The 13th Juror MD · @The13thJurorMD
9th Feb 2015 from TwitLonger
#JodiArias Death Penalty Retrial - BLUEPRINT 4 MURDER 3/4 - JURORS PERSPECTIVE
The Jodi Arias Death Penalty Retrial: A Juror’s Perspective
by The 13th Juror MD
DAY 32
“BLUEPRINT FOR MURDER”
There are few days in the Jodi Arias death penalty retrial that can compare to the second day of the retrial. The jury was presented one hundred and fifty pieces of evidence, most of them in photographic images. No juror on this panel will ever forget the magnitude of that day. Each soul will be tattoo with the image of the victim, Travis Alexander. No day has compared to the power of that day since.
Until today.
Juan Martinez was dressed in a charcoal gray suit with a yellow shirt and a silk gold tie. He looked different than he normally did. He readied his papers on the prosecution table and turned around and nodded at the family of Travis Alexander seated in the front row. I saw his eyes scan the courtroom casually. He smiled at someone as they gave him something. It was a pleasant smile. He seemed unusually calm as opposed to his normal brisk, and about business, behaviors. It was nice to see.
Dr. Janeen DeMarte sat in the witness chair wearing a conservative light gray business skirt suit complimented with a beige blouse. She set a briefcase at her feet and put some manila folders in place on the desk in front of her. She adjusted the microphone.
The jury was led in moments later and I believe all were content to see another day of Dr. DeMarte. The jury likes her in compliment with juan Martinez because the information flow keeps them busy. It is odd to them that Dr. Fonseca spoke of thirty cases of evidence she had to research, while Dr. Geffner made a point to say he had researched sixteen thousand pages of documentation. Dr. DeMarte was not about pounds of paper but rather the important information.
Sixteen people in the jury box know that Arias premeditated the murder of Travis Alexander. They are clearly aware of the death qualifying heinous nature of the crime. Before they can get to a determination of whether Jodi Arias lives or dies, the penalty phase, they have to understand why she did it. It is human nature to understand why it was done but it is critical for each juror to understand because the decision they make will impact their soul the rest of their lives. We had a juror on the Marissa DeVault hammer killing trial who insisted that “she just wanted to sleep at night” with whatever decision we made. It is the same with this jury of sixteen reasonable people.
“We were discussing this when we left off yesterday,” Juan began as he walked casually toward the center of the area between DeMarte and the jury, “that you did not find any evidence of domestic violence between Travis Alexander and Arias. Will you explain, as a Clinical Psychologist, why you believe that?”
Dr. Janeen DeMarte looked toward the jury. “The information of domestic violence only comes from the defendant. No one has corroborated that it existed. Secondly, the testing documentation shows too many inconsistencies. She had four dates that she claims abuse happened but the incidents are remembered as different dates. Next, the reasoning and content behind the incidents has inconsistent stories. For example, the night she allegedly broke her finger, she claims it was the result of losing her job yet reports to another psychologist that it was the result of money issues. Finally, none of Travis Alexander’s relationships with anyone showed any sign of domestic violence,” she explained. She was a fast talker and I saw most of the jurors taking notes.
“How about domestic violence when Arias was growing up? Any evidence of that?” Juan Martinez asked.
“I found no evidence of it. Arias reports that she was never exposed to domestic violence when growing up.”
“Reported this how?” Juan asked.
“It was a, ‘Pattern Changing Program Confidence Situational Test’, which looks to identify the existence of domestic violence,” DeMarte explained. “When asked, she answered that she was not exposed to domestic violence in the household. She also stated there was no physical or sexual abuse.”
Juan nodded his head. He turned around and walked a couple steps toward the jury without looking at them. It was as if he was thinking out loud. “You did speak with her on substance abuse in the family while she was growing up. Was there any indication, clinically or by test, which reported her father using cocaine?”
“No.”
“What of her mother using Marijuana during pregnancy?”
“Jodi Arias never mentioned it in any of her examinations and denied that her mother used Marijuana,” Dr. DeMarte stated.
