Beyond Bizarre - New Jodi Arias Video Surfaces

Just when I thought things couldn't get stranger in the Jodi Arias murder trial, a new video clip was released from July 15, 2008 when Arias was arrested in Yreka, CA. We've all seen the interrogation video(s) between Detective Esteban Flores and Jodi Arias from July 15th and July 16th, but today a clip was released that has never been seen before.

The clip shows Arias in the room where she was questioned by Detective Flores, and at some point Jodi Arias is left alone in that room and what does she do? She does a handstand against the wall, no shoes on - just does a handstand against the wall of that interview room! In the audio, she can be heard laughing, giggling - and at one point she talks to herself in the third person "Goodness, you could've at least done your makeup Jodi".....she's smiling yet it's almost an eerie and evil smile, and laughing like a lunatic.

Now I've really seen it all!  This woman had just been arrested for the first degree murder of a man she supposedly loved and she's laughing and smiling? Concerned about her makeup? And anybody who talks about themselves in the third person is a little bit off to begin with. The jury hasn't and won't see this clip - actually, it may be better that they don't because they may think she is crazy, and that may actually hurt the State's case.

The video has made it's way onto the web - it's not hard to find. I just saw it on HLN News, but it's already made it's way onto Radar Online :

http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/03/jodi-arias-sings-handstands-police-interrogation-video/

and other sites. Arias seems to be obsessed with her own looks. If you recall, Detective Flores said that when he went to her grandmother's home in Yreka to arrest Jodi, she asked if she could go back in to get her makeup.  In her "press conferences" from jail, she can be seen applying makeup and actually asking them not to roll the film until she's ready.  Narcissistic AND a psychopath. Not a good combination.

The hearing on what Dr. Samuels will be allowed to testify to and what materials can be submitted was cancelled today and rescheduled for Monday morning.  These 3 day trial weeks is really stretching this thing out, and I worry that the jury isn't sequestered - all it takes is one juror to read, hear or discuss something about this case and you have a mistrial.  I think they need to start having FULL court days, no more late/delayed starts and at least a 4 day trial week!  They've had these 4-5 day recesses in between, not to mention that 12 (?) days between the prosecution resting and the defense starting their case.

This is a very high profile case, and it seems to be a part time trial. Very few full days, where they begin on time remain in the courtroom for full days. I understand that trials are fluid, and things come up that can't be foreseen, but it seems like they have had a lot of issues with evidence - I thought all of that stuff was supposed to be hashed out pre-trial?  

If you haven't seen the Jodi Arias handstand video clip, you have to see it. What a whack-job!!

Defense Expert Witness ($$$) - Arias Has PTSD

Testimony in the Jodi Arias murder trial will continue on Monday, but attorneys on both sides will be in court today for an evidenciary hearing.  Prosecutor Juan Martinez is objecting to a Power Point presentation that was prepared by an expert witness for the defense, Dr. Richard Samuels out of Scottsdale AZ.  Martinez objected yesterday on the grounds that he was only given a copy of the presentation yesterday before court began, he added that there appeared to be new information not included in previous reports - and he believes that receiving the presentation at the last minute was no accident.

The hearing today will determine whether Dr. Samuels will be able to testify on his opinion of whether the murder of Travis Alexander appeared to be pre meditated or not - based on his review of crime scene photos and his 12 interviews with Jodi Arias. I can see why Juan Martinez is fighting to keep this testimony out. Dr. Samuels could have no way of knowing whether Arias planned to kill Alexander. I did hear him state that unplanned homicides tend to be "disorganized" and "chaotic" - aren't most homicides chaotic?  I hope Judge Stephens does not allow this testimony to come in, even if she gives special jury instructions attached to the testimony it should not be allowed. This guy is not qualified to make a presumption of premeditation based on 12 meetings with a lying defendant and viewing some crime scene photos!

I always have a problem with these types of witnesses, because frequently they are writing their reports based on what the client/defendant has told them - and they are assuming they are being told the truth.  Arias would have no motivation to tell the truth to this man or anybody else for that matter. They can throw five experts up there to testify that Arias has PTSD, Acute Stress Disorder, Detachment and Amnesia Disorders but those things only seek to explain her post murderous behavior, not her motive or the reason she killed him or if and how she planned it.

