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5 Year Anniversary Of Travis Alexander's Murder Passes - What's Next For Jodi Arias?

I was a little saddened yesterday when I looked at the date on the newspaper and noticed the date:  June 4, 2013 - Travis Alexander was murdered by Jodi Arias 5 years ago yesterday.  And still, the justice system has left the fate of Arias up in the air.  Will Maricopa County District Attorney Bill Montgomery follow the wishes of Alexander's family and seat a second jury to decide the penalty phase of this murder trial, or will budget considerations impact the decision and lead to a potential plea deal of life imprisonment for the 32 year old convicted murderer and wannabe-celebrity?

We can only pray that cost does not play a role in this very important decision.  Cost was not a consideration in ensuring the defendant received a fair trial including two defense attorneys, several paid expert witnesses and the mitigation specialist - the victim deserves the same considerations in seeking justice for this crime.  I think it would be a huge mistake on the part of Arizona's top brass to make a deal with the devil in offering her life.  If a second jury cannot reach an unanimous decision, then the decision would fall to the judge, which would involve a sentence of natural life or life with the possibility of release after serving 20 years. However, there have been changes in how those convicted of first degree murders can be sentenced. In 1994, the state discontinued their parole system. And since 2012, those convicted of first degree murder receiving a life sentence do receive a natural life sentence, no getting out ever! Since the murder occurred in 2008, Arias could potentially receive a life sentence with the possibility of release after 25 years, however it is unlikely she would be released unless her sentence was commuted by the Governor.  Arizona certainly has some unique characteristics to their criminal justice system.

Arias attorneys Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott, having failed at getting the death penalty taken off the table arguing lack of aggravating factors proven are now playing the mental illness card!  Using Dr. DeMarte's assessment of Arias with borderline personality disorder and a lack of Jodi Arias' prior criminal history as factors they have argued Arias should not be executed.  I'd argue that just because Arias hasn't been convicted of any crimes, that doesn't mean she has no criminal history.  Many people (myself included) are certain she perjured herself on the witness stand, staged a break-in at her grandparents house and therefore STOLE the 25 caliber gun used to shoot Travis Alexander as well as other items taken in the staged burglary.  Add to that the call she recorded between her and Alexander without his knowledge, which may or may not be illegal and slashing his tires - doesn't sound like an upstanding citizen to me! And those are just the things we know about.  We also learned from her mom and dad's interviews with Detective Flores that Arias tried to grow pot on her family's rooftop.  Sure, these may be considered petty crimes, but I have a feeling she does in fact have criminal tendencies.  It may or may not be illegal to access someone's bank account records online and access their personal social media sites without their consent - it's the pattern of disregard for other people's privacy that we've seen evidenced throughout the criminal trial.

Travis Alexander's siblings are in favor of Arias receiving the ultimate punishment. They deserve their day in court.  No deals should be made with this murderer, period!  Let the citizens of Arizona decide what punishment she receives, and if they give her life at least the justice system will have played out for Travis and his family and friends and they will have the satisfaction of knowing the state did everything they could for Travis Alexander who was the true murder victim here, despite Arias' continued claims that she was a victim of domestic violence.  I don't know about you, but every single time I see that damned "Survivor" t-shirt, I want to vomit.  Her latest campaign is for women to document the violence inflicted on them - does she really believe this would have changed the outcome of her case and she would have been justified in slaughtering this young man even IF she were abused?  The injuries to Travis and lack of injuries to Jodi tell the story of the ambush that happened in that bathroom and bedroom.

I've heard some new versions of theories around that last text message Travis sent to Jodi, where he called her the worst thing that ever happened to him, calling her evil etc. - many people are speculating that perhaps Jodi played the secretly recorded audio tape for Travis after he wouldn't change his mind about taking Mimi Hall to Cancun. Perhaps she threatened to play that tape for Mimi Hall or send a copy to his Bishop? That would certainly make a person mad enough to send that scathing text message to him.  If she did play the audio tape for him, there's no way in hell he would've invited her to stop by on her way to Utah, as she claimed.  If Arias was as smart as her attorneys want us to believe she is, she should have claimed she played the recording for Travis while he was in the shower - that seems like a better reason to have provoked an attack instead of the dropped camera scenario.  But that would've required her to admit to being slimy enough to record that conversation and then using it to blackmail him. Who knows where she came up with the stories he ultimately testified to.  She WASN'T the smartest person in the room, nor was she a good enough actress to fool the jurors. They saw through her lies for the most part.  I still believe they couldn't agree on the death penalty because she is a young woman.

