Popular Posts

Search This Blog

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Jodi Arias and Mitigation


Please visit the Bookstore tab above to browse  
Pssst! Going to jail, buying documents, and everything else it takes to get this kind of info for the blog takes time and money! Every time you make a purchase here, it helps me be able to do more for you!

(If you hear audio upon arriving at this site, please click here and hit pause on the video. Sorry! I'm working on it!)


Jodi Arias reacts as a guilty verdict is read in her first-degree murder trial in Phoenix, Arizona May 8, 2013. REUTERS/Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic/Pool
Jodi Arias hears the verdict: Murder 1   Pool photo


Now that the "guilt" phase of Jodi Arias's trial is over and she is a convicted 1st degree murderer, we are trying to move into the "aggravation" phase.

I say "trying" because it was supposed to begin on Thursday, but was mysteriously cancelled while we were waiting in the hall outside locked courtroom doors. The reason for the cancellation may have something to do with the exclusive interview Arias gave to Fox10's Troy Hayden, less than half an hour after she heard jurors convict of her of pre-meditated murder. Or it may not. All is speculation right now.

But in that interview Arias herself spoke directly about the mitigation process. She told Troy Hayden that she has "no mitigating factors." I'll come back to that. First I'd like to explain more about the process.

For 4 months, people have observed a woman who sits behind the defense team and often interacts with Arias during the breaks and also with her family. She is the mitigation specialist. While Nurmi and Wilmott, Arias's defense attorneys, are there to give their client the best legal advocacy they can, Arizona law affords her one more chance on top of that. 

Mitigation is not about guilt or innocence. It is about mercy. So the mitigation specialist is rarely, if ever, a lawyer.  The person who fills this job is more likely to be a trained social worker or counselor. This person puts together an extensive report on the defendant's background and/or accomplishments.

Jodi Arias told Troy Hayden with bitter irony that her mother "didn't beat her hard enough" therefore she has no pathetic childhood stories with which to touch the jurors' heartstrings. 

But Arias is missing the biggest point of the entire mitigation proceeding. The most effective thing a convict can do to mitigate their sentence is to show humility and remorse. 

This is what worked for Sam Dieteman, one of Arizona's notorious serial killers. Did you hear that?  A serial killer.

I am not here to be defending or admiring Sam Dieteman in anyway. He did some horrific things and caused incalculable human sorrow (< < click thru) and laughed while doing so. But once he was caught, he had at least enough remorse to confess. He pled guilty without any deals and spared the community a long trial. Dieteman cooperated with the state by testifying against his former "buddy," Dale Hausner, all the while knowing the state still intended to try to get a different jury to give him the death penalty when they were done with Hausner. 

Dieteman's testimony in the Hausner trial was compelling. He told the jurors that he had become a "piece of shit" prior to his incarceration. He did not blame Hausner for his own degeneration. He appeared in stripes and chains before the Hausner jury, not cocky and never sparring with the attorneys. He told jurors that he believed in the death penalty and that he deserved it.  

A few weeks later, the same attorneys who had called him as a friendly witness asked for his execution in front of a different jury. Dieteman knew they would. His demeanor before his own jury did not change from the Sam we had seen helping to convict Dale. But this second jury was moved to mercy.  It was not Dieteman's less than stellar childhood that did it. It was Dieteman's lack of defiance and refusal to defend his own despicable acts that stayed their hands.  Sam Dieteman did not get the death penalty though he killed more times than did Jodi Arias.

So far Jodi Arias has displayed less remorse than a serial killer. 

When her lies had caved in on her and she sat with Troy Hayden in a basement cell well below the fifth floor courtroom Wednesday afternoon, Arias could have embraced the truth at last. She could have used Troy's cameras to tell the world how sorry she was that she had taken a life. She could have expressed a sense of shame and sorrow. 

But as people all over the world have seen by now, the only sorrow on display was a brief moment when Troy asked her about her mother. Knowing she would remain behind bars instead of walking free, Jodi Arias had a sudden repentance for how she had treated her mother "not very well."  She averted her face, hiding behind her sheet of hair, and went through the motions of someone overcome by emotion.

"I can't talk right now," she whispered to Troy, through her drapes of locks. 

Mama Arias had become a much more important figure, Jodi had seemed to realize, now knowing she would not be following in Casey Anthony's footsteps, free to crash-bang her way through life on her own terms. In county jail, just about anyone is free to visit an inmate. Jodi had been receiving fans from the public so much that even her mother was denied access when Jodi ran out of allotted visits for the week. The sheriff who runs the jail is even more in love with TV cameras than Jodi is, allowing what seems to be access unprecedented in other jails across the country.  By the way, that is how the Troy Hayden interview was allowed -- it had nothing to do with Judge Sherry Stephens. The inmate is in the custody of the county sheriff and this particular sheriff has never asked a judge for permission to do anything in his life. 