Dr. Samuels testified yesterday that he met with Jodi Arias 12 times over a period of 3 years while she was being held in the Estrella jail complex she has called home since her arrest back in July of 2008. Samuels attempted to explain how our brains function, and he explained what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is, how it can be brought on and he cited situations where he has assisted police officers who suffer from PTSD after shooting a suspect or witnessing a traumatic event, he also explained PTSD is a fairly common condition for members of our armed forces when they return from war. He also explained the brains "fight or flight" responses and what part of the brain produces these reactions and stated that they are involuntary in nature. He said that during times of stress, our brains go "off line" - sound familiar? Didn't Arias & Nurmi compare her brain to a computer, she referred to it as "freezing up" like a computer does?  Really? 

What really caught my attention however, is when Dr. Samuels started using the terminology we've heard Jodi Arias & Co. using over her 18 days on the witness stand. He actually used the words "fog" and "foggy" to describe people who suffer from PTSD - could Arias be parroting what she read in Samuels assessment or report on her? It's the chicken and egg thing. More often people refer to having "blackouts" when they can't remember certain events, but this is the first time I've personally heard it referred to as a "fog" - is this just another coincidence?

I've noticed throughout the trial that Arias has certain themes and phrases she uses over and over again. For example, "linebacker pose", "body slammed" - who body slams another person? Only the TV wrestlers or the ultimate fighting competitors!  I simply cannot imagine Travis getting out of the shower naked and wet, and putting his arm through Jodi's legs and picking her up and slamming her to the tile. This is just ludicrous. But she's had more than 4 years to come up with these tall tales, refine them and commit them to memory.  She's rehearsed, she's done her best to memorize dates and events that she hopes will help her.

Acute Stress Disorder

The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in at least one of the following ways: recurrent images, thoughts, dreams, illusions, flashback episodes, or a sense of reliving the experience; or distress on exposure to reminders of the traumatic event.

Acute stress disorder is also characterized by significant avoidance of stimuli that arouse recollections of the trauma (e.g., avoiding thoughts, feelings, conversations, activities, places, people). The person experiencing acute stress disorder also has significant symptoms of anxiety or increased arousal (e.g., difficulty sleeping, irritability, poor concentration, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, motor restlessness).

Above is a partial description of Acute Stress Disorder, also mentioned by Dr. Samuels. How can this apply to Arias? With this disorder, she would be experiencing recurrent images, thoughts, dreams, illusions, flashbacks or a sense of reliving the experience. She doesn't remember anything! It also says that a person with the disorder would avoid thoughts, feelings, conversations, activities, places & people. Arias got in her car and made a bee-line for Ryan Burn's place after she killed Travis Alexander. She wasn't avoiding people or places. She even talked about Travis with Leslie Udy, telling her that she hoped one day her children and Travis's children would play together! It doesn't fit, does it?

I do believe that Jodi Arias has some type of personality disorder, maybe even a few of them. But not the type of disorders that would dismiss murdering somebody. She knew exactly what she was doing, and I truly believe she remembers every single thing she did to him on June 4, 2008. When they were showing the crime scene photos and Arias had her hand over her face, if you look closely, you can see her looking at the small screen in front of her and looking at those awful photos of Travis. She wanted to see them, she even asked Detective Flores if she could see them. She know what she did and how she did it. The physical evidence tells the story of what happened in that bedroom and bathroom. Arias has no injuries except for cuts most likely inflicted when she cut herself when the knife she was killing Travis with became too slippery for her to handle. To quote the jury, she walked away "fairly unscathed". I'm not sure if the evidenciary hearing will be televised today. If it is, I'll update this page later. Have a great day!

Did you know: (**UPDATE**)

*Under Arizona law,if Arias is convicted of 1st degree murder but all 12 jurors are unable to agree on the death penalty, prosecutors have the option of enpaneling a second or third jury to repeat the penalty phase of the trial? The judge would become involved in deciding the penalty if three jury panels were unable to come to an unanimous decision - if Arias's life is spared by the jury, she could receive 25 years to life, or life without the possibility of parole. 