I don't necessarily believe in the "an eye for an eye" system of justice, but as I've said many many times there are some crimes that are so brutal and unspeakable in the pain inflicted that death seems to be the only appropriate sentence - and if this murder doesn't fit that, I'd be hard pressed to think of one that does.  All I know is the thought of Arias walking out of prison at age 52 would be the biggest travesty of justice since OJ Simpson strolled out of that LA courtroom with his dream time at his side.

What's next for Arias? What will happen during the June 20th status conference? 

17 comments:

  1. I'm sure it's hard for the family to think about what Travis went through 5 years ago. To me, it's equally sad that he sat alone in that shower for days while Jodi went about her life, as if nothing had happened.

    I'm hoping the "mental illness" card the defense is trying to play flops. IMO, a personality disorder is not equivalent to a mental illness. There are many borderlines walking around in society not killing people! The part of Jodi that makes her the way she is, is just an evil side that lacks any remorse.

    I've been re-listening to some of the interrogation tapes (having trial withdrawals lol) and I think some of the idea's were put in her head during that time. The female detective asks her if Travis "roughed" her up, then Jodi starts rambling about him hitting her and her having to wear long sleeves. Later on, Detective Flores asks her if someone else was there with her, then she came up with her "ninja" story. So I'm not surprised if she now plans on grabbing onto this "mental illness" thing!

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    1. I agree that some of her "story" was developed during that time frame that the female detective was with her. I was in opposition to her techniques. She had no idea of the level of manipulation, depravity and sheer evil that JA was capable of. But, if you watch the FULL Inside Edition program from 2008, you will hear at the end of the program how she was already developing her DV storyline. She alluded to shocking details that would come out. And we know for a fact that she was already recruiting Matt to assist her in creating the forged pedophile letters from the diaries that she had stolen from Travis that they cut & pasted and poorly created with the assistance of a photoshop program.

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    2. My Forte, it's amazing how she kept all of these ex-BF's around just to use for her own sick, warped and evil agenda. Borrowing gas cans from one ex, recruiting another one to forge letters etc. I wish Matt would have been called in to testify but I'm sure there was a reason he wasn't.

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    3. Anonymous (6/6 @ 4:07AM),
      I'm so extremely curious to know why Matt McCartney was not called to testify for the either side! We can guess why he wouldn't want to testify for the defense, maybe he wasn't willing to lie under oath for Arias. But why didn't the State call him? I'm sure he would've had a lot to say!!

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  2. Thank you my Forte for your post. I agree with you it will be the biggest mistake of the justice system of this country will ever done if Jodi walks out of prison at the age of 52. Thinking about it that might happen, give me a sad filling. Last night I was watching HLN and this lawyer said it’s up to the Alexander family to want to continue the penalty phase with the jury or to accept the plea with life in prison. Is this lawyer telling the truth how the system works and the family has say so or is it the attorney general decision?

    MA

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    1. Hi Anon -
      That lawyer did speak truthfully. Ultimately, the final decision IS Bill Montgomery's.

      http://www.maricopacountyattorney.org/about-us/maricopa-county-attorney-bill-montgomery.html

      However, he ran on a platform of advocating for victim's rights and the Alexander family's wishes will be given a lot of weight. I am very confident, regardless of what talking heads or Michael Keifer, the defense's "so-called journalistic" patsy, reports that a 2nd penalty trial will occur.

      I was so disappointed that the defense chose yesterday to come out with their new baloney mental health defense. Call me cynical, but I am very doubtful that the timing was coincidental. They and their despicable client seem to relish causing further pain and suffering to the family and I despise them for this.

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    2. Oh Nancy, thanks for the link about the attorney general. Now I fill much better knowing he is not going to compromise and accept a plea deal without having another jury sitting to determine her fate.
      This "mental illness" they are talking about shouldn't be allowed to be entertain. I am sure Bill Montgomery is smart not to accept such BS from the defense. Like another commentator above mentioned, borderline personality disorder is not a mental illness like some chemical deficiency in the brain. Wow, how quickly she changed every time she sees an opening to her advantage. How about if the doctor never said borderline personality disorder? Will the defense team and her every come up with this crap?