County jail, though, is for un-sentenced inmates and short-termers. The famous tents are filled with DUIs and probation violators, not with capital defendants. As soon as Jodi Arias is sentenced, you can expect to see her custody transferred from the county sheriff to the state prison system, possibly on camera.

Arizona's Department of Corrections has a dramatically different policy toward the media than does the county jail.  A TV crew can get a state prisoner on the phone for a recorded interview, but they are never allowed to bring in the cameras for a personal interview with an inmate about his or her crime. AZDOC may allow a camera in from time to time to do a story about a new rehabilitation program, for instance. But officials there have told me they simply refuse to put inmates up for individual stories "about my life and times in crime," as they sarcastically put it. I've made the requests myself and so have many TV crews I've worked with. So far, no results. 

AZDOC is also much stricter about who can come in for a regular visit. No longer a first-come, first-serve system where you can show up unexpected and have the inmate brought out to you, in Arizona prisons an inmate must designate visitors on a list. Each person named by the inmate as a welcome visitor must undergo their own background check by the prison. Plenty of people could be refused access to prison invitation, starting with people who have their own felony convictions. 

The visitor list is restricted to 20 people, last time I checked. So to receive any visitors at all, an orange jump-suited guest of the State of Arizona must hope for people who are both willing to submit to the background check and who will pass it.

The jail system Jodi Arias has been in the last five years has facilities that are close to downtown Phoenix or are actually in downtown Phoenix. From the airport, you could be filling out your visitor pass within 20 minutes and be seated at a restorative fine dinner 20 minutes after your visit to the grimy, smelly jail.

The prisons where Jodi Arias will live out the rest of her life, one way or another, are out in the wild boondocks, though. After your arrival at Phoenix Sky Harbor you'd have to drive another hour or so to the east, well into the desert.* The small town available to you out there is not a thriving major metropolitan city full of hiking trails and golf courses; it's a prison industry village with forgotten diners and spare accommodations. 

Jodi Arias, knowing that she will soon leave Maricopa County's convenient and accessible jails, knows she now needs her mother. Her display of repentance about her behavior to her mother could easily be seen as a last minute grasp for the one person who might be willing and qualified to go through everything it takes to stand by Jodi in the state prison complex east of Phoenix. Inside the courtroom during the trial, I have seen Jodi look toward her mother from time to time. But I never saw the message in her eyes that expressed love, connection, shame, or fear. It was more of a cold roll-call. In those days, Jodi still expected the testimony of Alyce LaViolette, Richard Samuels and her own self had washed over the jurors like a tidal wave of righteous truth. She could afford to be haughty and demanding with her mother. Frankly, I have seen more emotionally connected wordless exchanges between serial killer Dale Hausner (< < click thru) and his family in the court gallery than I did in this trial. 

The shock of her conviction left one thing clear to Jodi. Having lived on the inside for 5 years, she must know from the stories of other inmates how different it is in state prison. With her tentacles to the outside world severely clipped as the last of 12 jurors firmly called out "yes" to affirm their vote, Jodi knew she had to reel Mama Arias back in as close as she could get her.  The dip of the head, the falling sheet of hair, the "my mom is a saint" comment to Troy Hayden, seemed to me to be designed to that end.

Jodi never used the interview with Fox10 to exhibit any other remorse. Quite the opposite, she slammed the dead man yet again, over and over, with various questions that Troy lobbed to her. Don't blame Troy, he got her to reveal herself and reveal she did. 

Lead defense counsel Kirk Nurmi is the one who told her she had no mitigating factors, Jodi reported to Troy. Her communications with Nurmi are privileged so there's no way to prove it, but I personally believe that is an outright lie. Nurmi must have told her that bad childhoods aren't the be-all and end-all of mitigation.

But Jodi wouldn't have listened to Nurmi's advice on that. Just like she didn't want to listen to the advice of one of her earlier attorneys; she petitioned the court to have Maria Schaffer removed from her case years ago. It's clear Jodi didn't like Ms. Schaffer. But the attorney who successfully guided admitted serial killer Sam Dieteman clear of a death penalty was, in fact, Maria Schaffer.

There are things far more powerful than past hardship during a mitigation hearing.

Humility.

Remorse.

Restitution.

