The Case That Is Now Fascinating Us

She claims that she has 2000 Twitter followers.

She claims that she is a survivor of child abuse.

She claims that she is a survivor of intimate partner abuse.

She responded to her arrest by singing.

She responded to her arrest by doing headstands.

She declared on a TV interview, "No jury will ever convict me."

She added to this declaration, "Because I will kill myself first."

She expressed happiness that her tested I.Q. is at the genius level, like Einstein.

She took the life of her intimate partner, claiming that this was an act of self-defense.

She is very attractive and talented.

She is on trial and accused of first-degree murder.

I'm very sure that you know the identity of the person whom I'm giving these details on. Her name is Jodie Arias and she is taking the place of Casey Anthony as America's "Most Hated Woman." I'm seeing a lot of comparing of these two women and their cases. The biggest similarity is the massive media coverage of these two cases and the massive public interest. Are you one of the many, in OR outside the US, who are closely following this riveting this case? I would not be surprised that you are. I know that there are still many who do not have cable TV and so may not have as much media access to this case. What is so FASCINATING about this case? Well, we are getting TONS of sex and scandal, which are always sensational. There is the element of uncertainty and not knowing what the outcome will be.

Why are so many of us virtually living through this case, with our emotions so tied up in every twist and turn that is happening during this trial? Even as I write this, another family member has been cursing the TV and the curses were directed at the defendant. Why has HLN gone so far as to devote an entire show to a "mock jury" who go through "mock min-trials" and render "mock verdicts"? So many of us are familiar with every player in this case, including the devastated family of Travis, the murder victim, the hurting family of the defendant, the prosecutor, Juan Martinez, every witness, the defense lawyers, and of course, the defendant and Travis, her unfortunate victim. Why so much INTENSE media coverage? Demand. We cannot get enough!

With all the court theatrics, the trashing, defamation and slander of the defendant's parents and especially of the unfortunate victim himself, and the questionable tactics of the defense team and witnesses, we must never forget who the actual victim is. We must never forget that he has a grieving, devastated family who are forced to sit in this trial day after day and listen to their murdered loved one get revictimized. At the bottom of this blog I will give the address of one of his sisters, given on a Facebook page set up for the family of Travis. You can send the family cards, letters, even donations. The Facebook page for their support has information there in the "Info" tab about how you can give online, if you desire to do so.  To show support and get justice for their murdered loved one, they are paying for their travel and longing expenses with public support.

The trial is making us think about abuse, what it is, what it is not and what kinds of abuse there  are. Was Jodie abused by Travis? That is the claim made by the defense. But I think that is beside the point of this blog. Despite my personal feelings for the current "Domestic Violence Expert," I have to agree with her GENERAL statements that there are different kinds of abuse and that there are degrees of abuse. Abusers usually have many good qualities and abusive relationships have highs AND lows.
Traditionally and even now, physical abuse is what automatically comes to mind when we think of abuse and what is often not realized is that emotional abuse and control is what ALL forms of abuse are based on. Also, emotional abuse can happen by itself. Emotional, financial, and sexual abuse (alone OR combined) cause permanent emotional scars and often can't ever be forgotten, while physical injuries usually heal. Maybe one good thing coming out of this high-profile trial is that many people will become more aware of how abuse works.

Yes the point is the supposed abuse of the defendant. In her testimony, she has claimed being spanked with a wooden spoon by her mom and that her parents physically abused her. She has claimed being both emotionally and physically abused by Travis, as well as sexually abused and degraded by him. Yes, I heard the sex tape and his exchanges as well as hers. I heard about how that tape was recorded. My honest opinion of  Jodie's abuse claims? I see little convincing evidence that she has experienced any form of abuse, in childhood or at Travis's hands. Her parents, via taped police questioning and other interviews, have stated that this defendant had once almost killed her brother by hitting him on the head with a baseball bat, would kick her mom without cause, lied regularly and "may go off the deep end" as "she had issues." The sex tape? Unless I misunderstood it, both Travis and Jodie seemed to be enjoying themselves, pointing to a consensual intimate relationship. The angry texts by him? These are said to be his responses to her prior actions, but do these rise to the level of emotional abuse, which is control?

The "I do not Remember" defense that has been put forth by Jodie and her defense team? Her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) defense? I have heard both explanations put forth by military veterans when they told of how they have killed in combat. I well recall the case of former Senator Bob Kerrey, who, when he was younger, fought in Vietnam as a Navy Seal. Years ago, he confessed to ordering a shooting where a number of civilians were killed as he though they were the Viet Cong enemy. Upon his confession, he claimed PTSD and "the fog of war." Should Jodie be equated or compared to those who have fought for our freedom? It is a new one on me that now the PERPETRATORS of violent, horrific crimes in PEACETIME can also claim PTSD in a court of law!
Aside from that, it DOES make sense to me that a criminal can "block out" crimes to not have to think about them, whether consciously (suppression) or unconsciously (repression).

What are the undisputed FACTS in this high-profile case? A young man was brutally killed a few years ago. He was stabbed 29 times. His throat was slit from ear to ear. He was shot. He will never breathe the same air that we are breathing. The defendant has confessed to this homicide BUT only as an act of self-defense. She is charged with first-degree murder. Her life is at stake because she is on trial for a possible death penalty. The lives of two families have been forever shattered by this defendant's actions. The outcome of this trial is uncertain.

I know that Jodie has her supporters, just as every criminal does, based on media coverage of those who show bias toward her, her 2000 plus Twitter followers, and the efforts of her defense team to spare her life and to reduce her charges and sentencing. I also know that Travis and his family have far more support. Though massive support can never fill the huge void and lasting devastation of a murdered loved one, they can use your support! There is a Facebook page set up just to get support for this family, emotional and financial. One sister of Travis's also has provided an address so people can send cards, letters and other forms of support to the family.

The address to contact the family and show your support is:

Tanisha Sorenson
ALS
700 E. Redlands Blvd., Ste. U304
Redlands, CA 92373

This is the address for cards and/or donations for the family:

Travis Alexander Legacy Fund
2036 N. Gilbert Rd.
Suite 2-621
Mesa, AZ 85203

https://www.facebook.com/SupportTravisAlexandarsFamily
This is the link for the Facebook page to show the family of Travis public support.

Banner Courtesy of Barb McNally