NOW ROT IN CELL, JODI!
Life in prison for '08 murder of ex-beau
PHOENIX — A judge sentenced convicted murderer Jodi Arias to life in prison without the possibility of release on Monday, ending a nearly 7yearold case that attracted worldwide attention with its salacious details.
Four relatives of victim Travis Alexander spoke to Judge Sherry Stephens before she handed down the sentence, criticizing Arias as they broke down in tears. Arias spoke as well, giving a rambling statement in which she stood by her testimony and accused police and prosecutors of changing their story.
“The most important thing I want to say is that I’m very sorry for the enormous pain I caused to the people who loved Travis,” she said. “I’m truly disgusted, and I’m repulsed with myself.”
Relatives recalled Alexander’s positive influence and spoke angrily of Arias’ efforts to portray him as a pervert over the past two years.
“Stop murdering my brother again and again by smearing his name,” said sister Tanisha Sorenson, who described Arias as “this evil that sits behind me.”
The sentencing was largely a formality after a jury deadlocked last month on whether to give Arias the death penalty or life in prison. The mistrial removed the death penalty as an option.
The only decision left was whether the judge would allow Arias, 34, to be eligible for release after 25 years. She declined to do that.
Arias killed her on-again-off-again boyfriend in 2008 in what prosecutors said was retaliation for his desire to break up. Arias shot Alexander and stabbed him nearly 30 times in his suburban Phoenix home. She was arrested weeks later.
Samantha Alexander wept as she recounted seeing the spot where her brother was shot, stabbed and left to die.
“Five days he is there decomposing in the shower,” she said. “I’m sure his soul was screaming for someone to find him.”
International attention followed the case after Arias gave two TV interviews in which she told a story of masked intruders killing Alexander. She later said she killed him in selfdefense.
Arias will begin serving her sentence in a maximumsecurity unit at a prison 30 miles west of downtown Phoenix.