Jodi could have been funneling her art sale proceeds to the Alexander family or even to Deanna Reid at least to defray Napoleon's expenses. She could have been using her much cherished verbal intelligence to help with literacy courses for other inmates. She could have been honest on her numerous psychological exams and begun an earnest course of self-improvement. 

In her five years in jail, Jodi Arias did none of that. In her 45 minutes with Troy Hayden's cameras trained nowhere but on her, she did none of that. 

What she did reveal is what Travis Alexander himself told us from the grave as his text messages to her were displayed for all the world to see while Jodi Ann Arias was on trial. What Travis said to her is, "You only have tears for yourself."

*Much thanks to @Sandaholics for reminding me that Jodi Arias is more likely to go to Perryville, than to Florence. Perryville is west of Phoenix and is not as far. 

Jodi's statements to Troy Hayden about mitigation  < < click here 

**Link to this or any post is always welcome, but posting the whole text to another site makes me go all frowny!**

80 comments:

  1. Good read. She has no remorse. Her verbal intelligence has gotten her nowhere. She is a vile human! That interview was very telling!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Miss Love. That interview was very telling, indeed. It's pretty bad when I can say I've personally seen a serial killer act more sincerely regretful.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are spot on. It is quite obvious to me and I think majority of people that Jodi has no remorse, she just regrets getting caught. Professionals are disgusted with the media circus that has evolved, but Jodi's egocentric arrogance creates this and she basks in it. There is nothing really good inside of her, it wasn't there to nurture. Had she not been caught, she would repeat the same behavior. We do not need her out in society. I'm not an advocate for the death penalty, but living on death row is true torture for her. Travis' family/dear friends deserve to see justice served on Travis' behalf and for the nightmare that this female drug them into.
    You have a great website and I'm off to your bookstore.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you, kindly, Anonymous 4:56. I agree with you that the risk she would do this again was quite high. And I very much appreciate your visit to the bookstore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Camille I have followed you on twitter and read your blog and really enjoy your opinions on this trial. I ave followed other court proceedings but never to this obsessive extreme. I really think people have been drawn to this trial because we look at jodi and see what looks like a normal person. She doesn't look like the evil monster your parents warned you to avoid. You listen to her and can't wrap your head around the evilness that you feel when you really look into her eyes. We just can't understand it. Like we are waiting to see some
      human emotions in her that never comes. I hope you write a book about her. I really do enjoy your insight!

      Delete
    2. It is said you can't judge a book by its cover; however, may I say that you can judge that book by the feelings emanating from that cover? Maybe that sounds silly, but I have often gotten these pangs from people I've met and wondered why I felt that way. I think we can all pay closer attention to our "gut" feelings. When I look at her, that feeling stirs within me. However, that may be due to the fact that I've only seen her sitting at the defendant's table in court. if I met Jodi in a social setting, would I feel those vibes or not? I don't know - we often doubt ourselves. I can just go by some interviews with Travis' friends who said they thought she was nice when they first met her. It was only later that they felt something "off" with her. we could all learn to trust our inner voice a bit more.

      Delete
  5. Thanks for the insight! I'm guessing she has now passed the bar where Nurmi can say, "Make that 10 out of 10." And, as for passing the bar...per the interview, she had a clash of "ideas" with her defense team? That would have been fun to watch. My question...can she further delay the aggravation phase by declaring that her lawyers aren't willing to explore mitigation factors? Or that she's out of lip gloss? :) Thanks again, Camille! Fantastic work! Barb M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Out of lip gloss"... I love it! One of the pieces of info. that was not lost on me was that she paused before the interview to apply make up...and it was obvious she applied fresh gloss. So sick this one...but not in any way that will save her, I'd guess. Unbelievable she is.***

      Delete
  6. I don't even know where to start....I think this is one of the most egregiously arrogant, slanted, judgmental, salacious pieces of "writing" I have seen thus far. For that, I suppose you can be proud.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And do say.. What mitigating factors do you believe Jodi Arias has? She has never once showed any remorse at all. Why? because she doesn't have any.I also find your opinion related to the above piece to be incorrect.

      Delete
    2. Camiile, you have written a fabulous article. I have shared it with many. The above comment from Dandra Webber , just ignore. Everyone has a right to their own opinion even after a conviction and they still cannot agree with the law. She infiltrates many sites with her disgusting remarks. I greatly enjoyed reading your writing, reporting and insights and will follow you Camille! Camilla

      Delete
    3. Bet you wouldn't think this way IF your brother or son would have been her victim.

      Delete
    4. Great information and well put!!