*This information can be found in this US News article:

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/14/17313818-jodi-arias-18-days-on-witness-stand-could-save-her-life-experts?lite

Dr. Richard Samuels To Testify As Expert Witness for Jodi Arias

**UPDATE** Dr. Samuels is on the stand.  He just referred to "foggy and cloudy" memory issues that occur when our brains are under stress. Could that be the origin on the "fog" terminology Arias has been using all along? He also just referred to a person who shakes, uncontrollably under certain situations! The terminology they are using is just TOO close to how Arias & Co. have been describing her issues with memory. Tailor-made statements!

Oh boy - here we go again.  Trial has been delayed, and the attorneys are now arguing about the defense witness who will testify next - Dr. Richard Samuels. Dr. Samuels is a "Clinical and and Forensic Psychologist" out of the Scottsale Arizona area. He has testified as an expert witness many times and his background and training is actually fairly impressive (see http://svpexpertwitness.com/curriculum_vitae.asp).

The prosecutor is objecting to a Power Point presentation that Dr. Samuels is planning to use today - Juan Martinez says he was not given a copy of the presentation until this morning and hasn't had adequate time to review it. He argued that "it's doubtful that they just finished this report last night", or something to that effect. He objected to several individual slides and alleges that some of the material is new or has changed since the 7/11 interview Martinez conducted with him.

He is objecting to some of the report's content.  This should be interesting. From what I gathered from what was televised, this doctor is expected to discuss amnesia, PTSD, disassociative disorders, "instrumental" crimes versus "reactive" crimes. The writing is ALL OVER THE WALL with this witness, and just in reviewing the Wikipedia definitions (see below) around these types of disorders tells us exactly where they are taking her memory issues and running with them:

Dissociative disorders are conditions that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity or perception. People with dissociative disorders use dissociation, a defense mechanism, pathologically and involuntarily. Dissociative disorders are thought to primarily be caused by psychological trauma.

The five dissociative disorders listed in the American Psychiatric Association's DSM IV are as follows:^[1]

• Depersonalization disorder: periods of detachment from self or surrounding which may be experienced as "unreal" (lacking in control of or "outside of" self) while retaining awareness that this is only a feeling and not a reality.
• Dissociative amnesia: (formerly Psychogenic Amnesia): noticeable impairment of recall resulting from emotional trauma
• Dissociative fugue: (formerly Psychogenic Fugue): physical desertion of familiar surroundings and experience of impaired recall of the past. This may lead to confusion about actual identity and the assumption of a new identity.
• Dissociative identity disorder: (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder): the alternation of two or more distinct personality states with impaired recall among personality states.
• Dissociative disorder not otherwise specified: used for forms of pathological dissociation that do not fully meet the criteria of the other specified dissociative disorders.

I copied/pasted information on Dr. Richard Samuels  from his webpage (see below) to illustrate some of the disorders he treats. Just by reading his areas of expertise and looking at the Wikipedia definitions of these disorders plays perfectly into Jodi Arias's alleged foggy memory issues. Particularly noteworthy, I think there's a good chance they will claim Jodi Arias suffered from "dissociative amnesia" or even "depersonalization disorders".

This is frightening, and I can see why Mr. Martinez is objecting so strongly. He  interviewed Dr. Samuels back in July of 2011, but he claims there is new information and/or findings on the report that was not included or discussed during the previous (7/19/11) interview. It is now crystal clear why they have proceeded in the manner in which they have around her memory issues - if the doc testifies that in his opinion, Ms. Arias suffers from one or more of these disorders AND the jury buys into it, I'm afraid she may walk among us again one day.  Based on the jury's 200+ questions to Arias, it seems they are not buying many aspects of Arias's tall tales - how/will that change if an "expert" comes in to explain why she behaved the way she behaved? I feel like this whole thing has been an elaborate set up. Her behavior seems to have been custom designed for these disorders.

They took so much time reviewing this Power Point presentation this morning that the Judge decided to have the jurors take the lunch break now while the try to work through what will be admissible and what won't. Jennifer Willmott argued for the defense today and she has a much different style than Nurmi - but she became a little hostile or defensive after Juan Martinez voiced his concerns over not receiving a copy of the new material until the day this expert is testifying. Willmott claimed that there was nothing new in the report, and that she would not go into a line of questioning as to this witnesses opinion on whether the crime was premeditated or not - the expert doesn't believe the murder was planned, but he cannot make those type of statements in open court

Juan Martinez is upset and looked a little concerned.  This should be a very interesting day in court! I think we will all be happy to hear someone other than Jodi Arias talking.  I will update this page after testimony concludes.  Buckle your seat belts - we may be in for some turbulence today!!

