The state Rests in The State v. Jodi Arias: break in trial until 28 January 2013 #11

[FrayedKnot]

Hi All, I'm new here. I first saw the case on Dr. Drew and then found websleuths as I was looking for more information on the case. I've probably read 40% of the trial thread. Since we are in delay until the end of the month, I can catch up. Now that my account is set up I can add my two cents. Below I address the psychological motivations I see in the case (MOO).

My theory for MOTIVE lies in the rejection she experienced from Travis. Jodi did everything in her power to BECOME the woman of Travis' dreams, and when that was not successful in winning his love, she felt sufficiently destroyed to destroy him. Her personal devastation was illustrated by the bloody mess she made of Travis and his life.

When she joined his church AND became his sex partner--conflicting behaviors in Travis' mind. She pretty much guaranteed her own rejection. Travis could not reconcile both those urges in himself ("I want to experience my sex drive fulfilled/I want to exemplify the values of my church). Her ability to have unrepressed sex AND espouse Mormonism without experiencing the conflict Travis did points to her moral ambiguity, and the lack of serious commitment she had for his ("their") religion.

From her description of their break up (due to "BOTH" of their trust issues--her statement), her inability to observe appropriate boundaries was established quite early in their relationship BEFORE any break up. Their relationship in name was "over" in 5 months time. In those short five months they went from an "in love" or "in lust" state, developed a very involved sexual relationship, (she) developed (or already had) a chronic insecurity she could not ignore, that led to her trespassing all of the boundaries of healthy relationships. Hacking multiple accounts is never ok. There is no justification for it. An emotionally normal person breaks up with someone they are chronically suspicious of, it is a very different kind of person who makes it their life's work to infiltrate the most private areas of another persons psyche (stealing journals) and life. These disrespectful and boundary-trespassing behaviors led to arguments and bad feel ings and a "break up". For all of this to happen in five short months shows how intense the relationship was. Most couples are in the "in love" period for 9, 12, or 18 months before ugly or uncomfortable things start to happen. That's when the "work" of the relationship begins.


No matter what is reported by JA (unfortunately, we only get her take on their relationship), JA and TA continued their relationship until the day he was murdered. Although Travis wanted to "break up" with in June of 2007, he didn't do "breaking up" behavior. His intention was to break-up, but his behavior didn't match his intentions. He continued to talk to her, see her, have sex with her, and plan trips with her. All of these behaviors gave Jodi hope that she was still a candidate for Travis' life partner.

Clearly, Jodi was still doing the "stalking" behavior of hacking into Travis' accounts even after Travis' death. In the interview with Flores she talks with animation of their 1000 places to see project, and how he was planning to come to California at the end of 2008 to see the Oregon coast. When she became aware that Travis was planning ANOTHER trip with someone else (Cancun), and it was on the 1000 list. This was more behavior that really did support a "breaking up" intention. Also, Travis very likely canceled the trip to the Oregon coast (it isn't likely he would be off again as soon as he was back from Cancun). My guess is that Jodi's plan to destroy Travis began when she received the news that he was planning the trip to Cancun with another woman. I see it as confirmation that he was willing to have sex with her (as long as she was willing to provide it) but was not willing to share the most special moments of his life with her. She was not Cancun material---this knowledge was unbearable to Jodi.

In discussing the manner of Travis' murder, there are people who think the messy overkill was not planned. I disagree with this. I think everything Jodi did was purposeful. She stabbed him in the heart, slit his throat and shot him because she was enraged by his rejection. When she says "if I were going to kill him I would shoot him, t least it would be humane". But that is not what she did because she did not want it to be humane. She was not trying to do it quick and neat. She was fully prepared to literally slaughter, and that is exactly what she did.

Something more I've noticed is the total lack of anxiety, anguish, tension, or fear in any photo or video of her. Her face is extraordinarily youthful and unlined---as if the normal anxieties of humanness do not wash over her face. It is an utterly serene countenance. I do think she is without conscience or empathy. I do not know the differentiation of antisocial, psychopath, sociopath, etc., but she appears utterly, utterly without the normal twitchiness, fidgetiness and expression of most people.

I'm excited to talk more about evidence, etc. but I wanted to get on the board with my observations and thoughts thus far.


Oh, one more thing. I think the BRAIDED pigtails are not an accident but an attempt to keep her hair contained for what was coming.

Awesome post!

