The Jodi Arias Story, Picture Perfect, is about a girl who becomes obsessed with her on and off again boyfriend Travis Alexander. When she finds out he is not being monogamous her frustrations lead her to murdering Travis. His body was found in his home in Mesa, Arizona and even though evidence pointed to Jodi Arias it was going to be a long journey before any verdict would be agreed upon in this case. His murder was very brutally done; he had been shot in the face, stabbed in the heart, and slashed across the throat (Hogan, 2014). The death was a shock to many because he was loved as a motivational speaker and as a friend. Following his death would be investigations with the prime suspect being Jodi Arias. Although Travis Alexander didn’t deserve to die in his relationship with Jodi, he had been culpable in provoking her stalker-like behavior. Shanna Hogan even stated, “So while I think he suspected there was something wrong with her he didn’t realize the depth of her mental issues until it was too late”.
This true crime book is well written; also the style of writing used makes the book a quick page turner. The book is unique because it shows when you combine law enforcement and the media you never know what will happen. There is a common technique used to bring out the suspense; this is the “show, don’t conclude” technique where readers are left to make their own conclusions. For instance, after the murder of Travis, the case goes to the court and the death penalty is to be determined later. It is upon the reader to judge whether a death penalty will be passed following the underlying conditions (Hogan, 2011). When asked what she would have done different when writing the book Hogan replied with, “The end of the book! We close...
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...swer this question. One is dead and the other is a compulsive liar. But, in this murder we know the important things that happened and we know without a doubt Jodi Arias killed Travis Alexander. This story is a good reminder to all of us that you never know what someone is capable of doing when you mess with their emotions. If Travis would have seen the signs and left Jodi alone, maybe he would still be alive today.
Works Cited
Ference, S. (2008). November Memories: Inside the Christopher Porco Case. Lulu.com.
Hogan, S. (2011). Dancing with Death: The True Story of a Glamorous Showgirl, her Wealthy Husband, and a Horrifying Murder. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
Hogan, S. (2014). Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story: A beautiful Photographer, Her Mormon lover, and a brutal murder. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
Hogan, Shanna . Personal interview. 20 Nov. 2014.
The book is great with the plot mainly focused in the courtroom, but it feels like the author put the plot of the story from different events that happened to younger people and not from one whole event. Finally, the document went into depth of how the defense attorney went on to get every piece of evidence as possible to make the eyes of the jury see that Brenton Butler was not the person that shot and killed the
Your honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, thank you for your attention today. [Slide #2] I would like to assert that separation is not the end of a relationship. Divorce is not the end of a relationship. Even an arrest is not the end of a relationship. Only death is the end of a relationship. In the case of defendant Donna Osborn, her insistence that ‘“one way or another I’ll be free,”’ as told in the testimony of her friend Jack Mathews and repeated in many others’, indicates that despite the lack of planning, the defendant had the full intent to kill her husband, Clinton Osborn.
The book isn't just about the cold working of a criminal empire. Boxer tells his story with unexpected sensitivity and a Chicano brand of optimism. The man is highly charismatic. Yet, there is a dark side shown that is absolutely sobering. It's the part of him that is a frighteningly intelligent and ruthless. He shows us a man who can find dark humor in a jailhouse murder.
In 1994, football pro and actor Orenthal James Simpson was tried for the murder of his wife and a waiter. O.J.’s wife and the waiter were found murdered outside of her condo. O.J. and his wife had divorced to years prior to the murder, so in retrospect, O.J. automatically looks guilty. O.J.’s wife was found stabbed multiple times in the head and neck. There were also wounds on her hands, showing that she tried to defend herself from the assailant. The wounds to her neck were so severe, her throat was gaping wide open and her spine had been pierced by the blade.
Casey Anthony was accused of killing her two-year-old daughter Caylee, but because of lack of evidence, Anthony was convicted not guilty. John Cloud, from Time magazine, implies, “And yet virtually no one doubts that Anthony was involved in her child’s death. In fact, her lawyer admits that Anthony know how her daughter’s body would be disposed of” (“Few Doubt That Casey Anthony Was Involved in Her Child’s Death. But Fascination With Her Case Has Made It The First Major Murder Trial Of The Social-Media Age”). They found Caylee’s corpse duct taped by Casey’s parent’s house, in Orlando, Florida. The only evidence they found was in the family Pontiac Sunfire. The stench of decomposing flesh overpowered the trunk of the family’s car. “Why did Anthony let 30 days pass between the time Caylee went missing and the day police were notified?” questioned Tresniowski, “And how could she so blithely dan...
The Jodi Arias trial captured American attention very rapidly and soon become nearly the only thing on television news networks. The trial nearly monopolized Fox News for several months. There are several murders that happen every day in the United States, so how did this murder case gain so much attention? Because it contains many themes that are enticing to the American population. According to Elliott McLaughlin at CNN.com, “It's rife with sex, lies and digital images, many of them naughty, and the dueling attorneys are lively -- nay, bombastic -- in their arguments...
According to the prosecution, Jodi Arias had a plan and preparation to kill Travis Alexander.