Juan Martinez began his cycle of communication by stating an exhibit number, walking to Judge Stephen’s assistant, having it replicated, walking to the defense table and handing a copy to them and then ensured the Doctor had one in her hand. The dance began as he effortlessly, despite the defense team’s consistent objections, presented his case. He began with number 885 and did not stop until he reached 915 additionally supported by Exhibits already entered into the system.
Jodi Arias was quoted as saying through Dr. Samuels, “My partner never sexually or physically abused me.” This item was dated December 16, 2009.
Her childhood friend, Zanya Corronzo was quoted, “There was no abuse in her household and no abuse from her family. Jodi can play a victim.” Zanya further states, “She changes her personality with different people.”
“Aimee knows of no sexual or physical abuse by the parents with Jodi Arias or any other siblings. The kids were always spoiled,” her cousin, Aimee Lance says.
Dr. DeMarte usually read the quoted text while Juan would prepare the next nail in the coffin. I could tell that Arias could not stand Dr. DeMarte on the stand. With no offense to the Doctor, some might say they are similar in appearance if you were to glance from afar. Usually, when Juan Martinez was interviewing a witness, Arias was content not to look toward him. This was certainly opposite when her team was presenting on the floor. What I found more curious, as the jury will duly note, was that she spent the day whispering silently into her State Appointed Mitigating Specialist, Maria de la Rosa.
The jury can draw nothing from this except that it shows her great distaste for the prosecution team. It also emphasizes, subliminally, that she has not taken ownership of the crime. It further shows a complete lack of remorse. These behavioral changes are noticed by the jury. Jurors notice everything.
“Describe a Borderline Personality Disorder for us, would you?” Juan Martinez asked.
The Doctor turned in her chair and faced the jury. “The disorder is all about a fear of abandonment. The traits of this disorder are maladaptive and cause general instability in all of their relationships. They tend to draw people close to them. They demonstrate the odd characteristic of suddenly pushing people away. It is further accentuated by the fact that a person with this disorder has no concept of who they are as individuals. They need their relationships. They demonstrate extremely intrusive behaviors. These behaviors destroy their relationships and it is a repeated cycle.”
Dr. DeMarte read from the exhibit Juan handed her. In regards to a text message between Travis Alexander and Michelle Lawry, we learn that Arias and Travis Alexander had been broken up for a year. Michelle had been used as a spy by Arias to learn about the activities of both Lisa Andrews and Mimi Hall. She had fed information to arias without realizing the position she was in. Travis and Michelle were flirting with each other online and the topic of Arias came up. Travis said, if he pushed her away, she came back into his life crying. If he stayed with her, his life was miserable. Michelle thought it sounded abnormal.
“She swears she didn’t slash my tires but she watched me make out with Lisa two times,” he says to her. The jury is writing everything they can down. Oftentimes, they were saved to more accurate notes because of the interruptions by Kirk Nurmi saying, “May we approach, your Honor?” It gave each note-taker time to catch up in their evidence documentation while the attorneys and Judge had a bench conference.
“One incident is referenced that Travis Alexander was upstairs in his house with Lisa Andrews. The lights suddenly went out,” DeMarte explains. “Travis went downstairs to investigate and he turned the circuit breakers back on. He did not admit until later to Lisa that he discovered Arias downstairs. This happened shortly before he died.”
Arias had gone into an unrelenting and serious pursuit of Travis Alexander by quickly adopting Mormonism in an effort to be closer to Travis. She would make a point of reading a bible at inappropriate times while making Travis aware that she was reading a bible. She would appear unannounced and call at late hours of the night.
“A diamond ring disappeared out of the top drawer of Travis Alexander’s desk. He knew it had been stolen. Finally, via text, he confronted Arias as to its whereabouts and she answered offhandedly that she had it and not to worry about it. She would discuss it with him later,” the Doctor explained to the jury while the exhibit was displayed on the projection screen in front of them. “This is intrusive behavior typical of having a Borderline Personality Disorder.”