Evaluations

Richard M. Samuels, Ph.D., FACCS, ABPP is a practicing Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with over thirty years of experience. With an extensive background in evaluation, analysis, report writing and testimony, Dr. Samuels specializes in Sexually Violent Perpetrator evaluations, Psychosexual Risk Assessments, Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination Matters for Defendants and Emotional Trauma from Medical Malpractice for Defendants and Plaintiffs.

Working closely with public defenders and private attorneys, he will determine the facts of the case and any special circumstances and mitigating factors involving the trial process. An extensive evaluation of the respondent, in depth case analysis and research contributes to a succinct report which often will result in a more favorable outcome for your client. His clear and strong testimony in support of the report can help to educate juries and judges.

When you need a verified expert in the field of Sexually Violent Perpetrator commitment hearings, Psychosexual Risk Assessments for sentencing, Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination Matters for Defendants and Emotional Trauama from Medical Malpractice for Defendants and Plaintiffs, Dr. Richard Samuels has the experience, education and prestige to help you support your vital arguments.

"Your Scenario Is Impossible" - Juan Martinez Rips Into Arias Story

It's a thing of beauty when Arizona Prosecutor Juan Martinez relentlessly goes after murder defendant Jodi Arias about how improbable, if not outright impossible her account of what happened that horrible night - June 4, 2008.  After 18 days of Jodi Arias spinning complex tales of being abused as a child, cheated on by boyfriends and "victimized" by the man she murdered, I get a sense of great satisfaction when Arias squares off against the veteran prosecutor.

Coddled by attorney Kirk Nurmi, Jodi Arias seems comfortable and almost appears to enjoy the attention of a national audience. She has "followers", a website dedicated to her innocence and the site takes donations from her supporters. It's understandable that Jodi Arias's family may need financial support to enable them to attend the out of state trial, but the thought of Arias on a commissary shopping spree just seems wrong.

Today, Arias once again squared off against a seasoned and determined Juan Martinez.  More "I don't know", "I don't recall", "I don't remember" and my personal favorite "I don't understand the question".  Classic Jodi Arias. Her memory is sharp as the knife she used to stab Travis Alexander when being questioned by her own attorney - but when it comes to getting answers from her on everything that matters, the fog rolls in again.  Martinez had a difficult time getting a defiant Jodi Arias to answer simple yes or no question, without squeezing in some self-serving comment for the jury. Her testimony is so rehearsed that when confronted with something she hasn't prepared for and thought through completely, you can almost see the wheels turning in her head as she tries to buy time by asking for the question to be repeated. I think this jury gets that - if they had the answers they wanted/needed, they wouldn't have had to ask her 220+ questions.

Juan Martinez had her cornered on several occasions today. Arias claimed that Alexander was coming after her, after she dropped his camera in the bathroom, but she admitted that she never really looked at his face. She acknowledges shooting him, but claims she didn't realize he had been shot - often referring to the gun "going off". Martinez tried to pin her down to exactly what happened, second by second - telling her "isn't it entirely possible that Travis was leaning over to help you up from the floor and that he wasn't coming after you?" She admits that after he stepped out of the shower and "body slammed" her (nobody believes she was EVER body slammed), she was able to roll away and run down the hallway to the safety of the closet - yes, the CLOSET, even though the exit door was closer and made more sense.

Arias testified that Travis assured her the gun wasn't loaded after she found it while cleaning his home. Martinez capitalized on her admission, asking her why she thought a unloaded gun would stop Travis from coming towards her. Martinez to Arias:  "what did you plan to do with an unloaded gun, throw it at him?". Excellent point made there, since Arias has added bits and pieces to her testimony - and the State is tripping her up at every turn. Martinez displayed the photo of Travis's closet and asked Arias if the closet light was on - and how she was able to find that gun if she was in such a heightened state of panic. I think Mr. Martinez is about to nail her on a comment she made about her eyes being level with a photo displayed in Travis's closet, on the shelf below where she supposedly got the gun. 

