissa|last3=Wingate|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-mistrial-motion-highlighted-stalker-claims/story?id=18236699|title=Jodi Arias Mistrial Motion Highlighted Stalker Claims|work=]|date=January 18, 2013|access-date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=September 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930151853/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-mistrial-motion-highlighted-stalker-claims/story?id=18236699|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Shana|last=Druckerman|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-jury-police-complaint-tire-slashing/story?id=19064576#.UalVPkBwqgY|title=Jodi Arias Jury Never Saw This Police Complaint About Tire Slashing|work=]|date=April 29, 2013|access-date=March 26, 2018|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001164230/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-jury-police-complaint-tire-slashing/story?id=19064576#.UalVPkBwqgY|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On June 2, between 1:00 am and 3:00 am, Arias called Alexander four times but did not appear to get through to him, since the longest of the calls was seventeen seconds. After 3:00 am, Alexander called Arias twice, the first time for eighteen minutes, the second time for 41 minutes. At 4:03 am, Arias called Alexander back and the call lasted two minutes, 48 seconds.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|first1=Graham|last1=Winch|first2=Emily|last2=Kean|url=http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2013/02/11/jodi-arias-trial-tragic-roadtrip/|title=Jodi Arias trial: The tragic road trip|website=HLNtv.com|date=February 11, 2013|accessdate=March 26, 2018}}</ref> Neither these calls, nor transcripts of them, were presented in the Jodi Arias trial. At 5:39 am, Arias set out to drive south to rent a car for a long trip to ], as stated in evidence by a gasoline purchase at Shell Food Mart in Yreka. On June 2, at 8:04 am, Arias rented a car at ] in ].<ref name="auto"/> She indicated she would return the car to Budget in Redding. Arias visited friends in southern California on her way to Utah for a PPL work conference and to meet with Ryan Burns, a PPL co-worker. By late evening on June 3, Arias apparently set out for ]. | |||
While searching Alexander's home, police found his recently purchased digital camera damaged in the washing machine. Police were able to recover deleted images showing Arias and Alexander in sexually suggestive poses taken at approximately 1:40 p.m. on June 4. The final photograph of Alexander alive, showing him in the shower, was taken at 5:29 p.m. that day. Photos taken moments later show an individual believed to be Alexander "profusely bleeding" on the bathroom floor.<ref name="azcentral.com">{{cite news |last=Walsh |first=Jim |date=September 11, 2008 |title=Police recover nude photos of murdered man, suspect |newspaper=] |url=https://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/09/11/20080911alexander0911.html |url-status=dead |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118100726/https://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/09/11/20080911alexander0911.html |archivedate=January 18, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Winch |first=Graham |url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/01/14/photos-travis-alexanders-last-moments-alive |title=Photos: Travis Alexander's last moments alive |website=] |date=January 17, 2013 |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=December 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210152005/http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/01/14/photos-travis-alexanders-last-moments-alive |url-status=live }}</ref> A bloody palm print was discovered along the wall in the bathroom hallway; it contained DNA from both Arias and Alexander.<ref name="azcentral.com"/><ref name="cbs011613">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-trial-update-prosecution-shows-arias-woman-accused-of-killing-her-ex-boyfriend-made-up-stories-to-cover-her-tracks/ |title=Jodi Arias Trial Update: Prosecution shows Arias, woman accused of killing her ex-boyfriend, made up stories to cover her tracks |work=] |date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123112631/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57564318-504083/jodi-arias-trial-update-prosecution-shows-arias-woman-accused-of-killing-her-ex-boyfriend-made-up-stories-to-cover-her-tracks/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Alexander missed an important ] on the evening of June 4. The following day, Arias met up with Burns in the Salt Lake City neighborhood of ], and attended business meetings for the conference. Burns later said he noticed Arias' formerly blonde hair was now dark brown, and she had cuts on her hands.<ref name="auto"/> On June 6, Arias left Salt Lake City and drove west towards California. She called Alexander several times and left several ] messages for him. She also accessed Alexander's cell phone voice mail system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/01/call-me-jodi-arias-bombarded-travis-alexanders-cell-phone-after-she-allegedly-butchered-him/ |title=Call Me? Jodi Arias Bombarded Travis Alexander's Cell Phone After She Allegedly Butchered Him |work=] |publisher=]|location=New York City|date=January 15, 2013 |accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref> When Arias returned the car on June 7, it had been driven about {{convert|2800|mi}}. The rental clerk testified that the car was missing its floor mats and had red stains on its front and rear seats.<ref name="auto"/> It could not be verified that the car had floor mats when Arias picked it up and any stains could not be verified since the car was cleaned before police could examine it. | |||
On July 9, 2008, Arias was ] by a ] in ] for the first-degree murder of Alexander. She was arrested at her home six days later<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-a-timeline-of-a-sensational-murder-case/ |title=Jodi Arias: A timeline of a sensational murder case |last=Glynn |first=Casey |website=] |date=May 21, 2013 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001230131/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-a-timeline-of-a-sensational-murder-case/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and was ] to Arizona on September 5.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/54576282.html|agency=]|title=Calif. woman extradited in killing of ex-boyfriend in Mesa|date=August 15, 2009|access-date=February 7, 2013|df=mdy-all|archive-date=May 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501003608/http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/54576282.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Arias pleaded ] on September 11.<ref name=timeline /> During this time, she provided several different accounts about her involvement in Alexander's death.<ref name="curryyahoo">{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/jodi-arias-rental-car-had-red-stains-seats-170908231--abc-news-topstories.html|title=Jodi Arias' Rental Car Had Red Stains on Seats|first=Colleen|last=Curry|date=January 16, 2013|website=]|access-date=March 13, 2013|archive-date=February 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202032702/https://news.yahoo.com/jodi-arias-rental-car-had-red-stains-seats-170908231--abc-news-topstories.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She first told police that she had not been in Mesa on the day of the murder and had last seen Alexander in March 2008.<ref name="azcentral.com"/><ref name="cbs011613"/> Arias later told police that two intruders had broken into Alexander's home, murdering him and attacking her. Two years after her arrest, Arias told police that she killed Alexander in self-defense, stating she had been a victim of ].<ref name="Owens">{{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Owens|title=Jodi Arias Trial: Jurors Shown Photos of Victim's Dead Body in Shower|work=]|date=January 3, 2013|access-date=January 3, 2013|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-trial-defense-claims-victim-sexual-deviant/story?id=18119972|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001230129/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-trial-defense-claims-victim-sexual-deviant/story?id=18119972|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Glynn"/><ref name="Lohr">{{cite news|first=David|last=Lohr|title=Jodi Arias Timeline: Key Dates In Case Of California Woman Accused Of Stabbing Ex-Boyfriend 27 Times|work=]|date=December 31, 2012|access-date=January 2, 2013|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/jodi-arias-timeline_n_2387245.html|archive-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917031809/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/jodi-arias-timeline_n_2387245.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lohr2">{{cite news|first=David|last=Lohr|title=Travis Alexander Murder: Trial Of Jodi Arias Opens|work=]|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=January 3, 2013|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/travis-alexander-murder-_n_2398863.html|archive-date=January 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106214833/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/travis-alexander-murder-_n_2398863.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/jodi-arias-murder-trial-with-tales-of-sex-lies-goes-to-jury-1.1390099 |title=Jodi Arias murder trial with tales of sex, lies goes to jury |website=] |agency=] |date=May 5, 2013 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-date=August 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825181738/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/05/06/jodi-arias-murder-trial-deliberations.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
On June 9, having been unable to reach Alexander, a concerned group of friends went to his home. His roommates had not seen him for several days, but they believed he was out of town and thus did not think anything was amiss. After finding a key to Alexander's master bedroom, his friends entered and found large pools of blood in the hallway to the master bathroom, where his body was discovered in the shower.<ref name="week1"/> In the ] call (not heard by the jury), the dispatcher asked if Alexander had been suicidal or if anyone was angry enough to hurt him. Alexander's friends specifically mentioned Arias as a possible suspect, stating that Alexander had said she was ] him, accessing his ] account, and slashing his car's tires.<ref>{{YouTube|gNfBCAmuwyY|911 call about Travis Alexander}}. Retrieved March 14, 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Mark|last1=Mooney|first2=Colleen|last2=Curry|first3=Marissa|last3=Wingate|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-mistrial-motion-highlighted-stalker-claims/story?id=18236699 |title=Jodi Arias Mistrial Motion Highlighted Stalker Claims |publisher=ABC News |date=January 18, 2013 |accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Shana|last=Druckerman|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-jury-police-complaint-tire-slashing/story?id=19064576#.UalVPkBwqgY|title=Jodi Arias Jury Never Saw This Police Complaint About Tire Slashing|publisher=]|location=Phoenix, Arizona|date=April 29, 2013|accessdate=March 26, 2018}}</ref> While searching Alexander's home, police found his recently purchased digital camera damaged in the washing machine. Police were able to recover deleted images showing Arias and Alexander in sexually suggestive poses, taken at approximately 1:40 pm on June 4. The final photograph of Alexander alive, showing him in the shower, was taken at 5:29 pm that day. Photos taken moments later show an individual believed to be Alexander "profusely bleeding" on the bathroom floor.<ref name="azcentral.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/09/11/20080911alexander0911.html |title=Police recover nude photos of murdered man, suspect |work=The Arizona Republic |accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Winch |first=Graham |url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/01/14/photos-travis-alexanders-last-moments-alive |title=Photos: Travis Alexander's last moments alive |publisher=] |date=January 17, 2013 |accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref> A bloody palm print was discovered along the wall in the bathroom hallway; it contained DNA from both Arias and Alexander.<ref name="azcentral.com"/><ref name="cbs011613">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57564318-504083/jodi-arias-trial-update-prosecution-shows-arias-woman-accused-of-killing-her-ex-boyfriend-made-up-stories-to-cover-her-tracks/ |title=Jodi Arias Trial Update: Prosecution shows Arias, woman accused of killing her ex-boyfriend, made up stories to cover her tracks |publisher=CBS News |date=January 16, 2013 |accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref> | |||
==Criminal action== | |||
On July 9, 2008, Arias was ] by a ] in ], for the first-degree murder of Alexander.<ref>http://murderpedia.org/female.A/images/arias-jodi/jodi-arias-court-docs-1.pdf</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/54576282.html|agency=Associated Press|title=Calif. woman extradited in killing of ex-boyfriend in Mesa|date=August 15, 2009|access-date=February 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501003608/http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/54576282.html|archive-date=May 1, 2013|dead-url=yes|df=mdy-all}}</ref> She was arrested at her home on July 15<ref name=winch>{{cite news|url=http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2012/10/05/jodi-arias-killer-or-victim |publisher=HLNTV |title=Jodi Arias: Cold-blooded killer or innocent victim?|author=Graham Winch & Katherine Brennecke|date=January 2, 2013}}</ref> and ] to Arizona on September 5. Arias pled not guilty on September 11.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/jodi-arias-timeline_n_2387245.html |title=Jodi Arias Timeline: Key Dates In Case Of California Woman Accused Of Stabbing Ex-Boyfriend 27 Times (UPDATED) |work=HuffPost |accessdate=February 6, 2013 |first=David |last=Lohr |date=December 31, 2012}}</ref> During this time, she gave several different accounts about her involvement in Alexander's death.<ref name="curryyahoo">{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/jodi-arias-rental-car-had-red-stains-seats-170908231--abc-news-topstories.html|title=Jodi Arias' Rental Car Had Red Stains on Seats|last=COLLEEN CURRY|date=January 16, 2013|publisher=]|accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> She originally told police that she had not been in Mesa on the day of the murder and had last seen Alexander in March 2008.<ref name="azcentral.com"/><ref name="cbs011613"/> Arias later told police that two intruders had broken into Alexander's home, murdering him and attacking her. Two years after her arrest, Arias told police that she killed Alexander in ], claiming that she had been a victim of ].<ref name="Owens">{{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Owens|title=Jodi Arias Trial: Jurors Shown Photos of Victim's Dead Body in Shower|publisher=]|date=January 3, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-trial-defense-claims-victim-sexual-deviant/story?id=18119972}}</ref><ref name="Glynn"/><ref name="Lohr">{{cite news|first=David|last=Lohr|title=Jodi Arias Timeline: Key Dates In Case Of California Woman Accused Of Stabbing Ex-Boyfriend 27 Times|work=HuffPost|date=December 31, 2012|accessdate=January 2, 2013|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/jodi-arias-timeline_n_2387245.html}}</ref><ref name="Lohr2">{{cite news|first=David|last=Lohr|title=Travis Alexander Murder: Trial Of Jodi Arias Opens |work=]|date=January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/travis-alexander-murder-_n_2398863.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/05/06/jodi-arias-murder-trial-deliberations.html|title=Jodi Arias murder trial with tales of sex, lies goes to jury|publisher=cncnews|date=May 5, 2013}}</ref> | |||
===Pre-trial=== | |||
On April 6, 2009, a motion to reconsider the defendant's motion to disqualify the Maricopa County ]'s office was denied.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605091606/http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/ |date=2013-06-05 }} case number: CR2008031021 http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/042010/m4168404.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210802/http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/042010/m4168404.pdf |date=2015-09-23 }}</ref> On May 18, the court ordered Arias to submit to ] and competency testing.<ref name="minutes"/> In January 2011, a ] filing detailed Arias's attorneys' efforts to obtain text messages and emails. The ] initially told defense attorneys that no text messages that had been sent or received by Alexander were available, but the prosecution was then ordered to turn over several hundred such messages. Mesa police detective Esteban Flores told defense attorneys that there was nothing out of the ordinary among Alexander's emails; about 8,000 were turned over to the defense in June 2009.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Kiefer|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/28/arias-prosecutors-conduct-questioned/2029913/|title=Jodi Arias prosecutor's conduct questioned|newspaper=]|date=March 29, 2013|access-date=June 16, 2021|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001164230/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/28/arias-prosecutors-conduct-questioned/2029913/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
== |
===Trial=== | ||
Arias was represented by appointed counsel L. Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/jodi-arias-testimony-murd_n_2618109.html |title=Jodi Arias Testimony: Murder Suspect Says She Lied, Had Plans To Commit Suicide Before Trial |last=Lohr |first=David |work=] |date=February 4, 2013 |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=April 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403042634/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/jodi-arias-testimony-murd_n_2618109.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
On April 6, 2009, a motion to reconsider the defendant's motion to disqualify the Maricopa County ]'s Office was denied.<ref> case number: CR2008031021 http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/042010/m4168404.pdf</ref> On May 18, the court ordered Arias to submit to IQ and competency testing.<ref name="minutes"/> Later, in January 2011, a ] filing detailed the efforts to which Arias' attorneys went to obtain text messages and emails. The prosecution initially told the defense attorneys that there were no available text messages sent or received by Alexander, and then was ordered to turn over several hundred such messages. Mesa police detective Esteban Flores told defense attorneys that there was nothing "out of the ordinary" among Alexander's emails; about 8,000 were turned over to the defense in June 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/2029913|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130615224736/http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/2029913|dead-url=yes|archive-date=2013-06-15|title=Jodi Arias prosecutor's conduct questioned|work=USA Today}}</ref> | |||
== Trial == | |||
{{Infobox court case|italic title=no | {{Infobox court case|italic title=no | ||
|name = The State of Arizona vs. Jodi Ann Arias | |name = The State of Arizona vs. Jodi Ann Arias | ||
|court = ] | |court = ] | ||
|image = | |image = | ||
|date decided = {{start date|2013|5| |
|date decided = {{start date|2013|5|08}} | ||
|full name = | |full name = | ||
|verdict = Guilty on one count of first-degree premeditated murder | |verdict = Guilty on one count of first-degree premeditated murder | ||
Line 96: | Line 70: | ||
|prior actions = | |prior actions = | ||
|subsequent actions= During the penalty phase, a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury. Arias was eventually sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on April 13, 2015. | |subsequent actions= During the penalty phase, a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury. Arias was eventually sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on April 13, 2015. | ||
|opinions = 7 jury members: Guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and felony murder <br> 5 jury members: Guilty of first-degree premeditated murder | |||
}} | }} | ||
=== |
====Jury selection==== | ||
The trial commenced in Maricopa County |