 

[TaRazza]

I wonder what her reasoning was for dying her hair? Did she dye her hair different colors often? Was this the first time she had been brunette in a while since she was blonde?

I believe she wanted to look like Mimi, Travis's friend, who is a brunette and drives a white car. I don't think it's coincidental that Arias chose a white car to rent instead of the red one she was offered. If anyone spotted her in Mesa, I think Arias hoped she would be mistaken for Mimi. JMHO.

 

[Laceybug]

I think she is blonde in most if not all of the pics with TA. It was part of her disguise, part of the pre meditation!

There is also a pic of her on her myspace where she is blonde and looks like she has blue eyes (contacts?) I've wondered if she was blonde before they met? I wonder if she was somewhat ashamed of being hispanic?

 

[Laceybug]

Why has her sister Angela claimed Native American descent?

I thought her mother looked Native American from her pics.. I never tried to find out if she was or not.

 

[Laceybug]

Hi. I just want to say in advance that I am in no way trying to offend anyone or aggressively attack anyone else's idea.
I am just speculating based on incomplete knowledge of the situation.
Please do not respond if you find it too difficult or annoying to do so.

Also, I am in NO way excusing JA's actions and hope that she is prosecuted to the FULL EXTENT of the law.

So that's my disclaimer. Now on to the nitty gritty...

I have a kinda some theories rolling around in my head about the psychological dynamics of JA and TA.
I think they are a classic pairing of Narcissist and Borderline personalities.
TA the narcissist (maybe not full blown personality disorder, but the traits seem to be there) got off on JA's attention, her adoration and eagerness to take on all his interests, do whatever he wanted in the sack.

The borderline JA can only feel whole and worthwhile if she can keep her hold on her Golden Boy.

If you're interested in this stuff, I am linking some articles. Does anyone else see shades of JA and TA?

http://www.apa.org/monitor/mar04/mixing.aspx
http://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=98299.0
http://www.drwendyschwartz.com/Los-...-borderline-and-narcissist-love-relationship/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2790397/
http://gettinbetter.com/anatomy.html

It's kind of sad in a way... She did everything she could think of to try to be the 'perfect mormon girl' for him. She took on all of his friends and interests (maybe overkill there as well) At the end...she knew she was out of options...and she would never have him.. and maybe thats when she decided if she couldnt have him... no one would.

 

[PrincessSezMe]

Why has her sister Angela claimed Native American descent?

That's why I put in the disclaimer. Wiki is not always the most accurate information source.

 

[jevipo74]

I am absolutely amazed, that in this day and age, we have so little information about Jodi's childhood, her friends, boyfriends, home-life etc. No teachers coming forward, neighbors, sports friends etc. It really boggles my mind.

Why has her 4 year love interest with the son not come forward to defend her- that one I don't get, at all.

Also, in the Documentary/48 hours episode they barely glossed over her life in Yreka, only showing quaint photos of the downtown (and it is a darling little town in terms of the main street)- they never once showed a photo of her grandparents actual home and they went so far as to insinuate that Jodi and Travis had much different childhoods- stating that his was poverty stricken with drug addicted parents and that Jodi's was somewhat normal. Where was Jodi's actual home located with her parents and siblings while she was growing up?

Jodi even commented herself in the show that her "childhood was somewhat ideal."

Really?

Weren't her parents divorced? Didn't she run away from home on several occasions and I was under the impression that she never graduated from high school!

Am I the only one who finds this less than 'ideal' in terms of childhoods?

I really want to know her history. Her life long history!

She tried immersing herself so completely in TA's life I'm not sure how many friends she has outside of that social circle.

 

[TaRazza]

In the pic that shows Jodi dragging TA, she is wearing clothes that one would not normallly wear in June in Arizona. Bet she had shorts and t shirt underneath and took of bloody clothes, threw them in back seat and passenger seat before getting on the road. We know she didn't leave the bloody clothes at Travis' and she would be taking a big chance of getting stopped with blood all over her. Oh, but the smell of all of that blood, I almost gag at the thought. So metallic!

The witness from Budget Rent A Car did testify that the floor mats were missing when she returned the car. (I'm assuming they were tossed, along with the weapons and bloody clothes.) Her clothing was also likely quite wet if the shower was running the entire duration of the murder--and I think it was--so it is possible that bloody water droplets could have also left stains that resembled Koolaid. (I also believe it possible that the stains came from a temporary hair dye.)