      Delete
    5. As a former newspaper editor, I find Camille Kimball's article fact-filled and informative. Sandra's comment is however a "most egregiously arrogant, slanted, judgmental, salacious piece of "writing". -Jay Sheckley

      Delete
    6. How unfortunate that you feel that way.

      Camille you are spot on!!!!! ..as well as being an awesome writer that you are.

      I totally agree with Jay Sheckley!!!!

      Delete
    7. This is not the newspaper. This is a blog and Camille has the right to her opinion. I find it very fact filled. Why don't you go write your own blog where you can display your own opinion. I need a good laugh

      Delete
    8. Hooray for Jay! Summaries my sentiments exactly.
      Sandra probably won't even see the negative responses, surely one of those types of individuals who drops off her insideous contrary comments and slithers off to do it somewhere else....
      perfect match for Ms Arias, wouldn't you agree??

      Delete
    9. I really enjoyed this thoughtful piece and am so glad to have found it. I will be following you and perhaps be reading some of your books. Thanks again.

      Delete
    10. Wow! After all the months of this trial, the 18 days of this defendant on the stand in or to regale us the "sexcapade" adventure details, each and every one! Smiling (called "duping delight" in the psychiatric field because that how "sociopaths roll") as she recounted the details for us all agreeing all the while that she liked it every bit as much as her victim did! (thus discounting largely that she was used as much as she would have had everyone believe initially). And I have barely begun to touch the tip of the ice berg as we havent even discussed that she isnt satisfied with having slaughtered him in life! Oh no! With the skill of a talented surgeon, she surgically excised his memory and his reputation in front of his family, friends, the public, the world! She is having her day in court, when does Travis get his? If she gets to preserve her life in prison with a life sentence, will Travis get to walk out of his grave and regain some assemblance of a life? The prosecutor acts as the victims voice. Did she ever give a direct respectful answer when asked a direct question without having the prosecutor have to jump up and down in place red faced eyes bulging out of his head? Heck no! Did any of her supposed "experts" act professionally and give direct answers without attempts at giving the prosecutor a STROKE looking much as just described?? N O.. As all else was failing miserably at each turn because their case was the "TITANIC"of all cases, did we watch as said "counsel " attempted and FAILED to bring the prosecutor up on bogus charges TWICE because the ship was going DOWN??? Uh..YES! ......

      I think I have made my point. Except for one thing. I realize Im dreadfully late for the party and all. But, why on earth are you surfing for blogs about Jodi Arias, when the majority of the generally public feels like the author here and her followers and expect to find something different??

      Delete
  7. WOW This is an awesome , TRUTHUL, nail on the head article. Thank you, I enjoyed reading this. That interview she did, showed just how shallow she is. I for one wish Troy would have waited til the next day, as verdict day was Travis and his familys day, They waited 5 years for that GUILTY verdict, and I thought out of respect to them, that ridiculous interview should have waited. But, the killer had to shine that light on her, making that call to Troy3 days prior, . She was already preparing her next move with that call to Troy, knowing dam well what she was gonna do to that family and Travis, Shes such a fool. And that little act she did "i cant talk now" was nothing more then a pathetic act, as if she was sooo upset about her mom. Its so fake its laughable. She will pull whatever stunt she can to delay the next phase. Does she honestly think the doctors in the psych ward have not dealt with convicts like her who will pull whatever tricks they can to disrupt proceedings. Her doom is coming. Drag her in there in a straight jacket. And as far as that motion she filed to have the victim impact statements on video. as if thats gonna happen. Its the victims rights of the family to address the jury, court and their brothers killer. Face it Jodi Arias, You are done. Your games are over.. Thanks again for the great read!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I Agree Also!!!

      Delete
    2. I enjoyed reading this. Although I must admit I had to transfer over to my computer from my I-phone because the books were in the background and made it very hard to read. Anyway...her mom will be 1000 miles away and won't be able to visit often. Poor Hodi. Her mom will probably write every day for awhile but that will dwindle. The letters will come less often. She will be forgotten as much as she will let us forget. It will be Travis' legacy that we will remember. His beautiful face. His willingness to help everyone. Her games are over. Why does she not realize it's Travis we care about. Not her.

      Delete
  8. Has there ever been a woman in the history of the USA or maybe even the world who has been so hated? It puzzles me where all this hostility is coming from? Even on Dateline & 48 Hours last night, reporters who are normally objective and professional, just couldn't stop themselves from taking some nasty personal digs at Jodi. I feel like the world changed about the time her trial started and is now populated by people who just ooze hate and lack an ounce of compassion. Jodi killed a man or at least was there when he was killed. Women kill men every day and for the most part we never even hear of them. Is it the HLN effect that is spurring this outrage or have people found an outlet to express all their pain,rage,frustration and unhappiness in a way they see as sociably acceptable (if only in their eyes). The world seems a very unfriendly place right now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She didn't just "kill a man", and she was definitely "not just there when he was killed".
      This was a heinous, premeditated and exceptionally brutal murder of an innocent man and it goes against the grain of any civilized society.