The trial commenced in Maricopa County ] before Judge Sherry K. Stephens. The '']'' proceedings began on December 10, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/122012/m5548775.pdf|title=Clerk of the Superior Court Minute Entries on 12/10/2012|access-date=2018-01-28|archive-date=2012-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224034219/http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/122012/m5548775.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 20, Arias's attorneys argued that the prosecution was "systematically excluding" women and black people; prosecutor Juan Martinez said that race and sex were irrelevant to his decisions to strike certain jurors. Stephens ruled that the prosecution had shown no bias in the jury selection.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/12/20/jodi-arias-travis-alexander-murder-trial-jury-selected-sworn |title=Jury selected in Jodi Arias murder trial |website=] |date=January 2, 2013 |access-date=March 26, 2018 |archive-date=October 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006235211/http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/12/20/jodi-arias-travis-alexander-murder-trial-jury-selected-sworn/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
=== |
====Guilt phase==== | ||
In ]s on January 2, 2013, the prosecution portrayed Arias as a jealous person who attacked Alexander, a "good man", after he attempted to end their relationship.<ref name="CBS opening">{{cite news|via=]|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-trial-opening-statements-paint-victim-as-alternately-devout-and-violent/|title=Jodi Arias Trial: Opening statements paint victim as alternately devout and violent|author=Crimsider Staff|agency=]|date=January 3, 2013}}</ref> Arias's defense, conversely, said that Alexander had been violent and abusive, and that Arias had killed him only after he had "lunged at in anger".<ref name="CBS opening"/> | |||
In ]s on January 2, 2013, Martinez sought the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-murder-trial-woman-facing-death-penalty/story?id=18111715 |title=Jodi Arias Murder Trial: Woman Facing Death Penalty Over Boyfriend's Murder |publisher=ABC News |date=January 2, 2013 |accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref> Arias was represented by appointed counsel L. Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott, who argued that Alexander's death was a ] committed in self-defense.<ref>{{cite news|first=David|last=Lohr|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/jodi-arias-testimony-murd_n_2618109.html |title=Jodi Arias Testimony: Murder Suspect Says She Lied, Had Plans To Commit Suicide Before Trial| work=]|date=February 4, 2013|accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref> | |||
The prosecution alleged that Arias had premeditated the murder. They contended that Arias had staged a robbery at her grandparents' residence, where she was staying, in order to take a handgun to kill Alexander.<ref name="Kiefer Gun">{{cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2014/10/23/jodi-arias-detective-flores-arizona-juan-martinez/17800011/|first=Michael|last=Kiefer|date=October 23, 2014|newspaper=]|title=Detective grilled on change of story in Jodi Arias trial}}</ref> A police detective who investigated the putative robbery testified that the gun was of the same caliber (]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jodi-arias-trial_n_2473798 |title=Jodi Arias Trial: Video Shows Defendant Confronted About Handgun Stolen From Grandparents |first=David |last=Lohr |website=] |date=January 14, 2013 |access-date=April 16, 2021 |quote= is a .25 auto<!--.25 auto is a common name for the .25 ACP _cartridge_; it does not indicate anything about the maker of the _gun_ itself--> |archive-date=September 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930174441/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jodi-arias-trial_n_2473798 |url-status=live }}</ref>) used in Alexander's shooting.<ref name="Kiefer Gun"/> They said that Arias had used a ] and purchased gas in advance in order to hide her trip to Alexander's.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|title=Jodi Arias Borrowed Gas Cans Day Before Killing Travis Alexander, Ex-Beau Says | |||
Co-worker Burns testified that when Arias visited him in Utah, the two had spent several hours hugging and kissing on a large bean bag chair. She told him she had cut her hands on broken glass while working at a restaurant called Margaritaville. A detective testified no restaurant by that name had ever existed in the Yreka area; at the time, Arias was working at a restaurant called Casa Ramos.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57563525-504083/jodi-arias-trial-update-prosecution-presents-testimony-to-prove-arias-who-killed-ex-boyfriend-is-a-pathological-liar/ |title=Jodi Arias Trial Update: Prosecution presents testimony to prove Arias, who killed ex-boyfriend, is a pathological liar |publisher=CBS News |accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref> Later, Arias testified that after she cut her finger: "I had a bazillion margaritas to make."<ref name=tm7>Testimony March 7, 2013</ref> Later, the prosecution argued that since a .25 caliber round was found near Alexander's body and that a gun of the same caliber was stolen from Arias' residence in Yreka the week before, she had staged the burglary and used the gun to kill Alexander.<ref name="Graham"/><ref name="people.com"/> Martinez claimed Arias had stalked Alexander and had slashed his tires twice. In addition, in the final days before his death, Alexander had called her a "]" and "the worst thing that ever happened to me", and stated he was afraid of her.<ref>Opening Statements, January 2, 2013; Testimony, April 10, 2013</ref> | |||
|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-borrowed-gas-cans-day-killing-travis/story?id=18345450|first=Colleen|last=Curry|date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> The prosecution called Ryan Burns, who testified Arias was acting "normal" when she visited him the day after Alexander's death.<ref>{{cite news|first=Cindy|last=Cesare|title=Jodi Arias Trial Update: Arias' love interest describes behavior post-murder|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-trial-update-arias-love-interest-describes-behavior-post-murder/|date=January 10, 2013|work=]}}</ref><ref name="Resendez Burns">{{cite news|first=MaryEllen|last=Resendez|title=Utah man testifies Jodi Arias had 'cuts on hands' after Mesa killing|work=East Valley Tribune|date=January 10, 2013|url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/mesa/utah-man-testifies-jodi-arias-had-cuts-on-hands-after-mesa-killing-w-video/article_566f6ab6-5b39-11e2-9db9-001a4bcf887a.html}}</ref><ref name="Skloff end of arguments">{{cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/jurors-get-case-in-jodi-arias-murder-trial/|via=]|first=Brian|last=Skoloff|agency=]|date=May 3, 2013|title=Jurors get case in Jodi Arias murder trial}}</ref> Burns said that Arias told him that she had cut her hands on broken glass while working at a restaurant called Margaritaville, though a detective later testified that no such restaurant existed.<ref name="Coscarelli Bonkers"/><ref>{{cite news |agency=] |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jodi-arias-testifies-ariz-trial-lover-murder-article-1.1255223 |title=A soft-spoken Jodi Arias, who is charged with her Arizona boyfriend's murder, testifies in her own defense, admitting she lied to investigators |work=] |date=February 4, 2013 |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225024108/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jodi-arias-testifies-ariz-trial-lover-murder-article-1.1255223 |url-status=live }}</ref> Arias took the stand in her own defense on February 4, 2013, testifying for a total of 18 days, a duration described by criminal defense attorney ] as "unprecedented".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-trial-just-how-crucial-were-experts-for-the-defense-team/|title=Jodi Arias Trial: Just how crucial were experts for the defense team?|date=May 14, 2013|access-date=October 6, 2018|language=en|archive-date=September 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930151853/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-trial-just-how-crucial-were-experts-for-the-defense-team/|url-status=live}}</ref> Arias detailed the abuse she had suffered at the hands of her parents<ref name="nydailynews1">{{cite news |agency=] |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jodi-arias-testifies-ariz-trial-lover-murder-article-1.1255223 |title=A soft-spoken Jodi Arias, who is charged with her Arizona boyfriend's murder, testifies in her own defense, admitting she lied to investigators |work=] |date=February 4, 2013 |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225024108/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jodi-arias-testifies-ariz-trial-lover-murder-article-1.1255223 |url-status=live }}</ref> and described her sex life with Alexander.<ref>{{cite web|last=Curry|first=Colleen|title=Jodi Arias Said Travis Alexander Had 'Bill Clinton' View of Sex|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-boyfriend-travis-alexander-bill-clinton-view/story?id=18420949&singlePage=true|work=]|access-date=February 6, 2013|date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002080907/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-boyfriend-travis-alexander-bill-clinton-view/story?id=18420949&singlePage=true|url-status=live}}</ref> A ] tape was played in court in which Alexander described wanting to tie Arias to a tree and sodomize her,<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Kiefer|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/07/transcript-of-jodi-arias-sex-tape-hearing-unsealed/2402173/|title=Transcript of Jodi Arias sex-tape hearing unsealed|date=June 7, 2013|newspaper=]}}</ref><ref name="Conti">{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/zngbky/jodi-arias-gets-tk-years-in-conclusion-of-bizarre-murder-trial-912|title=Jodi Arias Got Life in Prison Without Parole at the End of Her Long, Bizarre Murder Trial|work=]|first1=Allie|last1=Conti|date=April 13, 2015|access-date=November 12, 2018|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805172725/https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/zngbky/jodi-arias-gets-tk-years-in-conclusion-of-bizarre-murder-trial-912|url-status=live}}</ref> and Arias responded, "hat is so debasing; I like it."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-phone-sex-tape-shows-raunchy-relationship/story?id=18477130|title=Jodi Arias Said She Liked 'Debasing' Phone Sex Talk With Ex-Boyfriend|first=Colleen|last=Curry|date=February 12, 2013|work=]}}</ref> Arias testified that Alexander harbored ] desires and that she tried to help him with those urges.<ref name="Conti"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://extratv.com/2013/02/13/jodi-arias-phone-sex-recording-and-live-streaming-of-murder-trial/|title=Jodi Arias Trial Gets X-Rated: Phone Sex Recording Played in Court|website=Extra|date=February 13, 2013|access-date=December 20, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001140415/https://extratv.com/2013/02/13/jodi-arias-phone-sex-recording-and-live-streaming-of-murder-trial/|url-status=live}}</ref> She also said that her relationship with Alexander became increasingly ] and ].<ref name="CrookedFinger"/> After detailing one argument in which she held out her hand to block Alexander from kicking her, she held up her left hand in the courtroom, showing that her ring finger was crooked.<ref name="CrookedFinger">{{cite web|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/02/jodi-arias-murder-trial-testimony-travis-alexander-broke-finger-sex-abuse/|title=Jodi Arias Testifies Alleged Murder Victim Broke Her Finger In Fight, Describes Horrific Sexual Encounter|access-date=June 16, 2013|date=February 11, 2013|last=Emery|first=Debbie|website=]|archive-date=May 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520052721/http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/02/jodi-arias-murder-trial-testimony-travis-alexander-broke-finger-sex-abuse/|url-status=live}}</ref> Arias said that she killed Alexander in self-defense after he had attacked her when she dropped his camera,<ref name="Kiefer DV Expert">{{cite web|url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/03/01/jodi-arias-camera|title=Is this the camera that led to fatal Jodi Arias fight?|access-date=February 26, 2014|date=March 1, 2013|last=Feigel|first=Alice|website=HLNTV|archive-date=August 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804030918/http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/03/01/jodi-arias-camera|url-status=live}}</ref> forcing her to fight for her life. | |||
Alyce LaViolette, a psychotherapist who specializes in domestic violence, testified for the defense that Arias was a victim of domestic abuse, and that most victims do not tell anyone because they feel ashamed and humiliated.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/free/20130326jodi-arias-trial-domestic-violence-expert-testifies.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330084413/http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/free/20130326jodi-arias-trial-domestic-violence-expert-testifies.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 30, 2013|title=Domestic violence expert testifies in Jodi Arias trial|newspaper=]|agency=]|date=March 26, 2013}}</ref> During LaViolette's testimony, the defense team alluded to email between Alexander and his friends, Chris and Sky Hughes.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=]|url=https://azcentral.newspapers.com/image/120880773/?clipping_id=13864236&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjEyMDg4MDc3MywiaWF0IjoxNjgyODk5MTA3LCJleHAiOjE2ODI5ODU1MDd9.RVSsbrrgDpaUz21C9R2_8jwC74QdYwQVk7i0MoO2dtY|title=Emails in court paint victim as abusive|first=Michael|last=Kiefer|date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> The defense tried to enter the emails into evidence, but the trial judge ruled that they were ].<ref name="Kiefer Emails">{{cite news|newspaper=]|title=Unreleased e-mails in Arias case revealed|first=Michael|last=Kiefer|date=May 1, 2013|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/01/unreleased-e-mails-in-arias-case-revealed/2128319/}}</ref> A 2011 court filing revealed the contents of some of the emails the DV expert alluded to, including one in which Alexander expressed anger that Hughes had discouraged Arias from romantically pursuing Alexander.<ref name="Kiefer DV Expert"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/02/jodi-arias-trial-live-blog-day-39_n_2999563.html|title=Jodi Arias Domestic Violence Expert Alyce LaViolette To Resume Testimony|date=April 2, 2013|work=]|first=David|last=Lohr|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305005042/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/02/jodi-arias-trial-live-blog-day-39_n_2999563.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In a response email, Chris Hughes said that he believed that Arias "would be next victim ... and that was just another girl was playing".<ref name="Kiefer DV Expert"/> Alexander allegedly responded by saying, "I am a bit of a sociopath".<ref name="Kiefer DV Expert"/> Hughes testified during the trial, saying that, while he knew Alexander was seeing multiple women, he and his wife had been manipulated by Arias, and that they had had a falling out with Arias just months after the emails when they twice caught her eavesdropping on their conversations with Alexander.<ref name="Kiefer Emails"/> The prosecution called rebuttal witnesses, included several of Alexander's other girlfriends, who stated that they had never seen him exhibit problems with anger or violence.<ref name="Hogan2014"/> | |||
Arias took the stand in her own defense on February 4, 2013,<ref name="nydailynews1">{{cite news|agency=] |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jodi-arias-testifies-ariz-trial-lover-murder-article-1.1255223 |title=A soft-spoken Jodi Arias, who is charged with her Arizona boyfriend's murder, testifies in her own defense, admitting she lied to investigators |work=]|location=New York |accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref> testifying for a total of eighteen days; the sheer length of time Arias spent on the stand was described by criminal defense attorney ] as "unprecedented".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-trial-just-how-crucial-were-experts-for-the-defense-team/|title=Jodi Arias Trial: Just how crucial were experts for the defense team?|access-date=2018-10-06|language=en}}</ref> On the first day of her testimony, Arias told of being violently abused by her parents beginning when she was approximately seven years old.<ref name="nydailynews1"/> She testified that she rented a car in Redding because Budget's website gave her two options, one to the north and one to the south, and her brother lived in Redding.<ref>Testimony February 19, 2013</ref> On her second day on the stand, Arias said that their sex life included ] and ]; she said the anal sex was painful for her the first time they experienced it together, and that while she considered these forms of sex to be real sex, Alexander did not as they were technically not against ] concerning ]. Arias said that they eventually had intercourse, but less often.<ref>{{cite web|last=Curry|first=Colleen|title=Jodi Arias Said Travis Alexander Had 'Bill Clinton' View of Sex|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-boyfriend-travis-alexander-bill-clinton-view/story?id=18420949&singlePage=true|publisher=]|accessdate=February 6, 2013|date=February 6, 2013}}</ref> A phone sex tape was played in which Alexander said he wanted to zip tie her to a tree and have anal sex with her while she was dressed as ], which Arias seemed to respond to enthusiastically.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1302/18/ng.01.html |title=CNN.com - Transcripts |publisher=Edition.cnn.com |date= |accessdate=2016-07-08}}</ref> Arias had recorded this phone sex session without Alexander's knowledge or consent, apparently hoping to use it to embarrass Alexander to his Mormon peers.<Ref name="Hogan2014"/> Arias also testified that Alexander had secretly found young boys and girls sexually attractive and that she tried to help him with these urges.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/zngbky/jodi-arias-gets-tk-years-in-conclusion-of-bizarre-murder-trial-912|title=Jodi Arias Got Life in Prison Without Parole at the End of Her Long, Bizarre Murder Trial | work=Vice|first1=Allie|last1=Contie|date=April 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.extratv.com/2013/02/13/jodi-arias-phone-sex-recording-and-live-streaming-of-murder-trial|title=Jodi Arias Trial Gets X-Rated: Phone Sex Recording Played in Court}}</ref> Forensic experts testified that an examination of Alexander's computer found no evidence of pornographic material.<Ref name="Hogan2014"/> | |||
Beginning on March 14, ] Richard Samuels testified for the defense for nearly six days. He said that Arias had likely been suffering from acute stress at the time of the murder, sending her body into a "]" mode to defend herself, which caused her brain to stop retaining memory. In response to a juror's question asking whether this scenario could occur even if this was a ] murder, as the prosecution contended, he responded: "Is it possible? Yes. Is it probable? No." Samuels also diagnosed Arias with ] (PTSD).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-cries-picture-travis-alexander-kissing/story?id=19028331 |title=Jodi Arias Cries Over Picture of Travis Alexander Kissing Her |first=Ryan |last=Owens |website=] |date=April 24, 2013 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001205138/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-cries-picture-travis-alexander-kissing/story?id=19028331 |url-status=live }}</ref> Martinez attacked Samuels' credibility, accusing him of bias and of having formed a relationship with Arias; Samuels had previously testified that he had compassion for Arias.<ref>{{cite news|agency=]|via=]|url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/jodi-arias-trial-live-video-psychologist-Richard-Samuels-set-to-be-back-on-stand-in-murder-trial|title=Psychologist Richard Samuels back on stand|access-date=January 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021019/http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/jodi-arias-trial-live-video-psychologist-richard-samuels-set-to-be-back-on-stand-in-murder-trial|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Arizona Court of Appeals later castigated Martinez's impeachment of Samuels as improper. In rebuttal, prosecution witness Janeen DeMarte, a ], testified that Arias was not a victim of abuse and did not have PTSD, diagnosing her, instead, with borderline-personality disorder.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jodi-arias-trial-day-50_n_3115685|work=]|date=April 19, 2013|first=David|last=Lohr|title=At Jodi Arias Trial, Psychologist Janeen DeMarte Says Defendant Was Not A Battered Woman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Crimesider Staff|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-trial-defense-works-to-discredit-prosecution-witness-who-says-arias-doesnt-have-ptsd-14-05-2013/|agency=]|title=Jodi Arias Trial: Defense works to discredit prosecution witness who says Arias doesn't have PTSD|date=May 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Hogan2014"/> In response to DeMarte's testimony, the defense asked for and received permission to call a rebuttal witness, psychologist Robert Geffner,<ref>{{Cite web|first=Ryan|last=Owens|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-defense-call-expert-witness-testimony/story?id=19020102|title=Jodi Arias Defense Team Files Motion for More Expert Witness Testimony|website=]|date=April 23, 2013|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002080906/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-defense-call-expert-witness-testimony/story?id=19020102|url-status=live}}</ref> who said that all tests taken by Arias since her arrest pointed toward an ] stemming from trauma.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Ryan|last1=Owens|first2=Colleen|last2=Curry|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-final-expert-witness-claims-ptsd-boyfriend/story?id=19080298|title=Jodi Arias' Final Expert Witness Claims PTSD|website=]|date=May 1, 2013|access-date=June 15, 2021|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921165116/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-final-expert-witness-claims-ptsd-boyfriend/story?id=19080298|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=]|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jodi-arias-trial-day-54_n_3197984|first=David|last=Lohr|title=Arias Lawyers' Final Message To Jury: She Was Abused|date=May 2, 2013}}</ref> Geffner also suggested that the ] (MMPI) that DeMarte had used was not geared towards detecting personality disorders, suggesting that DeMarte should have used the ], which Samuels had used.<ref name="HLN Get Caught Up">{{cite news|url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/05/03/get-caught-week-18-jodi-arias-trial|title=Get caught up: Week 18 of Jodi Arias trial|work=HLN TV|access-date=2013-06-06|archive-date=2013-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908031721/http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/05/03/get-caught-week-18-jodi-arias-trial|url-status=dead}}</ref> The prosecution's final rebuttal witness, ] ] Jill Hayes, disputed Geffner's testimony that the MMPI test was not geared toward diagnosing borderline personality disorder.<ref name="HLN Get Caught Up"/><ref name=minutes> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605091606/http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/ |date=2013-06-05 }} case number: CR2008031021 http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/052009/m3718130.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210805/http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/052009/m3718130.pdf |date=2015-09-23 }}</ref> | |||