“Did you speak with Skye Hughes on intrusive behaviors?” Juan asked, showing no reaction when the defense team objected.
The story unveiled visits by Travis Alexander to the Hughes with Jodi Arias in tow. She witnessed Jodi Arias, on multiple occasions, waiting outside the bathroom door for Travis when he needed to use it. Another time, Arias was caught waiting outside the bedroom door when he was having a private conversation with the Hughes. Skye remembered a time when Travis was speaking with Deanna in a closed room and Arias was caught again, listening outside the door.
“This would not be the first time that Arias would demonstrate intrusive behaviors,” DeMarte stated as she and Juan Martinez walked into the past of other boyfriends.
Darryl Brewer became afraid that Arias was too closely involved with him. He tried to break up because his priority was his son and Arias did not take well to it by crying and repeatedly calling him to initiate a new relationship. He found her to be clingy, needy and whiny.
The story of Matt McCartney was especially disturbing. Her ex-boyfriend moved to Crater Lake, two hours away because he needed space from Arias. He had attempted to break up with her before but she would always manage her way back into his life with repeated phone calls and unannounced appearances. He tried to break it off softly by halting sexual relations with her thinking it would create distance. She cried a lot.
He was living in Crater Lake and had just began dating a girl named Bianca. He went out of town one weekend and Arias had driven to Crater Lake, a two hour drive, to confront Bianca. This greatly bothered Matt because Arias and he were not dating. The thing that bothered him more was finding her sleeping in his bed when he returned. She had let herself in.
Juan Martinez walked to the prosecution table, took a sip of water from a Styro-Foam cup and returned to his spot in front of Dr. DeMarte. “Ma’am, we’ve been talking about fear of abandonment as part of this Borderline Personality Disorder. What else might we see?”
“People with this disorder begin their relationships by idealizing their partner. They put them on a pedestal and move quickly to the talk of marriage. It is a fast and strong attachment,” the Doctor explains to the jury. “Because they do not have a grasp who they are individually, they make up for it by suddenly turning against their partner. They devalue the relationship and feel everything their partner does is bad.”
“For example?” Juan Martinez prodded.
“For instance, she begins her relationship with Travis Alexander by adopting everything in his life and making it her own. She was like a Chameleon in that she would physically change to please him, blending into his surroundings,” Dr, DeMarte said.
“Excuse me,” Judge Stephens interrupted. She looked at Dr. DeMarte. “We need you to slow down. The Court Reporter can’t keep up.”
Dr. DeMarte blushed and I am sure the note-takers on the jury were happy. She continued. “She then devalues Travis Alexander by murdering him. She goes to his memorial service, drives by his house, and afterwards, she gets a phone number from Nick on the airplane out of town and quickly making a date with him.”
The jury is taking notes and the atmosphere has a strong sense of creepiness in the room. Few jurors are looking at Arias. They only take more notes as the nails are pressed into a coffin.
“What of Ryan Burns,” Juan asked.
“Arias goes to Utah after the murder of Travis and finds comfort in the arms of Ryan Burns. She is able to quickly move on without showing any emotion after the murder. She devalues and separates from her relationship. Like a Chameleon, she is ready to settle into a new life with a new boyfriend.”
“Is there an anger issue involved in this?” Juan asked.
“Certainly,” DeMarte answers. “A trait of this disorder is that the person tends to keep anger inside. They rarely show hostility but when it comes out, it is often termed as seething and angry. They will then rationalize their behavior by moving the fault to the other person in the relationship. “
Juan gives Dr. DeMarte Exhibit 623. Arias claims, “I found out my anger was very destructive. I kicked holes in walls, broke down doors and smashed windows. It hurts people and it hurts me.”
“Are there suicidal tendencies?” Juan Martinez asked.
“Absolutely,” DeMarte confirms. “In a text message with Regan Hously, Travis Alexander speaks of Arias and her constant crying. She seems to go wildly up and down in moods and it is frustrating for him. He is afraid she is going to commit suicide.”