      Maybe you should be examining why you don't feel any sense of outrage.

      Delete
    2. my sentiments exactly, lisa.

      Delete
    3. To Anon of May 11 6:54

      Casey Anthony, Amanda Knox, Mary Kay LeTourneau, Pamela Smart.

      Pick a decade, any decade:

      Leona Helmsley, Betty Broderick, Sante Kimes, Susan Smith, Andrea Yates, Caril Ann Fugate, Ma Barker, Winnie Ruth Judd.

      Heck, pick a century, any century:

      Mary Suratt, Lizzie Borden, Anne Hutchinson....

      Think I'll stop now. Yeah, I can think of plenty of women in the world, the US and through time who have competed with Jodi Arias for public hostility.

      Delete
    4. Anon@6:54PM, you obviously have just as much of an interest in the Jodi Arias trial as many others do. I find it highly unlikely you just stumbled upon Ms. Kimball's blog while googling places to eat.

      Delete
    5. Jodi most closely reminds me of Diane Downs. I consider her to be extremely dangerous. I am so grateful that this was a very sane and intelligent jury.

      I just found your blog and am now reading backwards! Amazing and excellent re-capping of this trial. I'm now a new fan of yours!!

      Delete
    6. NancyB, thanks for naming Diane Downs. I had her in mind but her name escaped me for the moment and I had so many other names flooding through my head I realized I didn't need her to make my point. But you are absolutely right, close parallel. From the chasing a lover motive down to the "bushy haired stranger"/"2 costumed ninjas," Diane and Jodi have a lot in common.

      Delete
    7. Excellent outline Camille. Will you be following the aggravated phase of the Jodi Arias trial?

      I'm including a link here and I hope that's acceptable. Your readers may be interested in female murderers around the globe. This includes males and a Data Base of executions in the US.
      http://murderpedia.org/index.htm

      I'm quite certain that Jodi Ann Arias will be included in the updates of this informative Encyclopedia after final sentencing.

      Photo Shoot...Arias' reference to the final pictures of Travis Alexander. I'm sure she didn't anticipate the "infamy" she would garner from such a deed.

      Delete
    8. It is her attitude. She is hollow, soulless, empty, arrogant, egocentric. A true masterpiece of everything that is wrong in a human being. She is the closest you can get to evil. Her attitude places her outside the human circle, she is a beast, plain and simple.

      Delete
    9. The only one oozing with hate is Jodi Arias. What you are witnessing is society trying to make sure that people like her are at the very least put away forever, and at the most...given the death penalty. She has lied and manipulated, all the while worrying about her make-up. She has not shown an ounce of remorse. Even if what she was saying was true...and it's not...and she really had killed in self defense...shouldn't she still feel sad that it had come to that. Wouldn't she feel bad that so many people are hurting? But she doesn't. She only cries for herself. She is vile, and everyone who watches her for more then a few minutes knows it. These reporters that are 'taking jabs' at Arias are just reacting the way normal people do when facing pure evil. The only victims are Travis Alexander and his family and many many friends. (Both friends that knew him in life and friends that admire him after getting to know him after his death). Where are Jodi's friends? She has a fake website run by JS...the same man that ran the Casey Anthony is innocent website, and a convicted arsonist that she met in jail. It all speaks volumes. For those mis-guided few that support Jodi Arias, I suggest that they really do some soul searching to figure out why they would support a woman like Arias. There are women that are truly abused...and Arias has hurt their cause. So so sad!

      Delete
    10. Thank you Shannon...I couldn't of said it better myself. Please take note that WE use our names. WE are not hiding.

      Delete
  9. Very informative and sobering article, Camille. I have enjoyed following you on twitter during this season. One question - where is the death chamber?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The "death chamber" is in the state prison in Florence. Unless a new one is built by the time Jodi is ready, she will be transported to Florence.

      Delete
  10. I really enjoy reading your commentary. I may not comment, but I read! Thank you for your insight.

    I agree with you; Jodi has had every opportunity to express remorse and has, strangely, chosen not to do so. For someone who thinks of themselves as above average intelligence, you would think it would be obvious to her that a show of remorse and/or apology would aid in her defense and sentencing. However, she has preferred to show her true self; she is not sorry in any way for her actions, except for getting caught and, now, convicted. She believes she was right and no attorney or mitigation specialist will convince her to even pretend otherwise.