Martinez asked her how tall she is, she is 5 5" - and he asked her point blank, "so your eyes are level with the photo on the shelf in this photo"? At that point, she seemed to back off just a little - she's got to know it wouldn't be that difficult to measure the closet height, the height of each shelf and catch her in a bold faced lie. I could see the wheels turning as Arias attempted to back away just a little, with "to my recollection" and her bag of maybes. If the State can show that it wouldn't have been that easy or fast for her to retrieve this gun, that would go a long way towards proving she is still lying - under oath.  It's one thing to think she's lying, it's another to prove it. Like the gas can return to WalMart. Mr. Martinez got as close as he could get to proving she lied about returning the gas can by telling Arias and the jury that WalMart had NO RETURNS of any type of gas can on the date in question. That's as close as it gets my friends!

Juan Martinez kept pounding away at some critical areas where Arias lacks credible or logical answers. He went after the knife. Where did she get the knife, before or after shooting Travis Alexander? The State believes Arias arrived in Mesa with the knife and a gun, naturally the defense denies both allegations, with Arias acknowledging that she used the knife but she's unable to say when or how she gained control of the knife or what she did with it after. Kirk Nurmi's objections were fast and furious today.  But Arias was not responsive to the questions from the prosecutor, so the Judge gave Mr. Martinez just as much latitude as he has shown for the defense. If a question comes up attached to an answer that hurts her, she doesn't recall.

The gas can issue came up once again - when Arias left Mesa for Utah, where did she get gas? Did she use the 10+ gallons that were stored in the gas cans in the trunk of her rental car? She didn't recall. She doesn't remember. She doesn't know. Really Jodi, really? She actually said "I'm presuming I got gas, just like everything else on June 4th". The sparring continued, with Arias looking completely beaten down and just plain worn out by the end of the court day. It's much more taxing on her brain to remember the lies she has told. The truth comes easily, but when you've told as many lies as she has, she has to go through a filtering process before she opens her mouth. It shows.

The prosecutor did a great job exhibiting just how difficult it would be for things to have played out the way Arias says they did.  She had to have the knife on her person. The recovered photos are evidence of how quickly this all went down - she would not have had time to retrieve a knife from anywhere other than on her, or planted somewhere inside that bathroom or bedroom. We've heard Jodi Arias's story, or what she remembers through the fog and gaps in her memory. Juan Martinez is now painting the State's story of how this unfolded, and it sounds a lot more probable than her story. It's common sense - her stories are ludicrous in each and every aspect. It's just not believable to think dropping a camera would set off a man who's on top of the world, excited about his upcoming trip to Cancun and making travel plans beyond Cancun. He had a lot to look forward to. Jodi, not so much. 

The camera was probably under warranty! The dropped camera story probably evolved when she saw those few inadvertent photographs, taken while she began attacking Travis, and that's the best story she could come up with. They are trying so hard to cram their defense into the evidence they have to work with. No journal entries, no domestic violence reports, no confiding in a friend or family member - nothing at all to back up her claims. Zero, nada - nothing. Arias ends up with an attorney who happens to specialize in sex crimes, crimes against minors and suddenly the pedophile defense is born. 

Self defense, really Jodi?  We are all waiting to "mark your words".  Your running out of time.

More Odd Facts - Jodi Arias's Defense Team

Testimony is expected to continue today in the Jodi Arias murder trial. I thought I'd take a look at Arias's attorneys, to see what there areas of expertise are and what their backgrounds may tell us about the way this defense has been structured.

A search of Kirk Nurmi's name brought me to a website:  http://maricopasexcrimes.com/

I'd be interested to see when Jodi Arias's claims that Travis Alexander was a pedophile began - was Kirk Nurmi hired before or after these allegations were raised by Arias?  Here is how Nurmi is represented on his website:

I can provide you with aggressive representation against
any accusation that you committed a sexual offense.