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    3. From what I hear on news programs here (our regular 5pm, 6pm, and 10pm telecasts), whatever the defense team is selling, nobody is buying! The death penalty is still on the table and WILL be pursued. Jodi Arias will NOT be allowed to have a "mental illness" defense, and the July 18 date is firm (not being pushed back into January, 2014). The newscasters treat this story like it Just Needs to Go Away. People here are tired of the notoriety being visited on Arizona due to this Fame Wh*re. I was glad to see the jury in the Bret Seacat trial come back with swift justice for that deranged lunatic, ex-cop, who shot his wife in the head in her bed then started their house on fire while their two small boys slept. His claim that she shot herself in the head with a .44 magnum and started the fire herself fell on deaf ears. Just wish he could have received the DP. What a crazy world.

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    4. AZCathy,
      I hope you are right! You have a better feel for what is happening since you are local to the crime so I thank you for your comments. I only recently became familiar with the Bret Seacat murder story. What an outrageous story, that his wife would shoot herself and set fire to the house with her children sleeping in another room! I guess his arrogance of being a former police officer made him think he was the smartest person in the room. I've seen some of his interrogation video and he's obviously a disturbed and angry man! What a tall tale he tried to sell. Thanks so much for commenting.

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  3. The only thing that even shines a small light on the defense lawyers current moves are that I'm hoping it's just another thing everyone shakes their head at. I just want to shake my fist and scream at them that they can't have it both ways - you can't refute it and the Dr.'s character on the stand when it doesn't work for you, but then use as evidence for you if you now think this "hail mary" will benefit Jodi. I would love to know how other lawyers/judges see them now. There is doing your job and then there is creating more injustice. I truly don't know how they can sleep at night. I wish they had been let off as they asked for - I hate that they somehow have had a change of "heart" (said sarcastically).

    I'm still a bit confused about the penalties. Retrying still has the three options on the table: life (possible release after 20 years), natural life and the death penalty? What do you think the chances are that a new jury would give her just plain life. Is it likely like that she would be released after 20 years? And if they couldn't reach a verdict again, don't you think that Judge Stephens would give her natural life as digusted as she must be with all of this?

    Anyhow, I've missed you My Forte (and Nancy B)! Your posts are always spot on and I thank you for always giving us a rational place to vent and share.

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    1. Anon (6/5 @ 1:23PM),
      Thank you for your comments - I've missed the interaction on this forum too! It's so hard to predict how a jury will view this murder. I don't see how a jury could give her anything less than life without parole - I personally don't know why we even have the death penalty if murders like this don't receive a death sentence. I know there are statistics that argue the DP isn't a deterrent, but when there is such violence, suffering and extreme terror inflicted on the victim the murderer should be given the DP. There has to be justice for Travis, and I don't believe Jodi doodling and writing in her prison cell is enough punishment for the lives she ruined! I tend to agree with you in that I think Judge Stephens would sentence her to natural life - no parole ever! I think there is a status hearing on the 20th of June, maybe we will hear something then?

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  4. Anon 1:23PM....If a new jury is seated, they would have 2 options-Life or the death penalty. If they opt for life, Judge Stephens would then determine with or without parole. If the jury is hung again,Judge Stephens would still have the final word as to the sentence. One would only assume she would opt for LWOP.

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    1. To Anonymous June 5, at 9:32pm: She WOULD!

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  5. have ya seen this? 400 unread jury questions.

    http://www.azcentral.com/video/2437160829001

    love JM’s wit – seems to be more humorous during sidebars. the DT seems to need to grow some balls or be less sensitive considering they throw shit out in open court.

    http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130605arias-trial-transcripts-juror-questions-unsealed.html



    actual transcript of that convo re: law school…

    http://www.azcentral.com/ic/pdf/arias-april4-transcript-excerpt.pdf

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  6. Thanks to The State vs Jodi Arias

    Convicted murderer Jodi Arias continues to sell plagiarized ‘art’ for personal gain.

    Arias copy on left | L’Oréal campaign, right

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=485009801575167&set=a.226325870776896.54624.160510210691796&type=1&relevant_count=1

    This just infuriates me!

    https://twitter.com/josemcyntire/status/339610492928659456/photo/1

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    1. NancyB,
      OMG - she has no shame! I hadn't seen that one before. No doubt she's calling it original artwork? How embarrassing, didn't she think people would call her on this stuff? Oh that's right, she thinks people love her. Thanks for sharing NancyB!

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  7. I had never seen this 2008 interview before by KTVK. It looks like this right around the time she was extradited to Az and was in their custody.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HaJmaW6YxuE

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