Arias testified that her relationship with Alexander became increasingly ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/02/jodi-arias-murder-trial-testimony-travis-alexander-broke-finger-sex-abuse/|title=Jodi Arias Testifies Alleged Murder Victim Broke Her Finger in Fight, Describes Horrific Sexual Encounter|date=2013-02-12}}</ref> Arias said that Alexander shook her while saying, "I'm f***ing sick of you", then began "screaming at me", after which he "body slammed me on the floor at the foot of his bed" and taunted her, saying "don't act like that hurts", before he called her a "bitch" and kicked her in the ribs. Afterward, Arias said "he went to kick me again, and I put my hand out." Arias held up her left hand in the courtroom, showing that her ring finger was crooked.<ref name="CrookedFinger">{{cite web|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/02/jodi-arias-murder-trial-testimony-travis-alexander-broke-finger-sex-abuse/|title=Jodi Arias Testifies Alleged Murder Victim Broke Her Finger In Fight, Describes Horrific Sexual Encounter|accessdate=June 16, 2013|date=February 11, 2013|last=Emery|first=Debbie|publisher=Radar Online}}</ref> According to Arias, the dysfunction of their relationship reached its climax when she killed him in self-defense after he became enraged when she dropped his camera,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/03/01/jodi-arias-camera|title=Is this the camera that led to fatal Jodi Arias fight?|accessdate=February 26, 2014|date=March 1, 2013|last=Feigel|first=Alice|publisher=HLNTV}}</ref> forcing her to fight for her life. This was the third differing account of Alexander's death given by Arias,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/04/jodi-arias-lies-murder-trial-travis-alexander/|title=Beyond A Reasonable Doubt: 12 Of Jodi Arias' Biggest Lies Exposed|last=Koch|first=Kristin|publisher=Radar Online|date=April 22, 2013|accessdate=June 16, 2013}}</ref> which both prosecutors, courtroom observers, and later jurors felt severely damaged her credibility. Rebuttal witnesses from the prosecution included several of Alexander's other girlfriends, who stated he never exhibited any problems with anger or violence.<Ref name="Hogan2014"/> | |||
In ]s, Martinez accused Arias of being a manipulative liar,<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|first=Brian|last=Skoloff|via=East Valley Tribune|title=Arias Trial: Closing arguments underway|date=May 2, 2013 |url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/mesa/arias-trial-closing-arguments-underway/article_1877f94a-b358-11e2-9225-0019bb2963f4.html}}</ref> showed a text that Alexander had sent calling Arias "evil",<ref>{{cite news|work=]|title=Jodi Arias' Ex-Boyfriend Sent An Ominous Text Before She Killed Him|first=Erin|last=Fuchs|date=May 3, 2013|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/travis-alexanders-text-to-jodi-arias-2013-5}}</ref> again displayed the gruesome crime scene photographs,<ref name="Fuchs Defense Close">{{cite news|title=JODI ARIAS' LAWYER: '9 Days Out Of 10 I Don't Like Jodi Arias'|first=Erin|last=Fuchs|date=May 4, 2013|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jodi-arias-lawyer-defense-strategy-2013-5}}</ref> and said that Arias had attempted to manipulate the jury.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|title=In closing arguments, Arias prosecutor urges jurors: Don't let her 'manipulate' you|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/closing-arguments-arias-prosecutor-urges-jurors-dont-let-her-manipulate-flna6c9747052|first=Joe|last=Delmonico|date=May 2, 2013}}</ref> Arias's defense asked the jury to put aside any personal dislike they may have had for Arias,<ref name="Skloff end of arguments"/> and said that the prosecution's premeditation theory " make any sense", contending that Arias's behavior—including appearing on security cameras, preserving receipts from gas cans she purchased, and spending the night at Alexander's before the killing—were inconsistent with the notion that she was on a "covert mission".<ref>{{cite news|first=Tim|last=Gaynor|title=Lawyer denies Arias went on 'covert mission' to kill Arizona lover|work=]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-jodiarias/lawyer-denies-arias-went-on-covert-mission-to-kill-arizona-lover-idUKBRE9420UW20130503|date=May 3, 2013}}</ref> In rebuttal, Martinez reemphasized the extent and variety of Alexander's wounds, calling the killing "a slaughter".<ref>{{cite web|first=Debbie|last=Emery|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/05/jodi-arias-murder-trial-jury-deliberations/|title=Juan Martinez Gets The Last Word in Jodi Arias Trial, Case Now in Jury Deliberation|website=]|date=May 4, 2013|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225230825/https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/05/jodi-arias-murder-trial-jury-deliberations/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Arias addressed comments she made in a September 2008 interview with the syndicated news program '']'', which had been played earlier in the trial. In the interview, she had said: "No jury is going to convict me ... because I am innocent. You can mark my words on that." Discussing the statement during her testimony, Arias said, "At the time , I had plans to commit ]. So I was extremely confident that no jury would convict me, because I didn't expect any of you to be here." At the close of his ] of Arias, Martinez replayed the video and prompted Arias to affirm that she had said during the interview that she would not be convicted because she was innocent.<ref name="nydailynews1"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1305/25/se.01.html|title=Murder First Degree: Inside the Arias Trial | work=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/03/01/day-jodi-arias-cracked-thursday-stand|title=Flustered & floundering: The day Arias cracked}}</ref> When being questioned by Martinez, Arias was initially combative and flippant, but after several days, Martinez was able to highlight the numerous lies and inconsistencies in her testimony and she admitted to stabbing and shooting Alexander despite her earlier claims of a lapse in her memory.<Ref name="Hogan2014"/> At the end of the guilt phase, the jury's foreman, William Zervakos, expressed an opinion common to both jurors and observers when he told ]'s '']'' that Arias' testimony did not do her any good. "I think eighteen days hurt her. I think she was not a good witness," he said.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/23/judge-declares-mistrial-in-penalty-phase-jodi-arias-trial/|title=Jodi Arias' testimony didn't help her, jury foreman says | work=Fox News | date=May 24, 2013}}</ref> | |||
Three jurors were dismissed through the course of the trial—one for misconduct,<ref name="abcnews1"/> one for health-related reasons,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/12/juror-released-arias-trial/2079253/|title=Another juror released from Jodi Arias murder trial|agency=]|via=]|date=April 12, 2013|access-date=June 16, 2021|archive-date=September 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930151854/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/12/juror-released-arias-trial/2079253/|url-status=live}}</ref> and one after being arrested for a ] offense.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/free/20130501dismissed-arias-trial-juror-says-he-had-dui-arrest.html |title=Dismissed Arias trial juror says he had DUI arrest |work=] |date=May 1, 2013 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210806050311/https://help.azcentral.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At the close of arguments, jurors were instructed that they could find Arias guilty of first degree murder if each of them, individually, found that she had premeditated the murder or had caused the death while committing a felony.<ref>{{cite web|work=FindLaw|url=https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/criminal-defense/jodi-arias-jury-instructions-key-to-her-fate/|title=Jodi Arias: Jury Instructions Key to Her Fate|quote=So in summary, jurors can find Arias guilty of first-degree murder by either a unanimous vote that she committed felony murder, a unanimous vote that she committed premeditated murder, or some mix of the two (e.g., six vote for felony murder and six vote for premeditated murder).|last=Snider|first=Brett|date=May 6, 2013}}</ref> On May 8, 2013, after 15 hours of deliberation, Arias was found guilty of ]. All twelve jurors found her guilty of first-degree premeditated murder; seven of the twelve jurors determined she was guilty of ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1305/08/ijvm.01.html|title=Jodi Arias Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder|work=]|date=May 8, 2013|access-date=August 13, 2013|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308013053/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1305/08/ijvm.01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As the verdict was read, Alexander's family smiled and hugged one another. Crowds outside the courtroom began cheering and chanting.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Brian|last=Skoloff|agency=]|url=https://www.telegram.com/article/20130509/NEWS/105099668|title=Cheers, tears at Arias 1st-degree murder verdict|newspaper=]|date=May 9, 2013|access-date=June 15, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201134/https://www.telegram.com/article/20130509/NEWS/105099668|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Starting March 14, ] Richard Samuels testified for the defense for nearly six days. He said Arias was likely suffering from acute stress at the time of the killing, sending her body into a "]" mode to defend herself, which caused her brain to stop retaining memory. In response to a juror's question asking whether this scenario could occur even if this was a ] murder, as the prosecution contended, he responded: "Is it possible? Yes. Is it probable? No." Samuels also diagnosed Arias with ] (PTSD).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-cries-picture-travis-alexander-kissing/story?id=19028331 |title=Jodi Arias Cries Over Picture of Travis Alexander Kissing Her – ABC News |publisher=ABC News |date=April 24, 2013}}</ref> Martinez attacked Samuels' credibility, accusing him of forming a relationship with Arias and being biased; Samuels had previously testified he had compassion for Arias.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/jodi-arias-trial-live-video-psychologist-Richard-Samuels-set-to-be-back-on-stand-in-murder-trial|title=Psychologist Richard Samuels back on stand}}</ref> Beginning on March 26, Alyce LaViolette, a psychotherapist who specializes in domestic violence, testified that Arias was a victim of domestic abuse, and that most victims do not tell anyone about abuse because they feel ashamed and humiliated.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130326jodi-arias-trial-domestic-violence-expert-testifies.html|title=Domestic violence expert testifies in Jodi Arias trial}}</ref> LaViolette summarised emails from Alexander's close friends: "They have basically advised Ms. Arias to move on from the relationship ... that Mr. Alexander has been abusive to women."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/02/jodi-arias-trial-live-blog-day-39_n_2999563.html|title=Jodi Arias Domestic Violence Expert Alyce LaViolette To Resume Testimony|date=April 2, 2013 |work=Huffington Post|first=David|last=Lohr}}</ref> The jury posed nearly 160 questions to LaViolette, many of them focusing on Arias' credibility.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130412arias-murder-trial-another-juror-released.html|title=Arias murder trial: Another juror released|work=The Arizona Republic }}</ref> | |||
====Aggravation phase==== | |||
Clinical psychologist Janeen DeMarte testified for the prosecution, stating that she found no evidence Alexander had abused Arias, and no evidence of PTSD or ] in Arias. Furthermore, Arias' claimed total memory loss for long stretches of time was inconsistent with traumatic amnesia associated with PTSD which manifests as much shorter gaps in memory.<Ref name="Hogan2014"/> Instead, DeMarte said Arias suffered from ], showing signs of immaturity and an "unstable sense of identity." People who suffer from such a disorder "have a terrified feeling of being abandoned by others", DeMarte told jurors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/08/jodi-arias-found-guilty-murder|title=Jodi Arias found guilty of murdering boyfriend | location=London | work=The Guardian|date=May 8, 2013}}</ref> The final defense witness was psychologist Dr. Robert Geffner, who said that DeMarte's borderline diagnosis was "not appropriate" and that all tests taken by Arias since her arrest pointed toward an ] stemming from trauma. He also said the tests indicated that she answered questions honestly, without lying.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-defense-call-expert-witness-testimony/story?id=19020102#.UaSY90BwqgY|title=Jodi Arias Defense Team Files Motion for More Expert Witness Testimony}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wlsam.com/common/more.php?m=58&ts=1367457607&article=6CD7E61AB2C611E286DEFEFDADE6840A&mode=2|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130615224914/http://www.wlsam.com/common/more.php?m=58&ts=1367457607&article=6CD7E61AB2C611E286DEFEFDADE6840A&mode=2|dead-url=yes|archive-date=2013-06-15|title=Jodi Arias' Final Expert Witness Claims PTSD}}</ref> Following Geffner's testimony, the state recalled Dr. Horn, who testified further on the gunshot wound, and called Dr. Jill Hayes, a forensic neuro-psychologist, who disputed Geffner's testimony that the MMPI test was not geared toward diagnosing borderline personality disorder,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/05/03/get-caught-week-18-jodi-arias-trial|title=Get caught up: Week 18 of Jodi Arias trial|work=HLN TV}}</ref> concluding a long day in court at 8:29 pm.<ref name=minutes> | |||
Following the conviction, the prosecution was required to convince the jury that the murder was "cruel, heinous, or depraved" for them to determine that Arias was eligible for the death penalty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-guilty-degree-murder-face-death-penalty/story?id=19106058#.UYq7M8pnBHq|title=Jodi Arias Found Guilty of First Degree Murder, Will Face Death Penalty|website=] |access-date=May 8, 2013|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001230057/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-guilty-degree-murder-face-death-penalty/story?id=19106058#.UYq7M8pnBHq|url-status=live}}</ref> The aggravation phase of the trial started on May 15, 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/arias-hearing-postponed-until-next-week/ |title=Arias hearing postponed until next week |publisher=Fox News |date=May 9, 2013 |access-date=May 9, 2013 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924171925/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/09/jodi-arias-trial-postponed-until-next-week-jury-to-decide-whether-is-eligible/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/jodi-arias-prefers-death-sentence-19138510 |title=Arias Trial Now Turns to Whether She Lives or Dies |work=ABC News |date=May 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509200455/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/jodi-arias-prefers-death-sentence-19138510|archive-date=May 9, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The only witness was the medical examiner who had performed Alexander's ]. Arias's attorneys, who had repeatedly asked to step down from the case, provided only brief opening statements and closing arguments in which they said that the adrenaline rushing through Alexander's body may have prevented him from feeling much pain during his death. Prosecutor Martinez showed photos of the corpse and crime scene to the jury, then paused for two minutes of silence to illustrate how long he claimed that it took for Alexander to die. After less than three hours of consideration, the jury determined that Arias was eligible for the death penalty.<ref name=withdraw>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/jodi-arias-attorneys-wanted-to-withdraw-denied_n_3286311.html|title=Jodi Arias's Lawyers Wanted To Withdraw From Case But Judge Denied Them|access-date=May 16, 2013|work=HuffPost|date=May 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517072620/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/jodi-arias-attorneys-wanted-to-withdraw-denied_n_3286311.html|archive-date=May 17, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
case number: CR2008031021 http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/052009/m3718130.pdf</ref> | |||
====Penalty phase==== | |||
On April 24, in response to previous testimony given by Arias about buying a five-gallon gas can from a ] store in Salinas on June 3, 2008, that she returned on the same day,<ref name=tm7/> the prosecution called Amanda Webb, an employee from the only Walmart in Salinas, to the stand. Webb said that according to Walmart's records, no one returned a five-gallon gas can on that date, and that Arias returned the gas can a week later rather than on June 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/04/23/martinez-tearing-apart-arias-defense|title=Will Martinez break down Jodi Arias' defense?}}</ref> The gas can evidence was seen as important in establishing premeditation, as the prosecutor argued that Arias was trying to avoid being recorded on gas station security cameras as she drove to Mesa.<Ref name="Hogan2014"/> | |||
The penalty phase began on May 16, 2013, when prosecutors called Alexander's family members to offer ]s in an effort to convince the jury that Arias's crime merited a death sentence.<ref name=withdraw /> | |||