Sexual Assault   •   Sex Conduct with a Minor   •   Indecent Exposure
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor   •   Sexual Abuse   •   Molestation of a Child

At the Law Offices of L. Kirk Nurmi, we understand that you do not have to commit a sexual offense to be accused of being a sex offender. We understand that innocent people can be accused of sex crimes such as sexual assault , sexual conduct with a minor, or sexual exploitation of a minor, or any sex offense with very little evidence.  We also understand that being accused of committing such a crime is devastating and daunting.   However, we also understand the legal consequences are very serious and that if you are accused of a sex crime you need an attorney who has the experience and knowledge needed to provide you with an aggressive defense. Our results speak for themselves:

• Sex Assault – NOT GUILTY
• Sex Assault / Unlawful Imprisonment – NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS
• Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (10 counts) – NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS
• Sex Conduct with a Minor, Sexual Assault – ALL COUNTS DISMISSED

So if you find yourself accused of such a crime and you seek competent aggressive representation call our office at (602)XXX-XXXX for a Free Telephonic Consultation.

Law Offices of L. Kirk Nurmi 
2314 E Osborne Road 
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Interesting, to say the least - this guy is very well versed on sex crimes and sexual conduct with a minor.  Is this where the defense was created? You've got to wonder, especially given the amount of time Arias has been incarcerated, at one time she was going to represent herself - before realizing she was in way over her head and settling in with Jennifer Willmott and Kirk Nurmi.  

I personally don't know why Nurmi is handling the direct examination of Jodi Arias when Willmott has a much more pleasant demeanor and may have connected more with jurors than Nurmi has. If Jodi Arias is found guilty of first degree murder with the special circumstance attached (murder in a cruel, heinous or depraved manner), what sentencing does she face in the state of AZ?

If found guilty of murder as charged, the jury will decide if she lives or receives the death penalty.  In the state of Arizona, a "life sentence" could mean:

A person guilty of first degree murder as defined in § 13-1105 shall suffer death or imprisonment in the custody of the state department of corrections for life as determined and in accordance with the procedures provided in subsections B through G of this section. If the court imposes a life sentence, the court may order that the defendant not be released on any basis for the remainder of the defendant’s natural life. An order sentencing the defendant to natural life is not subject to commutation or parole, work furlough or work release. If the court does not sentence the defendant to natural life, the defendant shall not be released on any basis until thecompletion of the service of twenty-five calendar years if the victim was fifteen or more years of age and thirty-five years if the victim was under fifteen years of age.

It appears under the sentencing guidelines, the least Arias could get is a 25 year sentence, meaning that she could see the light of day while in her late 40's or early 50's! She's already served nearly 5 years, and with time off for good behavior she could actually get out and have a life. I hope for the sake of all mankind (and womankind for that matter) this doesn't happen.  More trial updates later - have a great day!

No Court Today - The Jodi Arias Murder Trial

The Jodi Arias murder trial resumes tomorrow - they seem to have these long breaks in between, I'm not sure why. I would think with a jury that is not sequestered in such a high profile case, they wouldn't have these breaks but I guess it happens.

I don't mean to be insensitive, but did anybody else notice Jodi Arias seems to have a little cold sore or fever blister on her mouth Thursday?? Wonder where/how she got that.  What can we expect to see this week? Hopefully Jodi Arias will wrap up her testimony and then on to the expert witnesses.  

I've been watching some of the trial footage and always seem to catch something I hadn't noticed the first time around.  Like this point:  Jodi described this incident where Travis Alexander pushed her, and she testified that she fell on her knees.  If he pushed  her from behind, maybe. But in the context she was describing, he would've been in front of her. If he pushed her, she would've fallen backwards.

And this:  She described being choked to unconciousness by Travis.  Wouldn't that have been the time for this mortal fear? She testified that her hands were free while he was on top of her with his hands around her throat, but she claims she didn't want to hurt him - she just tried to get him off of her. Why not run for the gun after that incident?  Does she even know how completely unbelievable her stories are?

That's about all for today - I thought court was back in session today, I was wrong.  Enjoy your day!

Jodi Arias's Last Blog Entry

(*This is an old post that was in my draft folder...)