    The premise that a serial killer could be more empathetic and compassionate than Jodi Arias is quite intriguing and, unfortunately, accurate.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I had enough of that interview when she said in reflection that if she could go back she would alert the police right away. Um Jodi what about not killing anyone at all?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought the same thing! She only said that she would have went straight to the police because she believed she would have gotten a lesser sentence. She intended to kill Travis and has no regrets about that!

      Delete
  12. I couldn't help but notice in the interview AFTER she was found guilty of premeditated first degree murder, she had time and apparently incentive to put on lip gloss!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yeap she did indeed always playing 4 the camera but she is a bad actress we can see right tru her.

      Delete
  13. I think, at this point, if Jodi did express any remorse, no one would believe it (I wouldn't). Most would feel someone had read things like this well written article and told her that she'd better show some remorse. I doubt, however, that she could muster up any real remorse and anything she tried would be stale and rehearsed.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The color of the font is too light. I had a hard time reading. Either darken the font color or get rid of watermark.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel that also. Thought it was just me,lol. My vision isn't the greatest!

      Delete
    2. Jiller76, I'm guessing you are on mobile? The font should be perfectly solid black on a laptop or desktop. I will work on getting the mobile view straightened out. Thanks for the info!

      Delete
  15. I believe she will never show remorse. This is the last thing she has to hold over Travis' family. She knows they want her to be sorry for what she did and will never admit it. She is only sorry for herself. Remember she told the reporter she had an idea. Was this idea that she would ask for death so the jury wouldn't give it to her? I'm not so sure.
    Death row would be the best place for Jodi Arias

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She should go on death row 4 a long long time n reflect on her actions, arrogance, lack of remorse. This jury is going 2 give it 2 her watch my words

      Delete
    2. I don't think she knows how to feel remorse or even how to pretend. Besides, why should she say she's sorry? This is Travis's fault, his family's fault, Juan Martinez' fault, the lawyers...everyone but Jodi Arias' fault. I believe even if she does try to fake it, with the false tears, etc., the jury will not believe her.

      Delete
  16. Evy Eve, the font is black and there is no watermark, at least not that I know of. What browser are you using?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the slightly transparent background with the books behind that make it difficult to read. I'm using Chrome on my mobile phone. Hope that helps

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Splendor. It should not be transparent, it should be solid black font on solid white, the books photo should only be visible at the sides a good margin away from any text. It seems most of the complaints come from mobile users, so that is a great clue. I will look into it. In the meantime, I hope you will give it a chance at a laptop or a desktop. Would hate to lose you while I'm still working out the technical/design issues!

      Delete
  17. There is justice to know Arias is on death row whether or not she actually is put to death time will tell. The isolation and restrictive life of a death row inmate as I have read it is too good for her. Sheriff Joe had enough of her although he allowed the access and he finally said enough and took her off the "street" so to speak until Wednesday. She is going to the next phase of trial, it shackles and Hannibal mask if she insists. I have known a sociopath in my life but compared to Arias the person I knew was normal. Great article. I needed something new on Arias, TV is awful redundant now regarding her.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks! Not only was your article enjoyable and interesting, I've found a new crime author to read! Always a good thing!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I believe this woman to be one of the worst liars in human evolvement. I have neve seen someone lie about every fact of their lives to get anywhere. I believe your article hit the nail correctly and I cant believe these attorneys stayed throughout this trial. They have evn elayed the ggravation phase by asking that the death penalty be taken off the table for this psychotic woman. That is the reason for the closed hearing on Thursday, they filed a MOTION to get the death penalty removed as a possible decision against Arias. This is as insane as she wants us to think she is. This was a death penalty trial, and they ask forthyat to be removed as a sentence. She is heading t Hell, one way or another. She thinks that death is freedom, well she is going to get the chance to find that out ow, isn't she?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Camille, do you have access to the jail library records? It would be interesting to see what kind of research Jodi was doing over the past few years to prepare herself and her story for the trial.

    If she's not shy about copying pictures, she's likely using the stories (probably exact words) of previous criminals on trial for murdering a lover.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wonderful Reading. My husband loves crime writers. I think he has found a new one.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Jodi's claim of Nurmi saying she had no mitigating factors was probably her immature way of getting back at him for his 9 out of 10 days comment.

    ReplyDelete
  23. You summed this up perfectly. They can assign any term they wish for Jodi, but bottom line, she is evil with no care for anyone but herself.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Excellent post. I don't think Jodi will show remorse and I honestly don't think she feels any at all. She feels totally justified in doing whatever she wants, screw what the law says.

