Jodi Arias TAKES THE STAND #35 *may contain graphic and adult content*

[WhoaIsMe]

Her feelings were hurt because he didn't give her a shout out in a book he was writing.....that's were we left off.

K so, just her lying face so far then. No evidence that this was ever even mentioned back then. Thanks!

 

[spcagrl]

I'm back. I can see where it would seem that way. Actually, the opposite is true. We believe that with baptism and temple covenants, you make sacred promises to God. We believe you are accountable for those promises. When someone is excommunicated, it is a release from those covenants. Then, if they want to come back, they are given the opportunity to be rebaptized to take on those promises/responsibilities again.

Someone asked how I felt about Travis in light of what we have heard. My view is complex because I am also an attorney who represents families with kids who have his history. Being raised in a meth lab home for the first ten years is something you never get over. If you do not get love in your first 0-3 years from a caregiver, it is difficult to make up for the deficits which can occur. Often, in these kids, we see sexual behavior as a way to feel loved and attached. Since they may be afraid of the emotional commitment (because they were neglected or hurt when young), they may be much more comfortable with physical gratification as a means of meeting their need to be loved. As a result, these kids often have a much higher rate of sexual promiscuity regardless of religious faith.

Having said that, church is a hospital for sinners. I am one. He was leading a double life (my guess is that it would not have been popular in the predominantly Mormon/PPL world to be messing around to the extent he was - so from a sales perspective, it was probably smart to play the role of the 30 year old virgin). He was not living the covenants he had made. It appears he also apparently lied to his nice girlfriends about what he was doing.

If I was the mama of one of those girls, I'd be all over him - grin!

But, as a fellow Mormon, I would have loved him. I also would have welcomed Jodi into my home. I would have supported them in any way I could - even after knowing what they were doing. We all know the road they were on is not the road to happiness. Both of them appear younger than their chronological ages in many respects (I'd like to know her history). I would have done anything I could do to help both of them.

Now that Travis is gone, how do I feel? Sad. Knowing how he loved his siblings, I know he would not want for them to go through this. I am sure his heart must ache for all they are going through. He never would have wanted this for them.

But, aside from his family, how do I feel about what he did? We have a saying in the country regarding electric fences (that keep cattle in) - there are two kinds of people - some who believe you when you say the fence is hot and others who need to lick it before they will believe you.

What I am trying to say is there are many in the LDS faith who make it to marriage and have honored the law of chastity. There are also many who, for some reason, took another path. At the end of the day, many close to me have become great leaders in the church after they have gone on forbidden paths and felt the power of Christ's atonement and repentance. In fact, some of the strongest members/leaders I know have walked that road. They KNOW the power of the atonement and they have powerful testimonies. They would never recommend the road, but they are beautiful at helping others back on the path because they have been there themselves.

Travis never got to finish his life. He never got to decide if he wanted to repent or go see his bishop. We don't know the end and we can't judge. What we do know is that he was trying to get away from Jodi (the reason she killed him). What would another year or six months have brought? With his beautiful spirit and all he had overcome, I believe that without Jodi in his life, he would have been strong again in whatever he wanted.

Having said that, Travis was beautiful no matter what. He was and is a son of God. He was and is precious to his Father in Heaven. The greatest sadness I have is that his beautiful life was not preserved long enough to find out the great things he would do. JA was a detour in his life. She was not his life. He had great things to accomplish - inside the Church, as well as outside. I would have loved to see him have that chance.

In the end, I just have a special place in my heart for kids like Travis. I have seen the load they carry - they smile and laugh, but they have to overcome alot. I am proud of all that he accomplished. Given his history, I am not at all surprised by the things we have learned. I only feel pain that he did not get the opportunity to continue to fight and grow and become. I am sure we hadn't seen anything yet.

Just my two cents, for what they are worth.

Wow.....this is beautifully said and thanks is just not enough.

 

[polleypockets]

the author lady katiecoolady was talking about is on JVM

 

[TotallyObsessed]

Well depending on how it's read (but I feel that I never got the proper "credit" or recognition I deserved as your girlfriend. You say it was because you are a ____ [private?] person. You say it was because of Deanna. You say it was because you were rather attached to the reputation of being a single, eligible bachelor.) it also could show Travis didn't credit Jodi for work she contributed; he was more worried about another woman's feelings than his girlfriend;he was more attached to his image than treating Jodi with respect; he treated her like a shameful secret.

