A woman who killed her ex-boyfriend after stabbing him 27 times smiled in her mugshot and the reason behind why she did it is chilling.
The murder trial of Jodi Arias, who was convicted for the 2008 murder of Travis Alexander in Mesa, Arizona, concluded on May 8, 2013.
Following her sentencing on April 13, 2015, Arias expressed remorse, saying: “To this day, I can’t believe that I was capable of doing something that terrible. I’m truly disgusted and repulsed with myself. I’m horrified because of what I did, and I wish there was some way I could take it back,” per PEOPLE.
Alexander, just 30 years old, was discovered lifeless in the bathroom of his home, bearing 27 stab wounds and a slit throat.
The tragic tale began less than two years earlier when Alexander crossed paths with Jodi Arias at a company convention in Las Vegas.
Their instant connection sparked a long-distance relationship despite Arias residing in California, raising concerns among friends.
Despite the couple eventually parting ways, Arias would sporadically show up at Alexander's house.
Upon the discovery of his body, just before a scheduled trip to Cancun, a camera was found in his home which held images of Alexander and Arias on the day of his murder.
As Arias faced arrest and charges of first-degree murder, her demeanor during her mugshot stunned many. Instead of a solemn expression, she appeared to pose for the camera with a smile.
In a later recorded interview, she addressed the unsettling gesture, stating per CBS: "I just want to address that because I think people don't really understand. There are a few reasons I did that, and one is that - what would Travis do if he were in this situation? This is why I'm here."
Arias suggested that Alexander would have smiled, saying: "He would just flash this grin that he always does." She also hinted at her awareness that the image would circulate online, implying she aimed to present her best self.
Throughout her trial, spanning 19 days, Arias made shocking claims on the stand. She alleged that Alexander had turned aggressive when she dropped his new camera, leading her to shoot him. However, she professed no memory of the subsequent stabbing or throat-slitting.
Before her sentencing, Arias expressed remorse, saying, "To this day, I can’t believe that I was capable of doing something that terrible. I’m truly disgusted and repulsed with myself. I’m horrified because of what I did, and I wish there was some way I could take it back."
Arias was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in April 2015.
Currently incarcerated at Perryville State Women's Prison in Goodyear, Arizona, Arias remains ineligible for release.
Records indicate she works as an aide in the prison library, with only one disciplinary action recorded in February 2016 for disrespect to staff.