On May 21, Arias offered an ], during which she pleaded for a ]. Arias acknowledged that her plea for life was a reversal of remarks that she made to a television reporter shortly after her conviction in which she had said that she preferred the death penalty. "Each time I said that, I meant it, but I lacked perspective," she said. "Until very recently, I could not imagine standing before you and asking you to give me life." She said that she changed her mind to avoid bringing more pain to members of her family, who were in the courtroom. At one point, Arias held up a white T-shirt with the word "Survivor" written across it, telling the jurors that she would sell the clothing and donate all proceeds to victims of domestic abuse. She also said that she would donate her hair to ] while in prison, and had already done so three times while in jail.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jodi Arias Pleads For Life|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/21/jody-arias-pain-death-penalty/2347209/|work=USA Today|access-date=May 21, 2013|first1=Douglas|last1=Stanglin|date=May 21, 2013|archive-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206220714/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/21/jody-arias-pain-death-penalty/2347209/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In ]s on May 4, Arias' defense argued that the premeditation theory did not make sense. "What happened in that moment in time? The relationship, the relationship of chaos, that ended in chaos as well. There is nothing about what happened on June 4th in that bathroom that looks planned ... Couldn't it also be that after everything they went through in that relationship, that she simply snapped? ... Ultimately, if Miss Arias is guilty of any crime at all, it is the crime of ] and nothing more."<ref name=ra_close>{{cite web|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/05/jodi-arias-murder-trial-jury-deliberations/|title=Juan Martinez Gets The Last Word in Jodi Arias Trial, Case Now in Jury Deliberation|date=2013-05-04}}</ref> In rebuttal, Martinez described the extent and variety of Alexander's wounds. "There is no evidence that he ever laid a hand on her, ever. Nothing indicates that this is anything less than a slaughter. There was no way to appease this woman who just wouldn't leave him alone," he said.<ref name="ra_close"/> | |||
That evening, in a joint jailhouse interview with '']'', ] and ]'s ''],'' Arias said that she did not know whether the jury would decide on life or death. "Whatever they come back with I will have to deal with it; I have no other choice." Regarding the verdict, she said, "It felt like a huge sense of unreality. I felt betrayed, actually, by the jury. I was hoping they would see things for what they are. I felt really awful for my family and what they were thinking."<ref name="interview_may21">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/22/jodi-arias/2349773/|title=Jodi Arias: I feel betrayed by the jury|date=May 21, 2013|work=USA Today|first=Michael|last=Kiefer|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922125334/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/22/jodi-arias/2349773/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jodi Arias talks before jury sentencing decision|url=https://www.azcentral.com/12news/articles/20130521jodi-arias-talks-before-sentencing.html|work=The Arizona Republic|access-date=2020-02-20|archive-date=2021-08-06|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210806050311/https://help.azcentral.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Arias' testimony added to a very long defense portion of the guilt phase of the trial, which led to problems with retention of jury members. On April 3, a member of the jury was dismissed for "misconduct".<ref name="abcnews1"/> The defense team asked for a ], which the judge denied.<ref name="abcnews1"/> On April 12, another juror was excused for health reasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetimesherald.com/usatoday/article/2079253|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130615224730/http://www.thetimesherald.com/usatoday/article/2079253|dead-url=yes|archive-date=2013-06-15|title=Another juror released from Jodi Arias murder trial}}</ref> A third juror was dismissed on April 25 after being arrested for a ] offense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/free/20130501dismissed-arias-trial-juror-says-he-had-dui-arrest.html |title=Dismissed Arias trial juror says he had DUI arrest |work=The Arizona Republic |date=May 1, 2013}}</ref> As of April 25, 2012, defense costs had reached almost $1.7 million, paid by taxpayers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/04/26/jodi-arias-defense-has-cost-16-million-so-far|title=Cost of Arias defense: $2.0M – and counting|accessdate=January 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/06/jurors-deliberate-in-jodi-arias-murder-trial-amid-media-spectacle-attracting/|title=Jurors deliberate in Jodi Arias murder trial amid media spectacle attracting fans nationwide | work=Fox News | date=May 6, 2013}}</ref> | |||
On May 23, the sentencing phase of Arias's trial resulted in a ], prompting the judge to declare a ] for that phase. The jury had reached an 8–4 decision in favor of the death penalty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/23/justice/arizona-jodi-arias-trial|title=New jury to decide Jodi Arias' fate after penalty phase mistrial|work=CNN|date=May 23, 2013|access-date=August 13, 2013|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806021607/https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/23/justice/arizona-jodi-arias-trial|url-status=live}}</ref> After the jury was discharged, jury foreman Zervakos stated that the jury found the responsibility of weighing the death sentence overwhelming, but were horrified when their efforts ended in a mistrial. "By the end of it, we were mentally and emotionally exhausted," he said. "I think we were horrified when we found out that they had actually called a mistrial, and we felt like we had failed."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/arizona-jury-foreman-says-believed-jodi-arias-abused-203820765.html |title=Arizona jury foreman says believed Jodi Arias was abused |author=Schwartz, David |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608092102/http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-jury-foreman-says-believed-jodi-arias-abused-203820765.html |archive-date=June 8, 2013 }}</ref> | |||
On May 7, 2013, after 15 hours of deliberation, Arias was found guilty of first-degree murder. Out of twelve jurors, five jurors found her guilty of ] ], and seven jurors found her guilty of both first-degree premeditated murder and ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1305/08/ijvm.01.html|title=Jodi Arias Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder|work=CNN|date=May 8, 2013|accessdate=August 13, 2013}}</ref> As the guilty verdict was read, Alexander's family smiled and hugged each other. People outside the courtroom began cheering and chanting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/national/southwest/2013/05/cheers_tears_at_arias_1st_degree_murder_verdict|title=Cheers, tears at Arias 1st-degree murder verdict}}</ref> | |||
On May 30, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said he was confident that an impartial jury could be seated, but that it was possible that lawyers and the victim's family could agree to scrap the trial in favor of a life sentence with no ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/may/30/prosecutor-discusses-next-steps-jodi-arias-case/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616042216/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/may/30/prosecutor-discusses-next-steps-jodi-arias-case/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-06-16|title=Prosecutor discusses next steps for Jodi Arias case|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The defense responded, "If the diagnosis made by the State's psychologist is correct, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office is seeking to impose the death penalty upon a mentally ill woman who has no prior criminal history. It is not incumbent upon Ms. Arias' defense counsel to resolve this case."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130604arias-lawyers-respond-to-montgomery.html|title=Arias lawyers respond to Montgomery|date=June 4, 2013|work=The Arizona Republic|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210806050311/https://help.azcentral.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/jodi-arias-lawyers-take-murder-case-to-court-of-public-opinion/|title=Jodi Arias lawyers take murder case to court of public opinion|agency=Associated Press|date=June 5, 2013|work=Fox News|access-date=June 6, 2013|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172012/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/05/jodi-arias-lawyers-take-murder-case-to-court-public-opinion/|url-status=live}}</ref> And Arias, while reaffirming her belief in the criminal justice system, questioned whether an impartial jury could be seated in light of the coverage of the trial.<ref name="interview_may21"/> | |||
===Aggravation phase=== | |||
Following the first-degree murder conviction, the prosecution was required to convince the jury that the murder was "cruel, heinous, or depraved" in order for them to determine that Arias was eligible for the death penalty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-guilty-degree-murder-face-death-penalty/story?id=19106058#.UYq7M8pnBHq|title=Jodi Arias Found Guilty of First Degree Murder, Will Face Death Penalty |accessdate=May 8, 2013}}</ref> The aggravation phase of the trial started on May 15, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/09/jodi-arias-trial-postponed-until-next-week-jury-to-decide-whether-is-eligible/ |title=Arias hearing postponed until next week |publisher=Fox News Channel | date=May 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/jodi-arias-prefers-death-sentence-19138510 |title=Arias Trial Now Turns to Whether She Lives or Dies |publisher=ABC News |date=May 20, 2013}}</ref> The only witness was the medical examiner who performed the ]. Arias' attorneys, who had repeatedly asked to step down from the case, gave only brief opening statements and closing arguments, in which they said the adrenaline rushing through Alexander's body may have prevented him from feeling much pain during his death. Prosecutor Martinez showed photos of the corpse and crime scene to the jury, then paused for two minutes of silence to illustrate how long he said it took for Alexander to die at Arias' hands. After less than three hours of consideration, the jury determined that Arias was eligible for the death penalty.<ref name=withdraw>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/jodi-arias-attorneys-wanted-to-withdraw-denied_n_3286311.html|title=Jodi Arias' Lawyers Wanted To Withdraw From Case But Judge Denied Them|accessdate=May 16, 2013|work=HuffPost|date=May 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517072620/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/jodi-arias-attorneys-wanted-to-withdraw-denied_n_3286311.html|archive-date=May 17, 2013|dead-url=yes|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
====Mistrial motions and mid-trial appeal==== | |||
===Penalty phase=== | |||
During the trial, defense attorneys filed for mistrial in January, April and May 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20561461/2013/01/11/mistrial-motion-denied-in-arias-murder-trial|title=Mistrial motion denied in Arias murder trial|work=KSAZ|date=11 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113021636/http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20561461/2013/01/11/mistrial-motion-denied-in-arias-murder-trial|archive-date=13 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="abc_witch">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/jodi-arias-trial-arias-attorneys-compare-trial-to-salem-witch-trials-ask-for-another-mistrial|date=27 May 2013|title=Jodi Arias trial: Arias' attorneys compare trial to Salem witch trials, ask for ANOTHER mistrial|work=KNXV|access-date=2013-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527193741/http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/jodi-arias-trial-arias-attorneys-compare-trial-to-salem-witch-trials-ask-for-another-mistrial|archive-date=2013-05-27|url-status=dead}}</ref> Arias's lawyers argued in January that Esteban Flores, the lead Mesa police detective on the case, ] himself during a 2009 ] aimed at determining whether the death penalty should be considered an option for jurors. Flores testified at the 2009 hearing that based on his own review of the scene and a discussion with the medical examiner, it was apparent that Alexander had been shot in the forehead first. Contrary to Flores' testimony at the 2009 hearing, the medical examiner told jurors the gunshot probably would have incapacitated Alexander. Given his extensive defense wounds, including stab marks and slashes to his hands, arms and legs, it was not likely the shot came first. Flores denied perjury and said during his trial testimony that he just misunderstood what the medical examiner told him.<ref name="AP May SC decision">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/jodi-arias-denied-case-re_n_3355882.html|title=Jodi Arias Denied Case Review By Arizona Supreme Court|via=]|agency=]|date=May 29, 2013|access-date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530141733/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/jodi-arias-denied-case-re_n_3355882.html|archive-date=May 30, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
The penalty phase began on May 16, 2013, when prosecutors called Alexander's family members to offer ]s, in an effort to convince the jury that Arias' crime merited a death sentence.<ref name=withdraw /> | |||
On May 20, 2013, defense attorneys filed motion which alleged that a defense witness who had been due to testify the preceding Friday, the 17th, began receiving ]s for her scheduled testimony on Arias's behalf. The day before the filing, the witness contacted counsel for Arias, stating that she was no longer willing to testify because of the threats. The motion continued, "It should also be noted that these threats follow those made to Alyce LaViolette, a record of which was made ex-parte and under seal." The motion was denied, as was a motion for a stay in the proceedings that had been sought to give time to appeal the decisions to the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130520jodi-arias-witness-withdraws-because-death-threats.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615224945/http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130520jodi-arias-witness-withdraws-because-death-threats.html|archive-date=15 June 2013|title=Jodi Arias witness withdraws because of death threats|work=The Arizona Republic|date=20 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
On May 21, Arias offered an ], during which she pleaded for a ]. Arias acknowledged that her plea for life was a reversal of remarks she made to a TV reporter shortly after her conviction, when she said she preferred the death penalty. "Each time I said that, I meant it, but I lacked perspective," she said. "Until very recently, I could not imagine standing before you and asking you to give me life." She said she changed her mind to avoid bringing more pain to members of her family, who were in the courtroom. At one point, she held up a white T-shirt with the word "survivor" written across it, telling the jurors that she would sell the clothing and donate all proceeds to victims of domestic abuse. She also said she would donate her hair to ] while in prison, and had already done so three times while in jail.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jodi Arias Pleads For Life|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/21/jody-arias-pain-death-penalty/2347209/|work=USA Today|accessdate=May 21, 2013|first1=Douglas|last1=Stanglin|date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> | |||
On May 29, 2013, the Arizona Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal filed three months earlier, which was also refused by the mid-level ]. Nurmi had asked the high court to throw out the aggravating factor of cruelty because the judge had allowed it to go forward based on a different theory of how the murder occurred. The lead detective originally claimed that the gunshot occurred first, followed by the stabbing and slitting of the throat. Based on that theory, Stephens ruled there was probable cause to find the crime had been committed in an especially cruel manner, an aggravating factor under state law. Subsequent to this initial hearing, the medical examiner testified that the gunshot occurred postmortem.<ref name="AP May SC decision"/> | |||
That evening, in a joint jailhouse interview with '']'', ] and ]'s '']'', Arias said she did not know whether the jury would come back with life or death. "Whatever they come back with I will have to deal with it, I have no other choice." Regarding the verdict she said, "It felt like a huge sense of unreality. I felt betrayed, actually, by the jury. I was hoping they would see things for what they are. I felt really awful for my family and what they were thinking."<ref name="interview_may21">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/22/jodi-arias/2349773/|title=Jodi Arias: I feel betrayed by the jury|date=May 21, 2013 |work=USA Today|first=Michael|last=Kiefer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jodi Arias talks before jury sentencing decision|url=http://www.azcentral.com/12news/articles/20130521jodi-arias-talks-before-sentencing.html|work=The Arizona Republic}}</ref> | |||
====Sentencing retrial and incarceration==== | |||
On May 23, the sentencing phase of Arias' trial resulted in a ], prompting the judge to declare a ] for that phase. The jury had reached an 8–4 decision in favor of the death penalty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/23/justice/arizona-jodi-arias-trial|title=New jury to decide Jodi Arias' fate after penalty phase mistrial|work=CNN|date=May 23, 2013|accessdate=August 13, 2013}} | |||
On October 21, 2014, Arias's sentencing ] began. Opening statements were given, and a hearing on evidence was held. Prosecution witness Amanda Webb, called in the first trial to rebut Arias's testimony that she returned a gas can to Walmart on May 8, 2007, admitted she did not know if all records were transferred after the store relocated.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.hlntv.com/article/2014/10/24/jodi-arias-recap-death-penalty-retrial-week-1|title = Recap: Week 1 of Arias sentencing retrial|last = Zarrell|first = Matthew|access-date = 2015-03-21|archive-date = 2015-02-18|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150218211420/http://www.hlntv.com/article/2014/10/24/jodi-arias-recap-death-penalty-retrial-week-1|url-status = live}}</ref> After a holiday break, the retrial resumed in January, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=Day 21 of Jodi Arias trial: Judge sends jurors home – again|url=http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/27760390/day-21-of-jodi-arias-trial-jury-returns-after-holiday-break|date=5 January 2015|access-date=5 January 2015|publisher=Fox 5 Vegas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124032219/http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/27760390/day-21-of-jodi-arias-trial-jury-returns-after-holiday-break|archive-date=January 24, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Mesa police experts admitted that Alexander's laptop had ] and pornography, contrary to testimony in the first trial in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/13/jodi-arias-retrial-nears-end/23381435/|title = Jodi Arias retrial nears its end|access-date = 2017-09-05|archive-date = 2021-10-01|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211001230058/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/13/jodi-arias-retrial-nears-end/23381435/|url-status = live}}</ref> Jury deliberations began on February 12, 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwartz |first=David |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-arias-idUSKBN0LU21520150227 |title=Jury in Jodi Arias case to resume deliberations on Monday |newspaper=Reuters |date=2015-02-26 |access-date=2016-07-08 |archive-date=2021-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001211447/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-arias-idUSKBN0LU21520150227 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
</ref> | |||
On March 2, 2015, the jury informed Judge Stephens that they were deadlocked. Arias's attorneys requested a mistrial. Stephens denied the request, read additional instructions to the jury, and ordered them to resume deliberations.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jacques Billeaud |date=March 4, 2015 |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/lawyer-jury-at-impasse-in-arias-case-judge-says-keep-going/ar-BBi9qDt |title=Lawyer: Jury at impasse in Arias case; judge says keep going |publisher=MSN |access-date=2016-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306174932/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/lawyer-jury-at-impasse-in-arias-case-judge-says-keep-going/ar-BBi9qDt |archive-date=2016-03-06}}</ref> On March 5, 2015, Stephens declared a mistrial because the jurors, who deliberated for about 26 hours over five days, deadlocked at 11–1 vote in favor of the death penalty. The 11 jurors in favor of death tried, unsuccessfully, to get the holdout juror removed from the jury, arguing that juror was biased.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-jury-deadlocked-11-1-for-death-penalty/|title=Jodi Arias jury deadlocked 11–1 for death penalty|date=March 5, 2015}}</ref> After the result, the holdout juror reported that she received threats, and her name, address, and phone number were leaked online.<ref name="WaPo Juror 17">{{cite news|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/03/17/holdout-juror-in-jodi-arias-sentencing-says-shes-getting-threats/|title=The perils of being the juror who did not want Jodi Arias to die|last=Bever|first=Lindsey|date=March 17, 2015}}</ref> Dennis Elias, a jury consultant, said "The very fact that people are making death threats and trying to out her, it is not a proud day for any single one of those people and they should be ashamed."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fox10phoenix.com/story/28276900/2015/03/05/juror-17-from-the-arias-sentencing-receives-death-threats/ |title=Juror 17 in Jodi Arias sentencing retrial receives death threats |last=Flores |first=Jessica |date=March 6, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321064550/http://www.fox10phoenix.com/story/28276900/2015/03/05/juror-17-from-the-arias-sentencing-receives-death-threats |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery released a statement calling for the attacks on the juror to "cease".<ref name="WaPo Juror 17"/> | |||