How I wish the witness, when asked what color the stains on the seats were had answered in a REAL color, not just "Koolaid." Koolaid, as we know, comes in all kinds of colors/flavors. A real color would have been a more helpful answer.

 

[popsicle]

Hi. I just want to say in advance that I am in no way trying to offend anyone or aggressively attack anyone else's idea.
I am just speculating based on incomplete knowledge of the situation.
Please do not respond if you find it too difficult or annoying to do so.

Also, I am in NO way excusing JA's actions and hope that she is prosecuted to the FULL EXTENT of the law.

So that's my disclaimer. Now on to the nitty gritty...

I have a kinda some theories rolling around in my head about the psychological dynamics of JA and TA.
I think they are a classic pairing of Narcissist and Borderline personalities.
TA the narcissist (maybe not full blown personality disorder, but the traits seem to be there) got off on JA's attention, her adoration and eagerness to take on all his interests, do whatever he wanted in the sack.

The borderline JA can only feel whole and worthwhile if she can keep her hold on her Golden Boy.

If you're interested in this stuff, I am linking some articles. Does anyone else see shades of JA and TA?

http://www.apa.org/monitor/mar04/mixing.aspx
http://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=98299.0
http://www.drwendyschwartz.com/Los-...-borderline-and-narcissist-love-relationship/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2790397/
http://gettinbetter.com/anatomy.html

Good to see you back here.

 

[PrincessSezMe]

Hi. I just want to say in advance that I am in no way trying to offend anyone or aggressively attack anyone else's idea.
I am just speculating based on incomplete knowledge of the situation.
Please do not respond if you find it too difficult or annoying to do so.

Also, I am in NO way excusing JA's actions and hope that she is prosecuted to the FULL EXTENT of the law.

So that's my disclaimer. Now on to the nitty gritty...

I have a kinda some theories rolling around in my head about the psychological dynamics of JA and TA.
I think they are a classic pairing of Narcissist and Borderline personalities.
TA the narcissist (maybe not full blown personality disorder, but the traits seem to be there) got off on JA's attention, her adoration and eagerness to take on all his interests, do whatever he wanted in the sack.

The borderline JA can only feel whole and worthwhile if she can keep her hold on her Golden Boy.

If you're interested in this stuff, I am linking some articles. Does anyone else see shades of JA and TA?

http://www.apa.org/monitor/mar04/mixing.aspx
http://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=98299.0
http://www.drwendyschwartz.com/Los-...-borderline-and-narcissist-love-relationship/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2790397/
http://gettinbetter.com/anatomy.html

Glad you returned!! That is an interesting theory. I'm not sure if I would classify TA as a narcissist, but he did have an ego IMO. Maybe some of that was a result of his upbringing. He wanted to be better than what he came from, and had an ideal of how he wanted to be as a person. JA - you pegged it. She is definitely a classic BPD, or a full blown sociopath IMO.

Thanks for the links!

 

[FrayedKnot]

I think she is blonde in most if not all of the pics with TA. It was part of her disguise, part of the pre meditation!

She has an album on her MS that is titled "Blondie" or something like that, so I am thinking she was typically that light brown with blonde highlights that is in a lot of her other MS pics, and that she had gone to the platinum blonde shortly before meeting TA.

IIRC, it was mentioned by TA's friends that he met JA at that conference and she was pretty and blonde.

I think she dyed her hair back to brown in an effort to not look like herself if anyone observed her lurking around TA's house before letting herself in. Same thing with the rental car.

 

[peedoffinny]

Alot of people mention that TA kept talking to JA even after the breakout, and it's assumed he was leading her on. Is there any facts that support that? I think that he may have been trying to just get rid of her and talked to her to let her down gently, or assumed they could just be friends. I know he had sex w/ her that last night, but, IMO, she just showed up unexpectedly and he decided to just go for it - why not? She was ready and willing and he was available. I think he probably spent alot of time talking and trying to get rid of her.

I know a girl who scared me and I think was a psychopath. She latched on to guys and would not let them go. She would call, show up at their houses at all hours of the night, and literally just force herself on to the one she was involved with at the time. I swear this one guy just got so tired of trying to get rid of her, that he just gave up and stayed with her. I don't talk to her anymore (Thank God), so I'm not sure what happened. By the way, I met her through a neighbor and before I knew it, she was coming over my house all the time. If I left it unlocked she'd walk in. If I didn't answer, she'd sit out front in her car and call me until I finally had to let her in. She also conned me out of money every time she came by, her kids need milk, she needed cigs,she needed gas, it goes on and on and on. People like that are persistant and don't give up until they get what they want.