Murder defendant Jodi Arias started a blog in April of 2008 and it's still viewable online. Her last (untitled) entry from May 10, 2008 reads:

"I cannot ignore that there is an ever-present yearning and desire that pulses within me. It throbs for gratification and fufillment. It makes me want to wander this entire globe in search of this indefinitive "something", that I might suddenly experience it, discover it, or some other sort of quickening to quench this thirst I've had since childhood. I want to search it out in evergreen forests, fields of tall, golden grass, desert sands, moonlit nights, in the eyes of other children of God, in the eyes of every living creature. It is in all of these things, yet it is fleeting. It has the power and potential to move me to tears in a matter of seconds. It gives life a meaning often realized only in night time dreams; that elusive, intangible fulfillment that permeates the images played out by one's subconscious right before it fades into oblivion, as full consciousness begins to settle in".

Notice the language she uses, "there is an ever-present yearning and desire that pulses within me. It throbs for gratification and fulfillment"? Wonder what or WHO she was thinking of when she wrote that?  The last sentence also got my attention:  "it gives life a meaning often realized only in night time dreams; that elusive, intangible fulfillment that permeates the images played out by one's subconscious right before it fades into oblivion, as full consciousness begins to settle in".

That same day, according to prosecutors, Alexander sent this text to Arias: 

"Why don't you have him come and f**k you in the woods. I can only imagine you are so worried about me reading. You are paranoid because you have no respect for people's privacy and you dare insult me of all people. Someone you should through your actions you hate more than love by denying me a human right of privacy countless times. You have a lot of freaking nerve. We are all not like you in that aspect."

Travis Alexander had an online blog as well, and his last entry before being murdered was titled "Why I Want To Marry A Gold Digger" - this entry was posted on May 18, 2008. Only ten days later on May 28, the Yreka police responded to the "break in" at Arias's grandparents home where the .25 caliber gun was stolen. I wonder if Jodi Arias's planned trip to visit Ryan Burns in Utah, just a week before Travis's Cancun trip was some lame attempt to make him jealous? I was curious about the gas cans and the mileage from Pasadena to Mesa, and from Mesa to West Jordan Utah - trying to figure out Jodi Arias's reasoning for borrowing those gas cans and it doesn't appear the two 5 gallon cans would have been enough to get her from Mesa to Utah, although it may have been enough to get her across the state lines.

According to Rand McNally's online trip calculator, the distances between the cities is:

From Pasadena, CA to Mesa AZ = 387.7 miles, 5 hours 16 minutes

From Mesa, AZ to West Jordan UT = 659.7 miles, 9 hours 38 minutes

From West Jordan UT to Redding CA = 720.3 miles, 10 hours

If Arias left Pasadena with a full tank of gas, she more than likely would have had enough fuel to get to Mesa without refilling the tank. I'm unsure of the make/model of the car she rented, but it seems to me they said it was a Ford Escort. I wasn't able to find the MPG info for a 2007 or 2008 Ford Escort, but the Ford Focus is probably close enough.  A 2 door, 4 cylinder 2008 Ford Focus gets 35 MPG on the highway, 24 with city driving. If you use an average of 30 MPG, it would've taken approximately 12.93 gallons of gas to get from Pasadena to Mesa (388 miles / 30 MPG).

The tank would've been empty or near empty when she arrived in Mesa. If she had two 5 gallon cans full of gas, she would have been able to drive approximately 300 miles away from the crime scene using the gas in the gas cans. The trip from Mesa to Utah was more than 659 miles, so she would have had to stop at some point, but the extra gas she had in those cans probably enabled her to get far enough away to feel safe fueling up the car.

There seems to be no other reason to bring the gas cans with her. She already contradicted herself in saying the reason was to buy cheap "out of state gas", yet she filled them in Pasadena.  She has no receipt from the return of the 3rd gas can from WalMart - she can't get off with the "it's a small store" like she tried to do with the alleged restaurant injury.  Juan Martinez nailed her when he told her that the WalMart she says she returned the gas can to had NO RECORD of ANYBODY returning a 5 gallon gas can on the day in question. Chalk up another lie, proven by the State. 

Driving with cans of gasoline in your trunk can be dangerous, and I don't believe many people do it anymore - unless you are truly going somewhere remote where there may be no gas or services for hundreds of miles. This story is so transparent, and now that Arias has locked herself into the WalMart story, Martinez was able to show the jury that Arias is not telling the truth, and this time she is under oath.  She's going down.  I hear there are more jury questions, so we may see more of Ms. Arias on the stand when testimony resumes on Tuesday.  Enjoy your weekend!