After the mistrial was declared and the jury discharged, the jury foreman stated that he believed Arias was mentally abused, but that had not been enough to excuse her crime. He also said, "I think 18 days hurt her, I think she was not a good witness. We're charged with presuming innocence, right? But she was on the stand for so long, there were so many contradicting stories." He said the jury found the responsibility of weighing the death sentence overwhelming, but were horrified when their efforts ended in a mistrial. "By the end of it, we were mentally and emotionally exhausted," he said. "I think we were horrified when we found out that they had actually called a mistrial, and we felt like we had failed."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/arizona-jury-foreman-says-believed-jodi-arias-abused-203820765.html |title=Arizona jury foreman says believed Jodi Arias was abused |author=Schwartz, David |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608092102/http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-jury-foreman-says-believed-jodi-arias-abused-203820765.html |archivedate=June 8, 2013 }}</ref> | |||
Sentencing was scheduled for April 7, 2015, with Stephens having the option to sentence Arias to either life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or with the possibility of parole after 25 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-trial-jury-reached-verdict/story?id=29226362|title=Jodi Arias Trial: Judge Declares Mistrial After Hung Jury|work=ABC News|date=March 5, 2015|access-date=July 8, 2016|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001211445/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-trial-jury-reached-verdict/story?id=29226362|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Jacques Billeaud And Terry Tang |url=https://news.yahoo.com/court-jodi-arias-jurors-reach-verdict-sentencing-retrial-155826188.html |title=Jurors in Jodi Arias case: We were 11–1 for death penalty |publisher=News.yahoo.com |date=2015-03-06 |access-date=July 8, 2016 |archive-date=2015-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916045625/https://news.yahoo.com/court-jodi-arias-jurors-reach-verdict-sentencing-retrial-155826188.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Michael Kiefer, The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/05/jodi-arias-verdict/24431127/ |title=Jodi Arias spared death as jury deadlocks on sentence |newspaper=USA Today |date=March 5, 2015 |access-date=July 8, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001205137/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/05/jodi-arias-verdict/24431127/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 13, Stephens sentenced Arias to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jodi Arias sentenced to life in prison|url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2015/04/13/jodi-arias-sentence-life-prison|website=HLN|access-date=2015-04-13|archive-date=2015-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204090536/http://www.hlntv.com/article/2015/04/13/jodi-arias-sentence-life-prison|url-status=live}}</ref> By March 5, 2015, Arias' trials cost an estimated $3 million.<ref>] (March 5, 2015). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001205137/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/jodi-arias-reacts-judges-sentence-30302563 |date=2021-10-01 }}. ABC News. Retrieved July 6, 2019.</ref> | |||
On May 30, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery discussed the next steps at a news conference. He said he was confident an impartial jury could be seated, but it was possible that lawyers and the victim's family could agree to scrap the trial in favor of a life sentence with no parole.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/may/30/prosecutor-discusses-next-steps-jodi-arias-case/|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130616042216/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/may/30/prosecutor-discusses-next-steps-jodi-arias-case/|dead-url=yes|archive-date=2013-06-16|title=Prosecutor discusses next steps for Jodi Arias case|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Arias had said, "I don't think there is an untainted jury pool anywhere in the world right now. That's what it feels like. But I still believe in the system to a degree, so we'll just go through that if that happens."<ref name="interview_may21"/> Defense attorneys responded, "If the diagnosis made by the State's psychologist is correct, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office is seeking to impose the death penalty upon a mentally ill woman who has no prior criminal history. It is not incumbent upon Ms. Arias' defense counsel to resolve this case."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130604arias-lawyers-respond-to-montgomery.html|title=Arias lawyers respond to Montgomery|date=June 4, 2013|work=The Arizona Republic }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/05/jodi-arias-lawyers-take-murder-case-to-court-public-opinion/|title=Jodi Arias lawyers take murder case to court of public opinion|agency=Associated Press|date=June 5, 2013|work=Fox News}}</ref> | |||
In June 2015, following a restitution hearing, Arias was ordered to pay more than $32,000 to Alexander's siblings. Her attorney stated this was about one third of the amount requested.<ref>{{cite web|title = Judge orders Jodi Arias to pay $32,000 to victim's family|url = https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2015/06/22/jodi-arias-case-restitution-victims/29116033/|access-date = 2015-08-30}}</ref> | |||
=== Appeals === | |||
During the trial, defense attorneys filed for mistrial in January, April and May 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20561461/2013/01/11/mistrial-motion-denied-in-arias-murder-trial|title=Mistrial motion denied in Arias murder trial}}</ref><ref name="abc_witch">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/jodi-arias-trial-arias-attorneys-compare-trial-to-salem-witch-trials-ask-for-another-mistrial|title=Jodi Arias trial: Arias' attorneys compare trial to Salem witch trials, ask for ANOTHER mistrial}}</ref> Arias' lawyers argued in January that Detective Esteban Flores, the lead Mesa police detective on the case, perjured himself during a 2008 pretrial hearing aimed at determining whether the death penalty should be considered an option for jurors. Flores testified at the 2009 hearing that based on his own review of the scene, and a discussion with the medical examiner, it was apparent that Alexander had been shot in the forehead first. Contrary to Flores' testimony at the 2009 hearing, the medical examiner told jurors the gunshot probably would have incapacitated Alexander; given his extensive defense wounds, including stab marks and slashes to his hands, arms and legs, it was not likely the shot came first. Flores denied perjury and said during his trial testimony that he just misunderstood what the medical examiner told him.<ref name="ap_may29"/> | |||
As of 2023, Arias is housed at the ] #281129, which is located at ].<ref name=":0">" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928122716/http://www.azcorrections.gov/inmate_datasearch/results_Minh.aspx?InmateNumber=259307&LastName=SIMMONS&FNMI=E&SearchType=SearchInet&ReportLength=TOP_5 |date=2011-09-28 }}." ]. Retrieved on March 21, 2016.</ref> She started her sentence in the complex's maximum security Lumley Unit,<ref>Goodman, Amanda. " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215045054/http://www.cbs5az.com/story/28793664/jodi-arias-begins-prison-sentence-at-perryville |date=2016-02-15 }}." CBS 5 Arizona. Retrieved on March 21, 2016.</ref> but has since been downgraded to the medium security level.{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is for a different person(]).|date=January 2023}}<ref name=":0" /> | |||
In April, the defense claimed the prosecutor had acted inappropriately and said the case resembled a modern-day equivalent to the ]. In the motion the defense team contended "the prosecutorial misconduct has infested these proceedings with a level of unfairness that cannot be cured by any other means." The motion also stated there is a "circus-like atmosphere inside the courtroom" and prosecutor Juan Martinez had yelled at witnesses, attacked witnesses on a personal level, and had thrown evidence. The motion also alleged that Martinez chose to release evidence and to pose for pictures with his fans on the steps of the courthouse. The attorneys claimed Arias was in a position where she could not present a complete defense, and the only constitutional course was to declare a mistrial.<ref name="abc_witch"/> | |||
===Post-verdict appeal=== | |||
On May 20, 2012, defense attorneys again filed for mistrial. The motion alleged that a defense witness who had been due to testify the preceding Friday, the 17th, began receiving threats, including threats on her life if she were to testify on Arias' behalf. The day before the filing, the witness contacted counsel for Arias, stating that she was no longer willing to testify due to these threats. The motion continued, "It should also be noted that these threats follow those made to Alyce LaViolette, a record of which was made ex-parte and under seal." The motion was denied, as was a motion for a stay in the proceedings that had been sought to give time to appeal the decisions to the Arizona Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130520jodi-arias-witness-withdraws-because-death-threats.html|title=Jodi Arias witness withdraws because of death threats|work=The Arizona Republic }}</ref> | |||
On July 6, 2018, Arias's current attorneys, Margaret M. Green (a.k.a. Peg Green) and Corey Engle, filed a 324-page ] seeking her murder conviction be overturned to the Court of Appeals.<ref name="azcentral appeal 2018">{{cite news |author1=Michael Kiefer |title=Appeal claims Jodi Arias denied fair trial, alleges over-the-top media coverage, misconduct |url=https://amp.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2018/07/06/jodi-arias-defense-attorney-files-brief-murder-conviction-appeal-travis-alexander/760616002/ |access-date=23 September 2018 |work=Arizona Republic |date=6 July 2018 |language=en }}</ref> | |||
On October 17, 2019, Arias's attorneys argued to the Court of Appeals that her sentence should be overturned on the basis that Martinez acted inappropriately throughout the trial, resulting in a ] and affecting the outcome of the trial.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/10/17/us/ap-us-jodi-arias-appeal.html|title=Judges Grapple With Misconduct Claims in Jodi Arias Case|date=October 17, 2019|website=New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018015242/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/10/17/us/ap-us-jodi-arias-appeal.html|archive-date=October 18, 2019|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref> On March 24, 2020, the court held that notwithstanding "egregious" and "self-promoting" misconduct by the prosecutor, Arias had been convicted "based upon the overwhelming evidence of her guilt," and upheld the conviction.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jodi-arias-conviction-ex-s-murder-upheld-arizona-appeals-court-n1168091|title=Jodi Arias' conviction in ex's murder upheld by Arizona appeals court|date=March 24, 2020|work=NBC News|access-date=March 25, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325180131/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jodi-arias-conviction-ex-s-murder-upheld-arizona-appeals-court-n1168091|archive-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref> On November 4, 2020, the Arizona Supreme Court declined to review the case.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arizona Supreme Court declines to review Jodi Arias' appeal |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-93e7a0a4e70b6073835419fbfc86e1da#:~:text=PHOENIX%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Arizona,an%20explanation%20for%20the%20decision. |website=apnews | date=November 4, 2020 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=3 July 2024}}</ref> | |||
On May 29, 2013, the ] declined to hear an appeal filed three months earlier, also refused by the mid-level ]. Nurmi had asked the high court to throw out the aggravating factor of cruelty because the judge had allowed it to go forward based on a different theory of how the murder occurred. The lead detective originally claimed that the gunshot occurred first, followed by the stabbing and slitting of the throat; based on that theory, Stephens ruled there was probable cause to find the crime had been committed in an especially cruel manner, an aggravating factor under state law. Subsequent to this initial hearing, the medical examiner testified that the gunshot occurred postmortem.<ref name="ap_may29">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/Jodi-Arias-case-Arizona-Supreme-Court-denies-review-in-Valley-murder-case|title=Jodi Arias: Arizona Supreme Court denies review in Valley murder case|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/jodi-arias-denied-case-re_n_3355882.html|title=Jodi Arias Denied Case Review By Arizona Supreme Court|work=HuffPost|date=May 29, 2013|access-date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530141733/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/jodi-arias-denied-case-re_n_3355882.html|archive-date=May 30, 2013|dead-url=yes|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
==Media== | |||
On July 6, 2018, Arias’ current attorneys, Margaret M. Green (a.k.a. Peg Green) and Corey Engle, filed a 324-page appeal seeking her murder conviction be overturned to the ]. The state's response is due by January 4, 2019 and is to be provided by the ]. Following the state's response Arias will be allowed a formal reply to the state's ] prior to the case going before a three-judge panel for ].<ref name="azcentral appeal 2018">{{cite news |author1=Michael Kiefer |title=Appeal claims Jodi Arias denied fair trial, alleges over-the-top media coverage, misconduct |url=https://amp.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2018/07/06/jodi-arias-defense-attorney-files-brief-murder-conviction-appeal-travis-alexander/760616002/ |accessdate=23 September 2018 |work=Arizona Republic |publisher=Gannett Company |date=6 July 2018 |ref= |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Mike McPadden |title=Jodi Arias Lawyer Says She Is The "Reason Why Cancer Infested My Body" - CrimeFeed |url=http://crimefeed.com/2018/07/jodi-arias-lawyer-says-she-is-the-reason-why-cancer-infested-my-body/ |website=CrimeFeed |accessdate=23 September 2018 |date=10 July 2018}}</ref> | |||
The ] reported that the public would be able to watch testimony in the Jodi Arias trial.<ref name="Jodi Arias Case 2014"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121855/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/04/jodi-arias_n_6099328.html |date=2016-03-04 }}. Associated Press via ''HuffPost.'' 04 November 2014. Retrieved 05 January 2015.</ref> This decision, made by a three-judge panel of the Arizona Court of Appeals, overruled Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens' original decision, which would "allow a witness to testify in private, as jurors whether to give the death penalty."<ref name="Jodi Arias Case 2014"/> Judge Stephens held secret (non-public) hearings. As a result of the move for secrecy, an unidentified defense witness was permitted to testify in private. Though Judge Stephens' decision had been overruled by the Arizona Court of Appeals, "the mystery witness who testified ... at the start of the defense case" was not revealed to the public.<ref name="Jodi Arias Case 2014"/> | |||
The case, featured on an episode of '']: Picture Perfect'' in 2008,<ref name=48hours/> included an interview which, for the first time in the history of ''48 Hours,'' was used as evidence in a death penalty trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-mind-of-a-killer-unraveling-the-lies-of-jodi-arias/|title=The mind of a killer: Unraveling the lies of Jodi Arias|work=CBS News|access-date=2020-04-17|archive-date=2013-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203111824/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-mind-of-a-killer-unraveling-the-lies-of-jodi-arias/|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 24, 2008, '']'' interviewed Arias at the Maricopa County Jail where she stated, "No jury is going to convict me...because I am innocent and you can mark my words on that. No jury is going to convict me."<ref name=winch>{{cite news|url=http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2012/10/05/jodi-arias-killer-or-victim|publisher=HLNTV|title=Jodi Arias: Cold-blooded killer or innocent victim?|author=Graham Winch & Katherine Brennecke|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=January 23, 2013|archive-date=October 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008002951/http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2012/10/05/jodi-arias-killer-or-victim|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
===Sentencing retrial and incarceration=== | |||
On October 21, 2014, Arias' sentencing retrial began. Opening statements were given, and a hearing on evidence was held. Prosecution witness Amanda Webb, called in the first trial to rebut Arias' testimony that she returned a gas can to Walmart on May 8, 2007, admitted she did not know if all records were transferred after the store relocated.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.hlntv.com/article/2014/10/24/jodi-arias-recap-death-penalty-retrial-week-1|title = Recap: Week 1 of Arias sentencing retrial|last = Zarrell|first = Matthew|date = |work = |access-date = }}</ref> After a holiday break, the retrial resumed in January, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=Day 21 of Jodi Arias trial: Judge sends jurors home - again|url=http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/27760390/day-21-of-jodi-arias-trial-jury-returns-after-holiday-break|date=5 January 2015|accessdate=5 January 2015|publisher=Fox 5 Vegas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124032219/http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/27760390/day-21-of-jodi-arias-trial-jury-returns-after-holiday-break|archive-date=January 24, 2015|dead-url=yes|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Mesa police experts admitted that Alexander's laptop had viruses and pornography, contrary to testimony in the first trial in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/13/jodi-arias-retrial-nears-end/23381435/|title = Jodi Arias retrial nears its end|last = |first = |date = |work = |access-date = |via = }}</ref> Jury deliberations began on February 12, 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Schwartz |first=David |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/27/us-usa-crime-arias-idUSKBN0LU21520150227 |title=Jury in Jodi Arias case to resume deliberations on Monday |newspaper=Reuters |date=2015-02-26 |accessdate=2016-07-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.ksl.com/index/story/sid/33669919?mobile_direct=y |title=Utah News, Sports, Weather and Classifieds | KSL.com |publisher=M.ksl.com |date= |accessdate=2016-07-08}}</ref> On March 2, 2015, the jury informed Judge Stephens that they were deadlocked. Arias' attorneys requested a mistrial. Stephens denied the request, read additional instructions to the jury, and ordered them to resume deliberations.<ref>{{cite web|author=3/4/2015 |url=http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/lawyer-jury-at-impasse-in-arias-case-judge-says-keep-going/ar-BBi9qDt |title=Lawyer: Jury at impasse in Arias case; judge says keep going |publisher=Msn.com |date= |accessdate=2016-07-08}}</ref> On March 5, 2015, Stephens declared a mistrial because the jurors, who deliberated for about 26 hours over five days, deadlocked at 11–1 vote in favor of the death penalty. Sentencing was scheduled for April 7, 2015, with Stephens having the option to sentence Arias to either life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, or with the possibility of parole after 25 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-trial-jury-reached-verdict/story?id=29226362 |title=Jodi Arias Trial: Judge Declares Mistrial After Hung Jury – ABC News |publisher=Abcnews.go.com |date=2015-03-05 |accessdate=2016-07-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jacques Billeaud And Terry Tang |url=https://news.yahoo.com/court-jodi-arias-jurors-reach-verdict-sentencing-retrial-155826188.html |title=Jurors in Jodi Arias case: We were 11–1 for death penalty |publisher=News.yahoo.com |date=2015-03-06 |accessdate=2016-07-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Kiefer, The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/05/jodi-arias-verdict/24431127/ |title=Jodi Arias spared death as jury deadlocks on sentence |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=2015-03-05 |accessdate=2016-07-08}}</ref> On April 13, Stephens sentenced Arias to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jodi Arias sentenced to life in prison|url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2015/04/13/jodi-arias-sentence-life-prison|website=HLN}}</ref> Until March 5, 2015, Arias' trials cost an estimated $3 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/taxpayers-shell-million-jodi-arias-trials-29431964 |title=U.S. News | National News – ABC News |publisher=Abcnews.go.com |date= |accessdate=2016-07-08}}</ref> | |||