The O.J. Simpson trial, as it became known, opened on January 24, 1995 and concluded October 3 the same year. Over the span of the trial, the prosecution team presented 72 witnesses including friends and family of Nicole, friends of O.J., and a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Given the trial’s notable and well-known defendant, those involved in the trial gained lifetime fame. To this day I can still recall the names Judge Lance Ito, Marcia Clark (Deputy District Attorney), and Simpson’s defense counsel, “The Dream Team,” which consisted of a number of high-profile attorneys, most notably Robert Shapiro and Johnnie Cochran. I chose this case because it left a lasting impression in my memory, as well as a lasting impression in our nation’s memory. There have been many high-profile cases over the years, but this case was not predicted to end the way it di...
...s from The Prosecution Function to a real life setting. My tainted movie perception of the criminal justice system no longer exists. While the process does not necessarily always have an unbelievable climax, the excitement lies in the subtle details the opposing counsels must recognize in order to gain an advantage; it truly is a mind game. The immense amount of time and effort that is put forth makes me appreciate the quality of art that lawyers possess. The knowledge and preparation it takes to be successful is astounding, and it is a pleasure to watch.
This book had me on the edge of my seat considering I did not hear about anything about this Columbine incident until a class talk and as I started to read this book. I could not understand how the police, Eric’s dad, the friends and family could not have suspected anything from Eric and Dylan. First there was the the police report about Eric's website that was filled with information about Klebold and Harris’s missions and pipe bombs was taken by police but nothing happened. “ This Web page refers to ‘missions’ where possible criminal mischiefs have occurred.Curiously, Burgess made no mention of the pipe bombs, which seems far more serious,” (185). The web site of Eric’s that demonstrated the powerfulness of the bombs, yet Officer Burgess never wrote about the pipe bombs which Eric could then have gotten interviewed or questioned about his pipe bombs and missions. Then there was the one of how the boys friends knew about their guns and pipe bombs but had no idea of the plan of “Judgement Day.” They knew that they were armed with guns and pipe bombs but thought nothing of this. This seems oddly suspicious to me along with many others how they knew this information but the friends of Eric and Dylan thought it was okay.This made others come to the
Barrera, Adriana, et al. Cinergia Movie File: Camila. 10 Apr. 2001. 15 Feb. 2005 .
In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Orenthal James Simpson or OJ Simpson was a well-known celebrity within North America. He was an all American Football player who turned to acting and sports casting after he retired from the National Football League. On June 12, 1994 Nicole Brown, OJ’s ex-wife, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, were found murdered outside Nicole’s residence. The scene of the crime took place outside Ms. Brown’s condominium complex, where two murdered bodies were discovered in the entrance pathway. The police scanned the scene of the crime carefully searching for evidence. They found crucial DNA evidence that supported their idea that Mr. Simpson had been involved in committing these murders. The LAPD issued a statement to the media saying that they were allowing OJ Simpson to turn himself in by June 17 at 11:00 a.m. OJ Simpson did not report to the police station on June 11th. The infamous car chase took place while broadcasted on live television. OJ Simpson's Ford Bronco was spotted driving down the interstate, being driven by his friend Al Cowlings. Mr. Simpson was located in the rear seat with a gun pointing to his head stating that he was going to kill himself if any cop approach the vehicle. Within the video below detective Tom Lange talked to Simpson while the car chase was taking place. He pleads with Mr. Simpson to stop this chase and not to commit suicide. Every news station within the world broadcasted the chase as the police chased Mr. Simpsons white bronco at slow speeds down the highway. Citizens flocked to the overpasses to watch as the truck passed them while being followed by numerous cop cars and news helicopters. The chase finally concluded at Mr. Simpson's home and came to a dramatic end when Cowling park...
...announcement that she was indeed dating Scott but had no knowledge that he was married and that she was not a suspect in the investigation. Laci’s Parents had turned on him once this came to the light. Police were going to treat Laci’s disappearance as a homicide but on April 13 of 2003 a couple spotted what looked like a male fetus. On the next day a pregnant woman washed up in the same area of the male fetus in the Berkeley Bay. Forensic scientists confirmed that the fetus and the woman was Laci’ and her and Scott’s son with matching DNA. On April 18, 2003 Scott was arrested at gun point. Police felt as though Scott was trying to flee to Mexico because he had dyed his hair and grown a goatee and had $15,000 in cash, survival gear and his brother’s ID. It took the jury seven days to reach a verdict of the death penalty. Scott Peterson is now sitting on death row.
The school's undercover narcotics officer, Randy, was killed in the faculty parking lot. A car pulled up, and a black tinted window rolled down. The passenger in the back seat shot him once in the head with a handgun, then the car sped away. Randy was killed instantly, and the people in the car were never caught.
On August 20th, 1989 Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents inside their Beverly Hills home with fifteen shot gun blasts after years of alleged “sexual, psychological, and corporal abuse” (Berns 25). According to the author of “Murder as Therapy”, “The defense has done a marvelous job of assisting the brothers in playing up their victim roles” (Goldman 1). Because there was so much evidence piled up against the brothers, the defense team was forced to play to the jurors’ emotions if they wanted a chance at an acquittal. Prosecutor Pamela Bozanich was forced to concede that “Jose and Kitty obviously had terrific flaws-most people do in the course of reminding jurors that the case was about murder, not child abuse” (Adler 103). Bozanich “cast the details of abuse as cool, calculated lies” (Smolowe 48)...