    Camille, or anyone else who knows, how many appeals is she allowed to have if she gets the death penalty? Is she allowed to change her angle on appeal? Like switching from self defense to a crime of passion? Is she at any advantage, when it comes to appeals, if she's on death row as opposed to life w/o parole? Sorry for all the questions but I can't help but feel if she does want the DP, she's got an angle behind it which is beneficial to only her.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm a RN & after working in Trauma Centers/ER's for decades I’ve thought about how tortuous Travis’ death was over and over again for months. When I first read the autopsy in Jan. I immediately became persuaded that JA definitely knew “how” to thrust a knife quite savagely. One of the anterior chest thrusts disturbed the costochondral cartilage so severely that the ME cut out the specimen to save for further analysis. That she made so many shallow cuts was initially puzzling to me. For instance, the cluster of stab wounds on Travis’ back were an average of only an inch deep. It appeared to me from this pattern of stabs that she didn’t intend to stab deeply in the back. There is no mention of the knife becoming stuck in the posterior ribs, or damaging the posterior ribs. It appears to me from the AR that these cuts were made at that depth “on purpose”– and not because she inadvertently kept hitting ribs. And they sure don’t look or sound like “hesitation” wounds.

    And so I begin to think more about this, I kept thinking that it’s more than possible that she was taunting and torturing him while he was still very much conscious at the sink and spewing blood from the perforated Superior Vena Cava vein that she transected when she stabbed him in the heart. Intentionally not stabbing too deeply, as opposed to wondering “why won’t you die” and continuing to stab.

    JA definitely knows where the vital organs are in a person. She also has a good idea how deep inside the body they are. I kept wishing that the ME had talked about this more in his testimony– the clusters of shallow wounds, versus the very savage wounds. But perhaps that was felt to be too speculative, since the sheer number of wounds are so savage.

    Then in Juan’s sur sur-rebuttal he spoke about the possibility that JA had already cut the tendon in her ring finger and that stabbing any deeper was painful. That also has the ring of truth.

    Weeks ago when I saw JA’s 7/16/2008 interrogation with Detective Flores and this next part gave me *chills*.

    At one point, Det. Flores asks: What injury did Travis have other than the gunshot?

    JA says:

    TA and JA were about halfway in the hall. There was a little bit of a struggle. The female intruder had a knife – and JA demonstrates it in her left hand (but then says it was in the right) Travis was naked, but JA didn’t care. JA was saying, “c’mon, c’mon”
    Travis said: “But I can’t… I CAN’T FEEL MY LEGS.” (emotionally)

    The last statement made my hair stand up.

    My immediate thought was that TA sustained an injury to something called the “dorsal columns” in the spinal cord just above the midpoint of his back. Then, I reviewed the ME report, and knew that kind of injury could occur with some of the middle back stabs if they penetrated between the vertebrae.

    There is a good medical reason that Travis couldn’t feel his legs – he sustained stab wounds to the center of his back that could have cut the part of the spinal cord (the dorsal columns) that carries the sensory feelings from the legs to the brain.

    Losing feeling in the legs and not also the arms is too highly a specific symptom to just randomly make up. How could she make up the neurologically rare syndrome of not feeling one’s legs with only an 11th grade education, unless it actually happened? But, it is entirely plausible given TA’s stab wounds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Travis said: “But I can’t… I CAN’T FEEL MY LEGS.” (emotionally)

      The last statement made my hair stand up.



      ..............
      That statement stood out to me as well since the first time I heard it. I think he was in agonizing pain as he said it to her.

      Delete
  26. Two conclusions:

    1. The fact that she stated the medically unique symptom that TA reported (indeed, so unique that she is unlikely to be able to make it up), indicates she remembers a lot more of the knife struggle than she admits and probably remembers every moment of it.

    2. And, I’m so sorry to say this… It helps further demonstrate how tortured TA was during the struggle. TA was conscious, getting weaker, and eventually by the end of the hall where she caught up to him, he could no longer move because of blood loss, but likely also because he had now lost sensory function below the navel. Was this when she stomped on his feet and lower legs, I think so. And, worst of all….he would have been totally aware that all of it was happening and that includes when next she slashed his throat from ear to ear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excellent point Nancy. It is truly chilling that Mr Alexander was tortured whilst in his death throes. Beggars belief.

      Delete
  27. Great analysis, Nancy.

    I wonder if Dr. Horn will describe just this during the aggravation phase?