The Associated Press said the case was a "circus",<ref name=circus>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/23/jodi-arias-trial-media-coverage_n_3324549.html|title=Jodi Arias Trial: An Over-The-Top Media-Spectacle|agency=Associated Press|via=]|first=Brian|last=Skoloff|date=May 22, 2013|access-date=August 13, 2013|work=HuffPost|archive-date=December 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226204558/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/23/jodi-arias-trial-media-coverage_n_3324549.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a "runaway train"<ref name=circus /> and said the case "grew into a worldwide sensation as thousands followed the trial via a live, unedited Web feed."<ref name=skoloff>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/jodi-arias-says-she-prefers-death-penalty-001900282.html |title=Jodi Arias says she prefers death penalty |agency=]|via=]|author=Brian Skoloff |date=May 8, 2013 |access-date=May 9, 2013 |archive-date=May 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517220932/https://news.yahoo.com/jodi-arias-says-she-prefers-death-penalty-001900282.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They added that the trial garnered "daily coverage from cable news networks and spawned a virtual cottage industry for talk shows" and at the courthouse, "the entire case devolved into a circus-like spectacle attracting dozens of enthusiasts each day to the courthouse as they lined up for a chance to score just a few open public seats in the gallery;" "For its fans, the Arias trial became a live daytime soap opera."<ref name=skoloff/> The '']'' stated, "With its mix of jealousy, religion, murder, and sex, the Jodi Arias case shows what happens when the justice system becomes entertainment."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/05/04/jodi_arias_how_sex_and_murder_created_a_tabloid_trial_and_killer_ratings.html|title=Jodi Arias: How sex and murder created a tabloid trial and killer ratings|location=Toronto|work=The Star|date=May 4, 2013|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001211446/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/05/04/jodi_arias_how_sex_and_murder_created_a_tabloid_trial_and_killer_ratings.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In an interview on April 8, 2015, Arias' attorney Jennifer Willmott discussed the social media furor, death threats she received, Arias' statements at the sentencing, the holdout juror, and stated that she believed that Arias testified truthfully.<ref>{{cite web|title = Exclusive: One-on-one with Jodi Arias' attorney Jennifer Willmott|url = http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2015/04/14/jodi-arias-defense-attorney-interview-jennifer-wilmott/25787367/|accessdate = 2015-08-30}}</ref> | |||
During the trial, public figures freely expressed their opinions. Arizona Governor ] told reporters after an unrelated press event that she believed Arias to be guilty. She sidestepped a question about whether she believed Arias was guilty of manslaughter, second-degree murder or first-degree murder, but said "I don't have all the information, but I think she's guilty."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130507arizona-gov-jan-brewer-thinks-jodi-arias-guilty.html|title=Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer thinks Jodi Arias is guilty|work=The Arizona Republic|date=May 7, 2013|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210806050311/https://help.azcentral.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> After the trial, jury foreman William Zervakos told ]'s '']'' that Arias's long testimony had hampered her defense: "I think eighteen days hurt her. I think she was not a good witness."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/jodi-arias-testimony-didnt-help-her-jury-foreman-says/|title=Jodi Arias' testimony didn't help her, jury foreman says|work=Fox News|date=May 24, 2013|access-date=May 24, 2013|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924171952/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/23/judge-declares-mistrial-in-penalty-phase-jodi-arias-trial/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In June 2015, following a restitution hearing, Arias was ordered to pay more than $32,000 to Alexander's siblings. Arias' attorney stated this was about 1/3 of the amount requested.<ref>{{cite web|title = Judge orders Jodi Arias to pay $32,000 to victim's family|url = http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2015/06/22/jodi-arias-case-restitution-victims/29116033/|accessdate = 2015-08-30}}</ref> | |||
HLN sent out a press release titled "HLN No. 1 Among Ad-Supported Cable as Arias Pleads for Her Life," bragging that they led in the ratings. The release stated: "HLN continues to be the ratings leader and complete source for coverage of the Jodi Arias Trial. On May 21, HLN ranked No.1 among ad-supported cable networks from 1:56p to 2:15p (ET) as Arias took the stand to plead for her life in front of the jury that found her guilty of Alexander's murder. During that time period, HLN out-delivered the competition among both total viewers (2,540,000) and 25–54 demo viewers (691,000). HLN also ranked No.1 among ad-supported cable networks for the 2p hour delivering 2,227,000 total viewers and 620,000 25–54 viewers."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2013/05/23/hln_jodi_arias_pleading_for_her_life_got_us_a_ratings_win/|title=HLN: Jodi Arias "pleading for her life" got us a ratings win!|author=D'Addario, Daniel|date=May 23, 2013|access-date=May 30, 2013|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224153836/https://www.salon.com/2013/05/23/hln_jodi_arias_pleading_for_her_life_got_us_a_ratings_win/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
{{Asof|2016}}, Arias is housed at the ] #281129, which is located at ].<ref>"." ]. Retrieved on March 21, 2016.</ref> She started her sentence in the complex's maximum security Lumley Unit, but she has the possibility of being downgraded to the medium security level.<ref>Goodman, Amanda. "." CBS 5 Arizona. Retrieved on March 21, 2016.</ref> | |||
== |
===Social media=== | ||
In late January 2013, artwork drawn by Arias began selling on ]. The seller was her brother; he claimed that the profits went towards covering the family's travel expenses to the trial and "better food" for Arias while she was in jail.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20628734/2013/01/18/arias-has-side-job-in-jail-making-and-selling-art |title=Arias has side job in jail: making and selling art |publisher=Myfoxphoenix.com |date=January 18, 2013 |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=October 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007211755/http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20628734/2013/01/18/arias-has-side-job-in-jail-making-and-selling-art |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
The ] reported that the public would be able to watch testimony in the Jodi Arias trial.<ref name="Jodi Arias Case 2014">. Associated Press via ''HuffPost''. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.</ref> This decision by a three-judge panel of the Arizona Court of Appeals overruled Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens' decision to "allow a witness to testify in private as jurors whether to give the death penalty".<ref name="Jodi Arias Case 2014"/> Judge Stephens held secret (non-public) hearings. As a result of the move for secrecy, an unidentified defense witness was allowed to testify in private. Though Judge Stephens' decision was overruled, "the mystery witness who testified...at the start of the defense case" wasn't revealed to the public.<ref name="Jodi Arias Case 2014"/> | |||
On April 11, ''USA Today'' reported that during the testimony of defense witness Alyce LaViolette, public outrage was extreme concerning her assertions that Arias was a victim of domestic violence. Tweets and other ] posts attacked LaViolette's reputation. More than 500 negative reviews of LaViolette's yet-to-be-released book appeared on Amazon.com calling LaViolette a fraud and a disgrace. "It's the electronic version of a lynch mob," said retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/11/jodi-arias-trial/2073067/|title=Arias key witness feels social media's heat|work=USA Today|first=Michael|last=Kiefer|date=April 11, 2013|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001230132/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/11/jodi-arias-trial/2073067/|url-status=live}}</ref> Attorney ], who said she received death threats after she provided legal counsel in the ] case, told ''The Huffington Post'' that the kind of online ridicule and threats LaViolette received could affect attorneys and witnesses in high-profile trials. "It's something to take into account," Bremner said. "If I had kids I would consider it even more so."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/12/alyce-laviolette-attacked-jodi-arias_n_3064621.html|title=Alyce LaViolette, Jodi Arias Trial Witness, Taken To Emergency room After Online Attacks|work=HuffPost|first=Simon|last=McCormack|date=April 12, 2013|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-date=April 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404145544/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/12/alyce-laviolette-attacked-jodi-arias_n_3064621.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The case featured on an episode of '']: Picture Perfect'' in 2008,<ref name=48hours/> an interview which, for the first time in the history of ''48 Hours'', was used as evidence in a death penalty trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18559_162-57585131/the-mind-of-a-killer-unraveling-the-lies-of-jodi-arias/|title=The mind of a killer: Unraveling the lies of Jodi Arias | work=CBS News}}</ref> On September 24, 2008, '']'' interviewed Arias at the Maricopa County Jail where she stated, "No jury is going to convict me...because I am innocent and you can mark my words on that. No jury is going to convict me."<ref name=winch/> | |||
On May 9, ''The Republic'' commented: "The Jodi Arias trial has been a social-media magnet. And when Arias was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder, Twitter and Facebook exploded with reaction. Much of it was aimed at Arias, though plenty of people tweeted at the media coverage, such as the antics of HLN host ]. During the trial, hardcore followers of the proceedings were accused of trying to use social media to intimidate witnesses, or otherwise influence the outcome. Whether it had any effect is questionable, but it's a notable development."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130508arias-social-media-helped-shape-trial.html|title=Social media helped shape Jodi Arias trial|work=The Arizona Republic|access-date=2020-02-20|archive-date=2021-08-06|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210806050311/https://help.azcentral.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The Associated Press said the case was a "circus",<ref name=circus>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/23/jodi-arias-trial-media-coverage_n_3324549.html|title=Jodi Arias Trial: An Over-The-Top Media-Spectacle|agency=Associated Press |author=Brian Skoloff |date=May 22, 2013|accessdate=August 13, 2013|work=HuffPost}}</ref> a "runaway train"<ref name=circus /> and said the case "grew into a worldwide sensation as thousands followed the trial via a live, unedited Web feed".<ref name=skoloff>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/jodi-arias-says-she-prefers-death-penalty-001900282.html |title=Jodi Arias says she prefers death penalty |agency=Associated Press |author=Brian Skoloff |date=May 8, 2013 |accessdate=May 9, 2013}}</ref> They added that the trial garnered "daily coverage from cable news networks and spawned a virtual cottage industry for talk shows" and, at the courthouse, "the entire case devolved into a circus-like spectacle attracting dozens of enthusiasts each day to the courthouse as they lined up for a chance to score just a few open public seats in the gallery"; "For its fans, the Arias trial became a live daytime soap opera."<ref name=skoloff/> The '']'' stated, "With its mix of jealousy, religion, murder, and sex, the Jodi Arias case shows what happens when the justice system becomes entertainment."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/05/04/jodi_arias_how_sex_and_murder_created_a_tabloid_trial_and_killer_ratings.html|title=Jodi Arias: How sex and murder created a tabloid trial and killer ratings | location=Toronto | work=The Star|date=May 4, 2013}}</ref> | |||
On May 24, Victoria Washington, who was one of Arias's attorneys until she had to resign in 2011 because of a conflict, said Arias's lead attorney, Nurmi, "was pilloried in social media. At one point, an Internet denizen ] his face onto a crime-scene photo of Alexander dead in the shower of his Mesa home. I know people were aggravated with him constantly filing for mistrial, but you have to make and preserve the record for federal review (on appeal). If you don't file for mistrial, the appeals courts will say you waived it."<ref name="republic_may24">{{cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/free/20130523jodi-arias-hung-jury-mistrial.html|title=No sentence for Arias; county weighs options|work=The Arizona Republic|access-date=2020-02-20|archive-date=2021-08-06|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210806050311/https://help.azcentral.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
During the trial, public figures freely expressed their opinions. "Jodi Arias has stated that she follows me on Twitter so I really hate to be saying that she is guilty but sadly, she is as guilty as it gets", ] wrote. He also commented on how the Government should avoid leniency. "Jodi should try but the govt. should not make a deal – no jury could be dumb enough to let her off (but you never know, look at ] & others)," Trump suggested.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a478727/donald-trump-advises-murder-suspect-jodi-arias-make-a-deal.html|title=Donald Trump advises murder suspect Jodi Arias: "Make a deal"|date=May 3, 2013}}</ref> Arizona Governor ] told reporters after an unrelated press event that she believed Arias to be guilty. She sidestepped a question about whether she believed Arias was guilty of manslaughter, second-degree murder or first-degree murder, but said "I don't have all the information, but I think she's guilty."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130507arizona-gov-jan-brewer-thinks-jodi-arias-guilty.html|title=Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer thinks Jodi Arias is guilty|work=The Arizona Republic |date=May 7, 2013}}</ref> | |||
On May 28, '']'' reported the jury foreman had been receiving threats ever since the panel deadlocked on the sentencing phase, and now the foreman's son was claiming that the foreman was receiving death threats. "Today I read ] my dad had gotten. Some person had sent him a threatening message complete with his email address, full name, and phone number (which at the very least means that this guy should retake Hate Mail 101). I also read some comments on an article online about my dad. Surreal. They say my dad was fooled by the defendant, that he was taken with her, that he hated the prosecutor," the foreman's son wrote on his public blog.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/05/jodi-arias-jury-foreman-threats/|title=Jodi Arias Jury Foreman Receiving Threats, Defended By His Son|first=Chris|last=Arvan|date=2013-05-26|access-date=2013-05-28|archive-date=2021-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224031545/https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/05/jodi-arias-jury-foreman-threats/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
] staff and their commentators compared the case to the ] for the perceived similarities between Anthony and Arias and the emotions that the cases incited in the general public.<ref name="HLNtv.com Staff"/><ref name="Dr. Drew staff"/> Additionally, HLN aired a daily show covering the trial called ''HLN After Dark: The Jodi Arias Trial''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/03/29/get-caught-week-13-jodi-arias-trial|title=Get caught up: Week 13 of Jodi Arias trial|publisher=] |accessdate=March 31, 2013}}</ref> The cable network sent out a press release titled "HLN No. 1 Among Ad-Supported Cable as Arias Pleads for Her Life", bragging that they led in the ratings. The release stated: "HLN continues to be the ratings leader and complete source for coverage of the Jodi Arias Trial. On May 21, HLN ranked No.1 among ad-supported cable networks from 1:56p to 2:15p (ET) as Arias took the stand to plead for her life in front of the jury that found her guilty of Alexander's murder. During that time period, HLN out-delivered the competition among both total viewers (2,540,000) and 25–54 demo viewers (691,000). HLN also ranked No.1 among ad-supported cable networks for the 2p hour delivering 2,227,000 total viewers and 620,000 25–54 viewers."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2013/05/23/hln_jodi_arias_pleading_for_her_life_got_us_a_ratings_win/|title=HLN: Jodi Arias "pleading for her life" got us a ratings win!|author=D'Addario, Daniel|date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> | |||
In an interview on April 8, 2015, Arias's attorney Jennifer Willmott discussed the social media furor, death threats she received, Arias's statements at the sentencing, the holdout juror, and stated that she believed that Arias testified truthfully.<ref>{{cite web|title = Exclusive: One-on-one with Jodi Arias' attorney Jennifer Willmott|url = https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2015/04/14/jodi-arias-defense-attorney-interview-jennifer-wilmott/25787367/|access-date = August 30, 2015}}</ref> | |||
'']'', a ], stars '']'' actress ] as Arias and ], of '']'' and '']'', as Alexander. Prosecutor Juan Martinez was played by '']'' actor ] and ], of ''],'' portrays detective Esteban Flores.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/05/28/lost-star-playing-jodi-arias-in-lifetime-movie-out-in-june/|title='Lost' star playing Jodi Arias in Lifetime movie out in June | work=Fox News | date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> Created for and distributed by the ], the film premiered June 22, 2013.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/05/16/lifetime-original-movie-jodi-arias-dirty-little-secret-starring-tania-raymonde-and-jesse-lee-soffer-to-make-its-world-premiere-saturday-june-22-504514/20130516lifetime01/ | title=Lifetime Original Movie "Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret," Starring Tania Raymonde and Jesse Lee Soffer, to Make Its World Premiere Saturday, June 22 | work=The Futon Critic | date=May 16, 2013 | accessdate=June 15, 2013}}</ref> | |||
The Twitter account in Arias's name is operated by Arias's friends on her behalf. On June 22, 2013, from that account, Arias tweeted, "Just don't know yet if I will plea or appeal."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-suggests-deal-avoid-death-appeal-conviction/story?id=19467665|title=Jodi Arias Suggests She May Take Deal to Avoid Death Rather Than Appeal Conviction|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001140416/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-suggests-deal-avoid-death-appeal-conviction/story?id=19467665 |archive-date=2021-10-01|work=]|date=June 23, 2013|access-date=July 2, 2013|first=Mark|last=Mooney}}</ref> | |||
Former detective for Siskiyou County, California, who arrested Arias at her grandparents' home after it appeared she was on the move, is coming forward. He discusses his involvement in the explosive investigation and trial in the three-part limited series, that aired mid-January 2018, on ] (ID) titled "Jodi Arias: An American Murder Mystery."<ref></ref> The special explores the death of Alexander and the subsequent legal circus as Arias was tried. | |||
==Adaptations== | |||
An episode of ''Murder Made Me Famous'', which aired 15 August 2015, chronicled the case. | |||
