Jodi Arias will pay for killing her ex-boyfriend — but will that crime cost the 34-year-old woman her life?
The Arizona jury now deliberating over her fate has three possible choices for a sentence: life in prison, life with the possibility of parole after 25 years or death row.
In 2013, Arias was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2008 slaying of her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander. Arias testified on her own behalf, claiming she stabbed Alexander more than two dozen times, shot him in the face and slit his throat in self-defense. Prosecutor Juan Martinez called it cold-blooded murder.
The jury of eight men and four women that convicted Arias and decided her crime qualified for the death penalty were ultimately left deadlocked on her punishment. In the aftermath, neither side was able to come to terms on a plea bargain, paving the way for the penalty phase retrial, which began in September. Deliberations began Monday.
Arias has been in one of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s jails since September 2008, but her sentencing will have a great impact on how she will serve the remainder of her time behind bars and the manner in which she will do so.
What follows is an in-depth look at each scenario, as provided by those familiar with prison life in Arizona.
Death Penalty
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“No one knows in Arizona what it means to say life with possibility of release eligibility after 25 years,” Hamm said.
“That law went into effect in 1994, so we haven’t had the first prisoner come up on that 25-year mark yet, and they won’t until 2019,” Hamm continued. “So will it mean parole eligibility? We don’t know because parole was eliminated under the 1994 code. Some officials believe it means the inmate can apply for a reduced sentence, but no one knows how it will be handled.”
Could Notoriety Be Arias’ Downfall?
If Arias does escape death, there is a possibility that she could be forced to remain in maximum-security housing.
“She could theoretically be given a classification override by the department that would keep her in a higher-level facility, simply because of the notoriety of the case,” Hamm said. “I don’t know that they apply that often, but they certainly have the ability to do that.”
Unlike the first trial, a deadlock this time will not buy Arias any more time. It would simply ensure she escapes death.
“The judge has to sentence her to life if they can’t agree on a verdict this time,” Hamm said. “The prosecution doesn’t get a third bite at the apple to give her death. That’s the law.”