Now, I'm not saying any of the letter is a true representation of Travis' feelings. We all know Jodi is a liar, I'm only suggesting that if read a certain way, it only takes one juror to feel sorry for Jodi.

IMO

Feeling sorry should NEVER excuse a murder

 

[anagrammy]

My curiosity is peaked. I was raised Catholic (mom and her relatives all from Canada) My dad was Jewish.

If a Priest or Clergy of any kind in my Catholic Church would speak to a minor child of mine about Masturbating, i would have him arrested.

Is this not illegal, or do the parents sign over some authority to the specific adults they might engage in overt sexual conversations with their Children?

(i don't happen to have kids, but if I did some adult would be in jail)

There is an uproar going on about Mormon bishops questioning a child about sex without the parents present. We must be vigilant to protect our children. My son was molested at LDS Boy Scout camp. ABUSE HAPPENS IN ALL RELIGIONS so let's not have Mormons getting upset because this happens in their church too.

The point is to protect children, not attack anyone. We cannot be naive and think that our holy leaders would never do such a thing. We just can't take the chance--

Never let your children be interviewed alone with an adult about their sexuality without a parent present. That is the point here.

Anagrammy

 

[MsJ]

So, this is the first trial I've ever followed so closely. Did I just pick the wrong one to start with? Because this has been tedious!

 

[JSR]

So according to Beth K. the juror who sits closet to Jodi in the jury box never looks at Jodi she looks straight ahead. Good to know that at least we know for certain one juror has Jodi's number.

 

[Rosemary Pierce]

lets not forget her hair, dna and her bloody palm print...

I loved how she tried to explain all of that away when Det. Flores was interrogating her. It was quite humorous.

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" is one of my favorite books. I didn't watch the film because I didn't want to be disappointed. That book brings me to tears though.

 

[StephanieHartPI]

And I will second that with Travis could have been in any religion even Catholic and this would be a bit the same. Sometimes if you look, there are a lot less differences between us or our Religion than we think. He was young, he was finding his way he was being pulled in the wrong direction but he clearly was breaking away. If I could just tap him on the head and give him just a few ounces more of strength I would have, if we knew him. I am someone that happens to think it is never too late, even if you were not quite there, no God is that unforgiving. To say that would be cruel.

I think he's looking down pretty wide eyed right now. I don't know what he 's thinking other than he loves his family and he probably feels how much positive energy everyone has for them... And whatever happens happens.

But if he has anything to say about it, could I just ask he make Juan's cross extra special? Ok thank You, I won't ask for one thing for Christmas, or Birthday.. Just a great cross that goes down in the History books..

:fence:

 

[KathrynL]

So, this is the first trial I've ever followed so closely. Did I just pick the wrong one to start with? Because this has been tedious!

Welcome! Trials can be tedious and dry. I do think Arias on the stand has been exceptionally drawn out, sloppy and mind-numbing.

One of these weeks, we'll get to cross exam and other witnesses. It will get better!

 

[Rosemary Pierce]

So according to Beth K. the juror who sits closet to Jodi in the jury box never looks at Jodi she looks straight ahead. Good to know that at least we know for certain one juror has Jodi's number.

I think if I were on the jury, I would stare her down. It's a good thing the jurors aren't falling asleep due to Nurmi.....wouldn't that cause a mistrial?

 

[nursebeeme]

New thread: door will close here in a few minutes.

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8861946#post8861946"]Jodi Arias TAKES THE STAND #36 *may contain graphic and adult content* - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]

 

[lil_buddy]

So, this is the first trial I've ever followed so closely.
Did I just pick the wrong one to start with? Because this has been tedious!

Me too.
No. Law is VERY boring.

 

[Curious Me]

Being involved in a relationship with a psychopath is very exciting in the beginning. The drama starts to feel like it's waking up all kinds of feelings you didn't know you had when you were leading a duller life. Oh yes, the drama and interactions with a psychopath are designed to groom you for further much worse abuse. It is like a drug in the beginning just trying to understand what's really going on because they have you doing things you never would have before. Later, it gets uglier and uglier, and with a stalker psychopath you can not opt out of the relationship. Poor Travis didn't have a chance to understand all this.