''],'' a ], stars '']'' actress ] as Arias and ], of '']'' and ''],'' as Alexander. Prosecutor Juan Martinez was played by '']'' actor ] and ], of ''],'' portrays detective Esteban Flores.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/lost-star-playing-jodi-arias-in-lifetime-movie-out-in-june/|title='Lost' star playing Jodi Arias in Lifetime movie out in June|work=Fox News|date=May 28, 2013|access-date=May 28, 2013|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307151654/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/05/28/lost-star-playing-jodi-arias-in-lifetime-movie-out-in-june/|url-status=live}}</ref> Created for and distributed by the ], the film premiered June 22, 2013.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/05/16/lifetime-original-movie-jodi-arias-dirty-little-secret-starring-tania-raymonde-and-jesse-lee-soffer-to-make-its-world-premiere-saturday-june-22-504514/20130516lifetime01/ | title=Lifetime Original Movie "Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret," Starring Tania Raymonde and Jesse Lee Soffer, to Make Its World Premiere Saturday, June 22 | work=The Futon Critic | date=May 16, 2013 | access-date=June 15, 2013 | archive-date=June 16, 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616023959/http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/05/16/lifetime-original-movie-jodi-arias-dirty-little-secret-starring-tania-raymonde-and-jesse-lee-soffer-to-make-its-world-premiere-saturday-june-22-504514/20130516lifetime01/ | url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On January 21, 2023, Lifetime released another Jodi Arias movie titled '']'' which stars Celina Sinden as Jodi Arias, ] as Donovan Bering, and Lynn Rafferty as Tracy Brown.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/bad-behind-bars-jodi-arias-cast-list-characters-explored|title=Bad Behind Bars: Jodi Arias cast list and characters explored|website=Sports Keeda|first=Vishnu|last=Warrier|date=January 20, 2023|access-date=January 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/bad-behind-bars-jodi-arias-star-celina-sinden-prepared-play-convicted-murderer-new-movie|title='Bad Behind Bars: Jodi Arias' star Celina Sinden on how she prepared to play convicted murderer in new movie|website=FOX News|first1=Ashley|last1=Hume|first2=Larry|last2=Fink|date=January 21, 2023|access-date=January 22, 2023}}</ref> | |||
=== Social media === | |||
In late January 2013, artwork drawn by Arias began selling on ]. The seller was her brother; he claimed that the profits went towards covering the family's travel expenses to the trial and "better food" for Arias while she was in jail.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20628734/2013/01/18/arias-has-side-job-in-jail-making-and-selling-art |title=Arias has side job in jail: making and selling art |publisher=Myfoxphoenix.com |date=January 18, 2013 |accessdate=February 6, 2013}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
On April 11, ''USA Today'' reported that during the testimony of defense witness Alyce LaViolette, public outrage was extreme concerning her assertions that Arias was a victim of domestic violence. Tweets and other ] posts attacked LaViolette's reputation. More than 500 negative reviews of LaViolette's yet-to-be-released book appeared on Amazon.com calling LaViolette a fraud and a disgrace. "It's the electronic version of a lynch mob," said retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/11/jodi-arias-trial/2073067/|title=Arias key witness feels social media's heat|work=USA Today | first=Michael|last=Kiefer|date=April 11, 2013}}</ref> Attorney ], who said she received death threats after she provided legal counsel in the ] case, told The Huffington Post that the kind of online ridicule and threats LaViolette received could affect attorneys and witnesses in high-profile trials. "It's something to take into account," Bremner said. "If I had kids I would consider it even more so."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/12/alyce-laviolette-attacked-jodi-arias_n_3064621.html|title=Alyce LaViolette, Jodi Arias Trial Witness, Taken To Emergency room After Online Attacks | work=HuffPost| first=Simon|last=McCormack|date=April 12, 2013}}</ref> | |||
*] | |||
On May 9, ''The Republic'' commented: "The Jodi Arias trial has been a social-media magnet. And when Arias was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder, Twitter and Facebook exploded with reaction. Much of it was aimed at Arias, though plenty of people tweeted at the media coverage, such as the antics of HLN host ]. During the trial, hardcore followers of the proceedings were accused of trying to use social media to intimidate witnesses, or otherwise influence the outcome. Whether it had any effect is questionable, but it's a notable development."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130508arias-social-media-helped-shape-trial.html|title=Social media helped shape Jodi Arias trial|work=The Arizona Republic}}</ref> | |||
On May 24, Victoria Washington, who was one of Arias' attorneys until she had to resign in 2011 because of a conflict, said "Arias' lead attorney, Nurmi, was pilloried in social media. At one point, an Internet denizen ] his face onto a crime-scene photo of Alexander dead in the shower of his Mesa home. I know people were aggravated with him constantly filing for mistrial, but you have to make and preserve the record for federal review (on appeal). If you don't file for mistrial, the appeals courts will say you waived it."<ref name="republic_may24">{{cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/free/20130523jodi-arias-hung-jury-mistrial.html|title=No sentence for Arias; county weighs options|work=The Arizona Republic}}</ref> | |||
On May 28, '']'' reported the jury foreman had been receiving threats ever since the panel deadlocked on the sentencing phase, and now his son was claiming he's receiving death threats. "Today I read ] my dad had gotten. Some person had sent him a threatening message complete with his email address, full name, and phone number (which at the very least means that this guy should retake Hate Mail 101). I also read some comments on an article online about my dad. Surreal. They say my dad was fooled by the defendant, that he was taken with her, that he hated the prosecutor," his son wrote on his public blog.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/05/jodi-arias-jury-foreman-threats/|title=Jodi Arias Jury Foreman Receiving Threats, Defended By His Son|date=2013-05-26}}</ref> | |||
The Twitter account in Arias' name is operated by Arias' friends on her behalf.<ref name=twitter /> On June 22, from that account, Arias tweeted, "Just don't know yet if I will plea or appeal."<ref name=twitter> June 23, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.</ref> | |||
On 6 March 2015, after the retrial of the penalty phase concluded, it was reported that juror #17, the sole holdout, received death threats and police were posted at her house. Dennis Elias, a jury consultant, said, "The very fact that people are making death threats and trying to out her, it is not a proud day for any single one of those people and they should be ashamed."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fox10phoenix.com/story/28276900/2015/03/05/juror-17-from-the-arias-sentencing-receives-death-threats/ |title=Juror 17 in Jodi Arias sentencing retrial receives death threats |last=Flores |first=Jessica |date=March 6, 2015 |accessdate=March 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321064550/http://www.fox10phoenix.com/story/28276900/2015/03/05/juror-17-from-the-arias-sentencing-receives-death-threats |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |dead-url=yes |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
== See also == | |||
*] | *] | ||
*] | |||
*] | *] | ||
*] | *] | ||
*] | *] | ||
*] | |||
== |
==Notes== | ||
{{reflist|group=n}} | {{reflist|group=n}} | ||
== |
==References== | ||
{{reflist |
{{reflist}} | ||
== |
==External links== | ||
*{{cite news |url= |
* {{cite news |url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-a-timeline-of-a-sensational-murder-case/ |title= Jodi Arias: A timeline of a sensational murder case |first= Casey |last= Glynn |date= May 21, 2013 |work= CBSNews.com |publisher= ]}} | ||
*{{cite news |url= |
* {{cite news |url= https://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130102jodi-arias-murder-case-timeline-prog.html |title= Jodi Arias murder case: Timeline of events |date= February 11, 2014 |publisher= Arizona Republic}} | ||
*{{cite web |title=Court of Appeals {{!}} State v. Arias; 1 CA-CR 15-0302 |url=http://apps.supremecourt.az.gov/aacc/appella/1CA/CR/CR150302.PDF |website=supremecourt.az.gov |publisher=Arizona Supreme Court | |
* {{cite web |title=Court of Appeals {{!}} State v. Arias; 1 CA-CR 15-0302 |url=http://apps.supremecourt.az.gov/aacc/appella/1CA/CR/CR150302.PDF |website=supremecourt.az.gov |publisher=Arizona Supreme Court |date=July 16, 2018 |access-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923235443/http://apps.supremecourt.az.gov/aacc/appella/1CA/CR/CR150302.PDF |url-status=dead}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 03:04, 10 November 2024
2008 murder of an American man in Mesa, Arizona
Murder of Travis Alexander | |
---|---|
Victim Travis Alexander | |
Location | Mesa, Arizona, U.S. |
Date | June 4, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-06-04) |
Attack type | Murder by stabbing, slashing, shooting |
Weapons | Knife, gun |
Victim | Travis Victor Alexander, aged 30 |
Perpetrator | Jodi Ann Arias |
Verdict | Guilty |
Convictions | First-degree murder |
Sentence | Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole |
Travis Victor Alexander (July 28, 1977 – June 4, 2008) was an American salesman who was murdered by his ex-girlfriend, Jodi Ann Arias (born July 9, 1980), in his house in Mesa, Arizona while in the shower. Arias was convicted of first-degree murder on May 8, 2013, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on April 13, 2015.
Alexander sustained 27 stab wounds, a slit throat and a single gunshot wound to the forehead. Arias testified that she killed him in self-defense, but she was convicted by the jury of first-degree murder. During the sentencing phase, the jury deadlocked on the death penalty option, and Arias was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Alexander's death and the subsequent investigation and trial attracted widespread media coverage in the United States.
Background
Travis Victor Alexander
Travis was born on July 28, 1977 in Riverside, California to Gary David Alexander and Pamela Elizabeth Morgan Alexander. At the age of 8, Travis moved in with his paternal grandparents. After his father's death in July 1997, his seven siblings were also taken in by their paternal grandmother. Alexander told a friend that, prior to joining a church, he would frequently engage in fights. He performed stand-up comedy under the alter ego "Eddie Snell". Alexander was a salesman and motivational speaker for Pre-Paid Legal Services (PPL).
Jodi Ann Arias
Arias was born on July 9, 1980, in Salinas, California, to William and Sandra (née Allen) Arias. She attended school until 11th grade, at which point she dropped out of Yreka Union High School. She was an aspiring photographer and worked odd jobs until she got a sales position with PPL.
Arias and Alexander met in September 2006 at a work conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arias converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which Alexander was a member, and was baptized by him on November 26, 2006 in a ceremony in Southern California. Alexander and Arias began dating in February 2007, and Arias moved to Mesa to live closer to Alexander, but in April 2008, she moved to Yreka, California and lived there with her grandparents. Alexander and Arias dated intermittently for a year and a half, often in a long-distance relationship, taking turns traveling between their respective Arizona and California homes. Even when Alexander was in a different relationship, he and Arias would sext each other.
Alexander's friends who knew Arias and observed them together reportedly had a negative opinion of her, stating that the relationship was unusually tumultuous and that Arias's behavior was worrying.
Murder
Alexander was murdered at his house in Mesa, Arizona on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 while he was taking a shower. He sustained 27 stab wounds, a slit throat, and a gunshot wound to the head. Medical examiner Kevin Horn would later testify that Alexander's jugular vein, common carotid artery, and trachea had been slashed and that he had defensive wounds on his hands. Horn further testified that Alexander might have been dead at the time the gunshot was inflicted and that the back wounds were shallow. Alexander's death was ruled a homicide. He was buried at Riverside's Olivewood Memorial Park cemetery.
Discovery and investigation
Alexander missed an important conference call on the evening of June 4. The following day, Arias met Ryan Burns in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Jordan and attended business meetings for the conference. Burns later said that he noticed that Arias's formerly blonde hair was now dark brown and that she had cuts on her hands. On June 6, she left Salt Lake City and drove west toward California. She called Alexander several times and left several voicemail messages for him. She also accessed his cell-phone voicemail system. When Arias returned the car on June 7, it had been driven about 2,800 miles (4,500 km). The rental clerk testified that the car was missing its floor mats and had red stains on its front and rear seats. However, it could not be verified that the car had floor mats when Arias had picked it up, and the red stains could not be analyzed as the car had been cleaned before police could examine it.
On June 9, having been unable to reach Alexander, a concerned group of friends went to his home. His roommates had not seen him for several days, but they believed that he was out of town and thus did not suspect that anything was amiss. After finding a key to Alexander's bedroom, the group entered and found large pools of blood in the hallway to the master bathroom and Alexander's body in the shower. In the 9-1-1 call (not heard by the jury), the dispatcher asked whether Alexander had been suicidal or if anyone was angry enough to hurt him. Alexander's friends mentioned Arias by name as a possible suspect, stating that Alexander had told them that she had been stalking him, accessing his Facebook account, and slashing his car's tires.
While searching Alexander's home, police found his recently purchased digital camera damaged in the washing machine. Police were able to recover deleted images showing Arias and Alexander in sexually suggestive poses taken at approximately 1:40 p.m. on June 4. The final photograph of Alexander alive, showing him in the shower, was taken at 5:29 p.m. that day. Photos taken moments later show an individual believed to be Alexander "profusely bleeding" on the bathroom floor. A bloody palm print was discovered along the wall in the bathroom hallway; it contained DNA from both Arias and Alexander.
On July 9, 2008, Arias was indicted by a grand jury in Maricopa County, Arizona for the first-degree murder of Alexander. She was arrested at her home six days later and was extradited to Arizona on September 5. Arias pleaded not guilty on September 11. During this time, she provided several different accounts about her involvement in Alexander's death. She first told police that she had not been in Mesa on the day of the murder and had last seen Alexander in March 2008. Arias later told police that two intruders had broken into Alexander's home, murdering him and attacking her. Two years after her arrest, Arias told police that she killed Alexander in self-defense, stating she had been a victim of domestic violence.
Criminal action
Pre-trial
On April 6, 2009, a motion to reconsider the defendant's motion to disqualify the Maricopa County District Attorney's office was denied. On May 18, the court ordered Arias to submit to IQ and competency testing. In January 2011, a defense filing detailed Arias's attorneys' efforts to obtain text messages and emails. The prosecution initially told defense attorneys that no text messages that had been sent or received by Alexander were available, but the prosecution was then ordered to turn over several hundred such messages. Mesa police detective Esteban Flores told defense attorneys that there was nothing out of the ordinary among Alexander's emails; about 8,000 were turned over to the defense in June 2009.
Trial
Arias was represented by appointed counsel L. Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott.
The State of Arizona vs. Jodi Ann Arias | |
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Court | Superior Court of the State of Arizona in and for the County of Maricopa |
Decided | May 8, 2013 (2013-05-08) |
Verdict | Guilty on one count of first-degree premeditated murder |
Case history | |
Subsequent actions | During the penalty phase, a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury. Arias was eventually sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on April 13, 2015. |
Court membership | |
Judge sitting | Sherry K. Stephens |
Jury selection
The trial commenced in Maricopa County Superior Court before Judge Sherry K. Stephens. The voir dire proceedings began on December 10, 2012. On December 20, Arias's attorneys argued that the prosecution was "systematically excluding" women and black people; prosecutor Juan Martinez said that race and sex were irrelevant to his decisions to strike certain jurors. Stephens ruled that the prosecution had shown no bias in the jury selection.
Guilt phase
In opening arguments on January 2, 2013, the prosecution portrayed Arias as a jealous person who attacked Alexander, a "good man", after he attempted to end their relationship. Arias's defense, conversely, said that Alexander had been violent and abusive, and that Arias had killed him only after he had "lunged at in anger".
The prosecution alleged that Arias had premeditated the murder. They contended that Arias had staged a robbery at her grandparents' residence, where she was staying, in order to take a handgun to kill Alexander. A police detective who investigated the putative robbery testified that the gun was of the same caliber (.25 ACP) used in Alexander's shooting. They said that Arias had used a gas can and purchased gas in advance in order to hide her trip to Alexander's. The prosecution called Ryan Burns, who testified Arias was acting "normal" when she visited him the day after Alexander's death. Burns said that Arias told him that she had cut her hands on broken glass while working at a restaurant called Margaritaville, though a detective later testified that no such restaurant existed. Arias took the stand in her own defense on February 4, 2013, testifying for a total of 18 days, a duration described by criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos as "unprecedented". Arias detailed the abuse she had suffered at the hands of her parents and described her sex life with Alexander. A phone sex tape was played in court in which Alexander described wanting to tie Arias to a tree and sodomize her, and Arias responded, "hat is so debasing; I like it." Arias testified that Alexander harbored pedophilic desires and that she tried to help him with those urges. She also said that her relationship with Alexander became increasingly physically and emotionally abusive. After detailing one argument in which she held out her hand to block Alexander from kicking her, she held up her left hand in the courtroom, showing that her ring finger was crooked. Arias said that she killed Alexander in self-defense after he had attacked her when she dropped his camera, forcing her to fight for her life.
Alyce LaViolette, a psychotherapist who specializes in domestic violence, testified for the defense that Arias was a victim of domestic abuse, and that most victims do not tell anyone because they feel ashamed and humiliated. During LaViolette's testimony, the defense team alluded to email between Alexander and his friends, Chris and Sky Hughes. The defense tried to enter the emails into evidence, but the trial judge ruled that they were hearsay. A 2011 court filing revealed the contents of some of the emails the DV expert alluded to, including one in which Alexander expressed anger that Hughes had discouraged Arias from romantically pursuing Alexander. In a response email, Chris Hughes said that he believed that Arias "would be next victim ... and that was just another girl was playing". Alexander allegedly responded by saying, "I am a bit of a sociopath". Hughes testified during the trial, saying that, while he knew Alexander was seeing multiple women, he and his wife had been manipulated by Arias, and that they had had a falling out with Arias just months after the emails when they twice caught her eavesdropping on their conversations with Alexander. The prosecution called rebuttal witnesses, included several of Alexander's other girlfriends, who stated that they had never seen him exhibit problems with anger or violence.