 

[Laceybug]

I think she is blonde in most if not all of the pics with TA. It was part of her disguise, part of the pre meditation!

How tiring it must have been for her to constantly put up a fasade? I look at the pictures of TA's house... and the pictures of her room... and the contrast is just wow... her accommodations were so meager.. and his so much. Who is the real Jodi? Will we ever know?

 

[jevipo74]

How tiring it must have been for her to constantly put up a fasade? I look at the pictures of TA's house... and the pictures of her room... and the contrast is just wow... her accommodations were so meager.. and his so much. Who is the real Jodi? Will we ever know?

I don't think she knows. She is too much of a chameleon trying to change herself to fit the people around her.

 

[Laceybug]

She has an album on her MS that is titled "Blondie" or something like that, so I am thinking she was typically that light brown with blonde highlights that is in a lot of her other MS pics, and that she had gone to the platinum blonde shortly before meeting TA.

IIRC, it was mentioned by TA's friends that he met JA at that conference and she was pretty and blonde.

I think she dyed her hair back to brown in an effort to not look like herself if anyone observed her lurking around TA's house before letting herself in. Same thing with the rental car.

What you said gave me chills.... Maybe she dyed her hair back to brown so that SHE wouldnt recognise herself... in her mind.. she became someone else...it was 'someone else' who committed the crime.

 

[KMouse]

The Lifetime Movie Network aspects of this case just get more and more bizarre. I mean....she had a lot of freaking hair. Coloring it in a public restroom is not easy ! And messy. I wonder if anyone reported strange spatter all over a restroom sink. So bizarre...and so premeditated.

What gas station restroom doesn't have strange spatter...lol

I know what you mean though.

But they do make those foamy colorants that you comb through your hair. I'll have to take a look when I am at the store later.

Whatever it is she used and wherever it is she colored her hair...she would have had these details worked out prior to her departure.

 

[katiecoolady]

The witness from Budget Rent A Car did testify that the floor mats were missing when she returned the car. (I'm assuming they were tossed, along with the weapons and bloody clothes.) Her clothing was also likely quite wet if the shower was running the entire duration of the murder--and I think it was--so it is possible that bloody water droplets could have also left stains that resembled Koolaid. (I also believe it possible that the stains came from a temporary hair dye.)

How I wish the witness, when asked what color the stains on the seats were had answered in a REAL color, not just "Koolaid." Koolaid, as we know, comes in all kinds of colors/flavors. A real color would have been a more helpful answer.

Isn't it funny that hearing "Koolaid stains" I think most of our minds automatically go to a red color. But it could have been GREEN koolaid for all we know. More information please!

 

[Jax49]

It's kind of sad in a way... She did everything she could think of to try to be the 'perfect mormon girl' for him. She took on all of his friends and interests (maybe overkill there as well) At the end...she knew she was out of options...and she would never have him.. and maybe thats when she decided if she couldnt have him... no one would.

She did everything she could -- but she couldn't grow a new hymen.

Maybe her rage increased when she realized not only was she not "marriage material", she wasn't even "Cancun material".

 

[Laceybug]

Alot of people mention that TA kept talking to JA even after the breakout, and it's assumed he was leading her on. Is there any facts that support that? I think that he may have been trying to just get rid of her and talked to her to let her down gently, or assumed they could just be friends. I know he had sex w/ her that last night, but, IMO, she just showed up unexpectedly and he decided to just go for it - why not? She was ready and willing and he was available. I think he probably spent alot of time talking and trying to get rid of her. IMO

It would be a gold mine to have those journals of his that were stolen...

 

[katiecoolady]

What gas station restroom doesn't have strange spatter...lol

I know what you mean though.

But they do make those foamy colorants that you comb through your hair. I'll have to take a look when I am at the store later.

Whatever it is she used and wherever it is she colored her hair...she would have had these details worked out prior to her departure.

I'm assuming none of her CVS,Walmart receipts had hair color on them...?? She would have had to purchase it and take it along for her joy ride. Along with a gun, a knife, whatever else a killer makes for her little "murder kit". :furious:

PS I recently dyed someone's hair with one of the "foam" ones and managed to make a total mess of that too. But that's just me.