“Why would she want to do that?” Juan Martinez asked.
“She has an emptiness inside that Travis nor any boyfriend can fill,” DeMarte states. “She lacks an understanding of herself and is not comfortable in her own skin. She threatens suicide on many occasions. In one case, she tells Detective Flores in an interview that she tried to overdose on Advil because it is an anti-coagulant. She wraps herself in blankets so that her blood does not drip on her cellmate from the top bunk. She makes a soft-hearted attempt by making a small cut on her wrist by the pain is severe like a paper cut to her.”
The topic of PTSD was discussed between Juan Martinez and Dr. DeMarte in front of the jury. Dr. DeMarte was able to clarify it by having the jurors imagine having a horrific car accident. A person suffering from PTSD would do everything they could to stay away from a car. It would be in their lives daily, this memory and fear coordinating every move. It would also manifest itself in a victim’s dreams. It would resurface over an extended period of time through nightmares. PTSD did not exist for Arias.
Jodi Arias never spoke or wrote of a nightmare.
All victims of PTSD will suffer nightmares of the incident repeated itself over and over again in their subconscious.
“Do you recognize the statements in Exhibit Number 913?” Juan Martinez casually asked.
Dr. DeMarte looked at the sheet of paper in her hand. She nodded her head. “I do.”
“Will you explain it for us?” the prosecutor asked. He had his arms crossed and was looking toward the floor.
“In an interview with 48 Hours, the subject of suicide was approached,” she said. She then read the interviewers notes from the exhibit. “It was brought up that you said no jury would convict you. Why would you say that?” Dr. DeMarte paused to cough. “She answered, “Because I wouldn’t be here when I committed suicide because I planned to be dead.”
I can only imagine what the jury thought. They would not like it one bit and I am sure more than one juror felt this was Arias putting a challenge in their face. It was a challenge laid years ago, and this was the jury she was referring to.
Kirk Nurmi turned down the opportunity to spend the last hour cross examining Dr. DeMarte and I am not sure that this was strategically the best idea. The jurors went home with the taste of DeMarte and Juan Martinez in their mouths. In their minds, a new picture of Travis Alexander had emerged and it was not filled with blood.
The visual they walked away with at the end of the day was a kind man who allowed Arias to over step her boundaries too many times. He did not see coming what the jury now knew. He was a victim in the strictest sense of the term because there is no way he could have known a person was capable of going as far as she did to, with premeditation, slaughter him.
They noticed her in the defendant’s chair as she whispered disrespectfully to her mitigation specialist throughout the day. They will notice that she is showing no sign of remorse. Each juror can see that she has not taken ownership of the crime. It will be difficult not to show great distaste for her and what she had done.
The pictures of the death of Travis Alexander were disturbing. The mental picture of Arias exposed naked in the eyes of Psychology were frightening. It is the stuff of nightmares.
It is quite the telling to truth of her lack of ever having a nightmare after such a horrific event.
Each juror is waiting for her to get back on the stand to finish her testimony. They do not know that she will not be back.
Travis Alexander’s fatal mistake was being too nice in allowing Jodi Arias back in his life. Jodi Arias’ fatal mistake was deciding not to get back on the stand to take ownership of her crime.
It was a great day for truth and a great day for the spirit of Travis Alexander. He was in the courtroom throughout the day and he was in the eyes of his family who sits in the front row.
Travis Alexander now lives in the heart of each juror because life was breathed into him with the testimony of Dr. DeMarte.
The jury does not know that the woman that Arias spent so many hours whispering in her ear, would be the same woman that will one day accompany her to the death chamber.
It was a great day for Travis Alexander…
“Every good relationship that develops as a result of this Trial is the
manifestation of the Spirit of Travis Alexander.”
Justice 4 Travis Alexander…
Justice for Dale…
Paul A. Sanders, Jr.
The 13th Juror @The13thJurorMD (Twitter)
“Brain Damage: A Juror’s Tale” available on:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brain-damage-paul-sanders/1120431939?ean=9781502390158