For the past few months I've been following the Jodi Arias trial, reading everything I can find on the case and trial without actually watching the live TV coverage and post-trial recaps (not yet, anyway). I'm not sure why this case has captured my attention to such a degree, though I'm far from alone in my morbid fascination.
(Here's an article summarizing the murder and the events leading up to and following it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/29/jodi-arias_n_1174274.html?ref=crime&icid=maing-grid10|htmlws-main-bb|dl1|sec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D123800)
Perhaps I can relate to parts of it. I've experienced a few painful breakups and, like most people, I've struggled to let go of an ex and felt jealousy and the sting of rejection. Who hasn't? But the part that eludes me, that I can't begin to understand, is why Arias chose to kill Travis Alexander. (Does anyone really believe this was self-defense against a supposedly-abusive ex...who lived hours away from her? And have defense attorneys really used the term "domestic violence" in an attempt to justify the murder?)
I've been hurt, rejected, broken up with, done wrong, and humiliated more than once. I understand that much. But I can honestly say that I've never, ever had the urge to viciously stab and slash the throat of an ex the way Arias killed Alexander. Who does? What compels someone to do that?
The psychological aspects of this case are thrilling.
Both the killer and the victim seemed, on the surface, like very normal, healthy, moderately-successful individuals leading very troubled, secretive lives full of contradictions. The victim was, to most people, a devout virginal Mormon with a "dirty little secret" (the relationship with Arias that didn't actually end after their breakup). The defendant, Arias, meanwhile, has presented herself as a sweet, innocent, soft-spoken young woman who wouldn't hurt a proverbial fly. But even her defense team chose not to use her original story (or second...I've lost track of her lies) to the police that she and Alexander were attacked by masked intruders from whom she escaped. They are admitting her guilt and instead tearing Alexander's character to shreds, painting him as an abusive, controlling, heartless, two-timing bastard (in a nutshell).
The victim was clearly far from perfect, but even if he was all of those things, why didn't Arias stay away from him? They lived hours apart from each other. Their official relationship, for all intents and purposes, had ended, but the toxicity and dysfunction continued. Alexander had attempted to move on by dating other women (but continued seeing Arias), which apparently compelled Arias to slash his tires (twice!), hack into his social-media accounts, send anonymous threatening emails to a woman he dated, and, subsequently, murder him.
What is wrong with her? Is she a sociopath? Is she mentally ill? Is she a normal, healthy woman whose jealousy and obsession caused her to violently snap? What is her background? Does anyone truly know who she is and why she did what she did? Does she know?
On the surface, it seems like your classic he-did-her-wrong-so-she-killed-him case, but this is more complicated, twisted, and mysterious than that description suggests. I think part of the fascination for me is that the defendant seemed to have everything going for her. She was young, attractive, intelligent, and seemed to have no problem getting male attention. So why obsess to the point of murder (and possible insanity) over one man who was totally wrong for her?
I hope this case will serve as a cautionary tale for both men and women. Do yourselves a favor by avoiding (or extricating yourselves from) toxic, dysfunctional relationships. Thankfully, most don't end this way...but some of them do.
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