Beginning on March 14, psychologist Richard Samuels testified for the defense for nearly six days. He said that Arias had likely been suffering from acute stress at the time of the murder, sending her body into a "fight or flight" mode to defend herself, which caused her brain to stop retaining memory. In response to a juror's question asking whether this scenario could occur even if this was a premeditated murder, as the prosecution contended, he responded: "Is it possible? Yes. Is it probable? No." Samuels also diagnosed Arias with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Martinez attacked Samuels' credibility, accusing him of bias and of having formed a relationship with Arias; Samuels had previously testified that he had compassion for Arias. The Arizona Court of Appeals later castigated Martinez's impeachment of Samuels as improper. In rebuttal, prosecution witness Janeen DeMarte, a clinical psychologist, testified that Arias was not a victim of abuse and did not have PTSD, diagnosing her, instead, with borderline-personality disorder. In response to DeMarte's testimony, the defense asked for and received permission to call a rebuttal witness, psychologist Robert Geffner, who said that all tests taken by Arias since her arrest pointed toward an anxiety disorder stemming from trauma. Geffner also suggested that the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) that DeMarte had used was not geared towards detecting personality disorders, suggesting that DeMarte should have used the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, which Samuels had used. The prosecution's final rebuttal witness, forensic neuropsychologist Jill Hayes, disputed Geffner's testimony that the MMPI test was not geared toward diagnosing borderline personality disorder.
In closing arguments, Martinez accused Arias of being a manipulative liar, showed a text that Alexander had sent calling Arias "evil", again displayed the gruesome crime scene photographs, and said that Arias had attempted to manipulate the jury. Arias's defense asked the jury to put aside any personal dislike they may have had for Arias, and said that the prosecution's premeditation theory " make any sense", contending that Arias's behavior—including appearing on security cameras, preserving receipts from gas cans she purchased, and spending the night at Alexander's before the killing—were inconsistent with the notion that she was on a "covert mission". In rebuttal, Martinez reemphasized the extent and variety of Alexander's wounds, calling the killing "a slaughter".
Three jurors were dismissed through the course of the trial—one for misconduct, one for health-related reasons, and one after being arrested for a DUI offense. At the close of arguments, jurors were instructed that they could find Arias guilty of first degree murder if each of them, individually, found that she had premeditated the murder or had caused the death while committing a felony. On May 8, 2013, after 15 hours of deliberation, Arias was found guilty of first-degree murder. All twelve jurors found her guilty of first-degree premeditated murder; seven of the twelve jurors determined she was guilty of felony murder. As the verdict was read, Alexander's family smiled and hugged one another. Crowds outside the courtroom began cheering and chanting.
Aggravation phase
Following the conviction, the prosecution was required to convince the jury that the murder was "cruel, heinous, or depraved" for them to determine that Arias was eligible for the death penalty. The aggravation phase of the trial started on May 15, 2013. The only witness was the medical examiner who had performed Alexander's autopsy. Arias's attorneys, who had repeatedly asked to step down from the case, provided only brief opening statements and closing arguments in which they said that the adrenaline rushing through Alexander's body may have prevented him from feeling much pain during his death. Prosecutor Martinez showed photos of the corpse and crime scene to the jury, then paused for two minutes of silence to illustrate how long he claimed that it took for Alexander to die. After less than three hours of consideration, the jury determined that Arias was eligible for the death penalty.
Penalty phase
The penalty phase began on May 16, 2013, when prosecutors called Alexander's family members to offer victim impact statements in an effort to convince the jury that Arias's crime merited a death sentence.
On May 21, Arias offered an allocution, during which she pleaded for a life sentence. Arias acknowledged that her plea for life was a reversal of remarks that she made to a television reporter shortly after her conviction in which she had said that she preferred the death penalty. "Each time I said that, I meant it, but I lacked perspective," she said. "Until very recently, I could not imagine standing before you and asking you to give me life." She said that she changed her mind to avoid bringing more pain to members of her family, who were in the courtroom. At one point, Arias held up a white T-shirt with the word "Survivor" written across it, telling the jurors that she would sell the clothing and donate all proceeds to victims of domestic abuse. She also said that she would donate her hair to Locks of Love while in prison, and had already done so three times while in jail.
That evening, in a joint jailhouse interview with The Arizona Republic, KPNX-TV and NBC's Today, Arias said that she did not know whether the jury would decide on life or death. "Whatever they come back with I will have to deal with it; I have no other choice." Regarding the verdict, she said, "It felt like a huge sense of unreality. I felt betrayed, actually, by the jury. I was hoping they would see things for what they are. I felt really awful for my family and what they were thinking."
On May 23, the sentencing phase of Arias's trial resulted in a hung jury, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial for that phase. The jury had reached an 8–4 decision in favor of the death penalty. After the jury was discharged, jury foreman Zervakos stated that the jury found the responsibility of weighing the death sentence overwhelming, but were horrified when their efforts ended in a mistrial. "By the end of it, we were mentally and emotionally exhausted," he said. "I think we were horrified when we found out that they had actually called a mistrial, and we felt like we had failed."
On May 30, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said he was confident that an impartial jury could be seated, but that it was possible that lawyers and the victim's family could agree to scrap the trial in favor of a life sentence with no parole. The defense responded, "If the diagnosis made by the State's psychologist is correct, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office is seeking to impose the death penalty upon a mentally ill woman who has no prior criminal history. It is not incumbent upon Ms. Arias' defense counsel to resolve this case." And Arias, while reaffirming her belief in the criminal justice system, questioned whether an impartial jury could be seated in light of the coverage of the trial.
Mistrial motions and mid-trial appeal
During the trial, defense attorneys filed for mistrial in January, April and May 2013. Arias's lawyers argued in January that Esteban Flores, the lead Mesa police detective on the case, perjured himself during a 2009 pretrial hearing aimed at determining whether the death penalty should be considered an option for jurors. Flores testified at the 2009 hearing that based on his own review of the scene and a discussion with the medical examiner, it was apparent that Alexander had been shot in the forehead first. Contrary to Flores' testimony at the 2009 hearing, the medical examiner told jurors the gunshot probably would have incapacitated Alexander. Given his extensive defense wounds, including stab marks and slashes to his hands, arms and legs, it was not likely the shot came first. Flores denied perjury and said during his trial testimony that he just misunderstood what the medical examiner told him.
On May 20, 2013, defense attorneys filed motion which alleged that a defense witness who had been due to testify the preceding Friday, the 17th, began receiving death threats for her scheduled testimony on Arias's behalf. The day before the filing, the witness contacted counsel for Arias, stating that she was no longer willing to testify because of the threats. The motion continued, "It should also be noted that these threats follow those made to Alyce LaViolette, a record of which was made ex-parte and under seal." The motion was denied, as was a motion for a stay in the proceedings that had been sought to give time to appeal the decisions to the Arizona Supreme Court.
On May 29, 2013, the Arizona Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal filed three months earlier, which was also refused by the mid-level Arizona Court of Appeals. Nurmi had asked the high court to throw out the aggravating factor of cruelty because the judge had allowed it to go forward based on a different theory of how the murder occurred. The lead detective originally claimed that the gunshot occurred first, followed by the stabbing and slitting of the throat. Based on that theory, Stephens ruled there was probable cause to find the crime had been committed in an especially cruel manner, an aggravating factor under state law. Subsequent to this initial hearing, the medical examiner testified that the gunshot occurred postmortem.
Sentencing retrial and incarceration
On October 21, 2014, Arias's sentencing retrial began. Opening statements were given, and a hearing on evidence was held. Prosecution witness Amanda Webb, called in the first trial to rebut Arias's testimony that she returned a gas can to Walmart on May 8, 2007, admitted she did not know if all records were transferred after the store relocated. After a holiday break, the retrial resumed in January, 2015. Mesa police experts admitted that Alexander's laptop had viruses and pornography, contrary to testimony in the first trial in 2013. Jury deliberations began on February 12, 2015.
On March 2, 2015, the jury informed Judge Stephens that they were deadlocked. Arias's attorneys requested a mistrial. Stephens denied the request, read additional instructions to the jury, and ordered them to resume deliberations. On March 5, 2015, Stephens declared a mistrial because the jurors, who deliberated for about 26 hours over five days, deadlocked at 11–1 vote in favor of the death penalty. The 11 jurors in favor of death tried, unsuccessfully, to get the holdout juror removed from the jury, arguing that juror was biased. After the result, the holdout juror reported that she received threats, and her name, address, and phone number were leaked online. Dennis Elias, a jury consultant, said "The very fact that people are making death threats and trying to out her, it is not a proud day for any single one of those people and they should be ashamed." Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery released a statement calling for the attacks on the juror to "cease".
Sentencing was scheduled for April 7, 2015, with Stephens having the option to sentence Arias to either life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or with the possibility of parole after 25 years. On April 13, Stephens sentenced Arias to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. By March 5, 2015, Arias' trials cost an estimated $3 million.
In June 2015, following a restitution hearing, Arias was ordered to pay more than $32,000 to Alexander's siblings. Her attorney stated this was about one third of the amount requested.
As of 2023, Arias is housed at the Arizona Department of Corrections #281129, which is located at Arizona State Prison Complex - Perryville. She started her sentence in the complex's maximum security Lumley Unit, but has since been downgraded to the medium security level.
Post-verdict appeal
On July 6, 2018, Arias's current attorneys, Margaret M. Green (a.k.a. Peg Green) and Corey Engle, filed a 324-page appeal seeking her murder conviction be overturned to the Court of Appeals.
On October 17, 2019, Arias's attorneys argued to the Court of Appeals that her sentence should be overturned on the basis that Martinez acted inappropriately throughout the trial, resulting in a media frenzy and affecting the outcome of the trial. On March 24, 2020, the court held that notwithstanding "egregious" and "self-promoting" misconduct by the prosecutor, Arias had been convicted "based upon the overwhelming evidence of her guilt," and upheld the conviction. On November 4, 2020, the Arizona Supreme Court declined to review the case.
Media
The Associated Press reported that the public would be able to watch testimony in the Jodi Arias trial. This decision, made by a three-judge panel of the Arizona Court of Appeals, overruled Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens' original decision, which would "allow a witness to testify in private, as jurors whether to give the death penalty." Judge Stephens held secret (non-public) hearings. As a result of the move for secrecy, an unidentified defense witness was permitted to testify in private. Though Judge Stephens' decision had been overruled by the Arizona Court of Appeals, "the mystery witness who testified ... at the start of the defense case" was not revealed to the public.
The case, featured on an episode of 48 Hours Mystery: Picture Perfect in 2008, included an interview which, for the first time in the history of 48 Hours, was used as evidence in a death penalty trial. On September 24, 2008, Inside Edition interviewed Arias at the Maricopa County Jail where she stated, "No jury is going to convict me...because I am innocent and you can mark my words on that. No jury is going to convict me."
The Associated Press said the case was a "circus", a "runaway train" and said the case "grew into a worldwide sensation as thousands followed the trial via a live, unedited Web feed." They added that the trial garnered "daily coverage from cable news networks and spawned a virtual cottage industry for talk shows" and at the courthouse, "the entire case devolved into a circus-like spectacle attracting dozens of enthusiasts each day to the courthouse as they lined up for a chance to score just a few open public seats in the gallery;" "For its fans, the Arias trial became a live daytime soap opera." The Toronto Star stated, "With its mix of jealousy, religion, murder, and sex, the Jodi Arias case shows what happens when the justice system becomes entertainment."
During the trial, public figures freely expressed their opinions. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer told reporters after an unrelated press event that she believed Arias to be guilty. She sidestepped a question about whether she believed Arias was guilty of manslaughter, second-degree murder or first-degree murder, but said "I don't have all the information, but I think she's guilty." After the trial, jury foreman William Zervakos told ABC's Good Morning America that Arias's long testimony had hampered her defense: "I think eighteen days hurt her. I think she was not a good witness."
HLN sent out a press release titled "HLN No. 1 Among Ad-Supported Cable as Arias Pleads for Her Life," bragging that they led in the ratings. The release stated: "HLN continues to be the ratings leader and complete source for coverage of the Jodi Arias Trial. On May 21, HLN ranked No.1 among ad-supported cable networks from 1:56p to 2:15p (ET) as Arias took the stand to plead for her life in front of the jury that found her guilty of Alexander's murder. During that time period, HLN out-delivered the competition among both total viewers (2,540,000) and 25–54 demo viewers (691,000). HLN also ranked No.1 among ad-supported cable networks for the 2p hour delivering 2,227,000 total viewers and 620,000 25–54 viewers."
Social media
In late January 2013, artwork drawn by Arias began selling on eBay. The seller was her brother; he claimed that the profits went towards covering the family's travel expenses to the trial and "better food" for Arias while she was in jail.
On April 11, USA Today reported that during the testimony of defense witness Alyce LaViolette, public outrage was extreme concerning her assertions that Arias was a victim of domestic violence. Tweets and other social media posts attacked LaViolette's reputation. More than 500 negative reviews of LaViolette's yet-to-be-released book appeared on Amazon.com calling LaViolette a fraud and a disgrace. "It's the electronic version of a lynch mob," said retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields. Attorney Anne Bremner, who said she received death threats after she provided legal counsel in the Amanda Knox case, told The Huffington Post that the kind of online ridicule and threats LaViolette received could affect attorneys and witnesses in high-profile trials. "It's something to take into account," Bremner said. "If I had kids I would consider it even more so."
On May 9, The Republic commented: "The Jodi Arias trial has been a social-media magnet. And when Arias was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder, Twitter and Facebook exploded with reaction. Much of it was aimed at Arias, though plenty of people tweeted at the media coverage, such as the antics of HLN host Nancy Grace. During the trial, hardcore followers of the proceedings were accused of trying to use social media to intimidate witnesses, or otherwise influence the outcome. Whether it had any effect is questionable, but it's a notable development."
On May 24, Victoria Washington, who was one of Arias's attorneys until she had to resign in 2011 because of a conflict, said Arias's lead attorney, Nurmi, "was pilloried in social media. At one point, an Internet denizen digitally superimposed his face onto a crime-scene photo of Alexander dead in the shower of his Mesa home. I know people were aggravated with him constantly filing for mistrial, but you have to make and preserve the record for federal review (on appeal). If you don't file for mistrial, the appeals courts will say you waived it."
On May 28, Radar Online reported the jury foreman had been receiving threats ever since the panel deadlocked on the sentencing phase, and now the foreman's son was claiming that the foreman was receiving death threats. "Today I read hate mail my dad had gotten. Some person had sent him a threatening message complete with his email address, full name, and phone number (which at the very least means that this guy should retake Hate Mail 101). I also read some comments on an article online about my dad. Surreal. They say my dad was fooled by the defendant, that he was taken with her, that he hated the prosecutor," the foreman's son wrote on his public blog.
In an interview on April 8, 2015, Arias's attorney Jennifer Willmott discussed the social media furor, death threats she received, Arias's statements at the sentencing, the holdout juror, and stated that she believed that Arias testified truthfully.
The Twitter account in Arias's name is operated by Arias's friends on her behalf. On June 22, 2013, from that account, Arias tweeted, "Just don't know yet if I will plea or appeal."
Adaptations
Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret, a made-for-television movie, stars Lost actress Tania Raymonde as Arias and Jesse Lee Soffer, of The Mob Doctor and Chicago P.D., as Alexander. Prosecutor Juan Martinez was played by Ugly Betty actor Tony Plana and David Zayas, of Dexter, portrays detective Esteban Flores. Created for and distributed by the Lifetime Network, the film premiered June 22, 2013.
On January 21, 2023, Lifetime released another Jodi Arias movie titled Bad Behind Bars: Jodi Arias which stars Celina Sinden as Jodi Arias, Tricia Black as Donovan Bering, and Lynn Rafferty as Tracy Brown.
See also
- Attorney–client privilege
- Courtroom photography and broadcasting
- Trial by media
- Crime in Arizona
- Murder of Dale Harrell
- Murder of Ryan Poston
Notes
- In the State of Arizona, a sentence of natural life requires that the defendant be incarcerated for the rest of their natural lifespan, with no possibility of parole or early release.
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So in summary, jurors can find Arias guilty of first-degree murder by either a unanimous vote that she committed felony murder, a unanimous vote that she committed premeditated murder, or some mix of the two (e.g., six vote for felony murder and six vote for premeditated murder).
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External links
- Glynn, Casey (May 21, 2013). "Jodi Arias: A timeline of a sensational murder case". CBSNews.com. CBS News.
- "Jodi Arias murder case: Timeline of events". Arizona Republic. February 11, 2014.
- "Court of Appeals | State v. Arias; 1 CA-CR 15-0302" (PDF). supremecourt.az.gov. Arizona Supreme Court. July 16, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
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