 

[mck16]

Well, I don't know what's going on with me lately. I sit around my house in my bathrobe, leave my dishes in the sink, while I listen to people talk about sex and all day. Time has no meaning anymore, sometimes I'm in 2006 and then find myself in 2008. It's like I'm in some kind of stupor over frappachino stories - I go there for comfort when the anal gets too much. Please help me Juan Martinez.

That's me too Curious, but you forgot the vodka. lol

 

[nanny1]

JA: "That's my [stupid] little sister."

I'm sure her poor sister wanted her to announce on national tv that she had a drug and alcohol problem,this girl care about no one but herself. :banghead:

 

[lil_buddy]

I'm sure her poor sister wanted her to announce on national tv that she had a drug and alcohol problem,this girl care about no one but herself. :banghead:

Sister talked about it on her myspace blog so...

 

[paperwing]

Strangely my husband and I had that same conversation in 2008. We'd met online. His friends were worried I could be an axe murderer. Mine were worried he could be. I think when you're meeting someone for the first time there's always hesitation wondering what the person is really like...and could he/she actually be someone awful.

That's all I took it as. Nothing nefarious on his part imo.

I met the love of my life online (now we're just housemates hope that changes). He lived on the west coast, I was on the east.

Things were going amazingly... and when he asked me to fly out to spend the weekend with him I had some 'requirements' first:
- I wanted a copy of his drivers' license
- I spoke tto family/friends who were in touch with him regularly. It was fun and they were delighted.
- I insisted on AIDS tests for both of us (lost my dad to that evil disease-leaving this to chance was not an option.
- He got me a hotel room and made clear in front of the desk clerk that I now had the only key.
(Before I arrived, he'd placed a bowl of kisses and a FISH - a betta (I named him Gustav) - on the nightstand.
- He got me a cab to the hotel (rather than expect me to get in his car) and we stayed in public venues.
- I was in touch with several people who had his, his dad's, brother's and friends info.


There is a good reason for my being so fully cautious. I was at the end of a *horrific* divorce with someone who everyone thought of as this great guy, awesome dad, good looking businessman - impressions that were just facades of a conscienceless, selfish, raging, cheating, lying, abusive soulless... thing. I never knew such people existed until I woke up (which was my downfall - boy did things get even worse).

NO one saw what he was like - even my mother and friend didn't believe me until she saw it first hand. A friend physically shook after hearing just one of his endless voice messages. I couldn't talk to anyone about what I was going through - I was the 'crazy' one. He had movie star good looks and looked great in a crisp suit. Like JA, the packaging has no correlation to the person (or monster) inside. He destroyed everything and the 2 who believed me didn't want to hear me, the rest just wrote me off and believed him still do. Even stay in touch. I feel sick. Dog, I'm literally shaking just thinking about it.

But thankfully, there are also people who are wonderful, giving, good, positive (and handsome!). I just hope I still have a chance with him!

 

[french75]

I think if I were on the jury, I would stare her down. It's a good thing the jurors aren't falling asleep due to Nurmi.....wouldn't that cause a mistrial?

This is my experience only but I was a juror on a murder trial and one day realized the judge was trying to get my attention. Turned out he wanted me to nudge the juror next to me because he was sleeping! Nothing else was mentioned of it so I think it must happen from time to time.

 

[Mormon Attorney]

I have a quick question. I hope you don't mind.

If Travis did confide in his bishop, how would anyone else know about it?

No one should ever know. My husband has served as bishop and I never knew anything at all. The only way they might know is if he was excommunicated, he would not take the sacrament. We view the sacrament as reaffirming our baptism covenants. Excommunication releases a person from those covenants so they do not take the sacrament (unless or until they want to take them again through rebaptism). Even then, there are different reasons someone might choose not to take the sacrament.

The only OTHER way they would know is if JA played the tape to humiliate him. If he did go to the bishop and left her for the church, I think we could have expected her to broadcast that tape everywhere (just judging from what we are seeing now).

Thanks for asking!