    I am speculating, but maybe this kind of testimony was considered too prejudicial for the guilt phase?

    Love your articles, Camille. Glad I found this site.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Absolutely incredible article. Well done. Jodi is "hung by her own petard" so to speak. In doing that interview, she accomplished alienating her defense team, irritating the judge, infuriating the public, who hates her to begin with, and now, the measure is off the scale, and truly has proven, beyond a shadow of and


    She cannot stop blaming others, even blaming her mom for not beating her hard enough, or for her brother and dad for not molesting her, and blaming Travis's family, let alone expanding the web of lies by saying she had pix of Travis running after a naked boy.

    The public's only regret would be that if she is sentenced to death, it would have been nice if it was televised. She loves the cameras so much, it's only fitting.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Awesome, well put and I can't wait to read further. I hear that there's a library of your works on crime!? Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wonderful read. How is it I just discovered you yesterday, Camille? I'll now be following.
    As we all know, Jodi "was the worst thing that ever happened" to Travis. Now, in the eyes of a narcissist the state of Arizona will become the worst thing that ever happened to Jodi. Mr. Martinez finally was able to speak without being interrupted with "May we approach," each time he made a point during closing arguments and the jury believed his sincere words. Now, as he begins the penalty phase, Jodi still shows no remorse as you 'highlighted' in your article. I think we all have our own ideas as to where this will get her.

    ReplyDelete
  31. The woman behind the Arias team laughed aloud when Miss LaViolette asked Mr Martinez,"Are you angry with me?" This was very telling and extremely unprofessional.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought I was the only one who noticed this! !Thank you. I have felt all along that this mitigation specialist is very unprofessional. I had no idea who she was. I thought that she was some kind of secretary for the defense team. She seems more concerned with her large earrings and makeup than with work.

      Delete
  32. Everything was great in that article EXCEPT that Troy Hayden was a disgrace to journalism - asking all soft-ball questions and allowing the convicted felon to trash her victim, his family and the prosecutor - UNCHALLENGED. That, in itself, is a crime, to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was a bit frustrated with his questions also. But he realized that she had her agenda and would not answer any hardball questions. If she became mad at him she would have told him to leave. What he did get was a picture of a cold blooded killer with not an ounce of remorse in her body. This interview may help get the death penalty for her!

      Delete
    2. I understand your frustration. However, as a journalist, I think he allowed Jodi to speak her agenda trusting that we would see her true motives. Jodi is truly her own worst enemy and that is why she seems to stand alone. If Troy hadn't done the interview, another would have taken his place. Also, I appreciate Camille's article so much. Truly very insightful and has the depth to give layers to this strange horrific person named Jodi. I think I will be buying new books by Camille! Thank you.

      Delete
  33. Thank you for writing that Camille, very insightful & well written!
    My 1st time reading you, & I enjoyed it! I'll be more than happy to donate to you ASAP (waiting on my survey payments :*)
    I really enjoy reading everyone's comments & thoughts as well!

    ReplyDelete
  34. thank you for such a well considered, well written piece. I agree with what you said and would like to add one additional observation. In addition to the shock and sorrow most of us feel about how Travis was killed - and the disgust and horror we feel about his killer - we feel betrayed by the lack of true justice in our justice system. From OJ (who is in the news again), to Casey Anthony, to the home mortgage fiasco and the MANY other issues cureently polarizing many of us - we feel deep despair and anger over inequity. So when a perpetrator comes along who demonstrates such arrogance and entitlement and such a lack of remorse, we find it impossible not to have a huge emotional response. Add the fact that this perpetrator took pictures of herself in the commission of her crime and you cannot help but have the sort of fevered response so many have had regarding this case. thank you again your great writing.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Whenever you're put into a situation where you feel you have to defend your life and you take your attacker's life I want to see how much remorse you feel for the loss of life of your attacker.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hmmm lets see, travel over 1000 miles to be with Travis,rent a 'different' auto,dye hair,turn license plates upside down,obtain extra gas cans,turn off mobile phone,tell everyone you were going someplace else.....
    And after this horrendous fight Jodis' injurys are??????????
    And I will tell you IF I was attacked I could not call the police fast enough!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. І appгeсіate you finding thе time and effort to put thіs content togеther. Ӏ once again find mysеlf sρending a ѕignificant аmount of tіme bоth гeaԁing and pоsting
    cοmmentѕ.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thank you very much for this column Camille, it was fascinating. Prior to reading this column today I thought I knew everything their was to know about the Jodi Arias situation, and was starting to become bored of.
    I very much appreciate your in-depth, extremely perceptive and itelligent take on things.

    ReplyDelete