The Sociopathic Girlfriend

     Travis Victor Alexander, born July 28, 1977 – June 4, 2008, was an American salesman who was murdered by his ex-girlfriend, Jodi Ann Arias, who was born July 9, 1980. He was murdered in his home in Mesa, Arizona. At the time of the murder Alexander sustained 27 to 29 knife wounds and a gunshot to the head. Arias testified that she killed him in self defense, but she was convicted by the jury. The murder and trial received widespread media attention in the United States.

Background: Travis Alexander and Jodi Ann Arias

     Travis Victor Alexander was born on July 28, 1977, in Riverside, California, to Gary David Alexander and Pamela Elizabeth Morgan Alexander. At the age of 11, Travis moved in with his paternal grandparents. After his father’s death in July 1997, he and his seven siblings were taken in by their paternal grandmother. Alexander was a salesman and motivational speaker for Pre-Paid Legal Services. Jodi Ann Arias was born on July 9, 1980, in Salinas, California, to William and Sandra Arias.     

     Arias and Alexander met in September 2006 at a PPL conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arias converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which Alexander was a member, and was baptized by him on November 26, 2006 in a ceremony in Southern California. Alexander and Arias began dating in February 2007. Arias moved to Mesa to live closer to Alexander. In April 2008, she moved to Yreka, California, and lived there with her grandparents. Alexander and Arias dated intermittently for a year and a half, often in a long distance relationship, taking turns traveling between their respective Arizona and California homes. Alexander’s friend who knew Arias and observed them together tended to have a negative opinion of her, stating that the relationship was unusually tumultuous and that Arias’ behavior was worrying.

                                               The Murder

     Alexander was murdered on Wednesday, June 4, 2008. He sustained 27 to 29 stab wounds, a slit throat, and a gunshot wound to the head. Medical examiner Kevin Horn testified that Alexander’s jugular vein, common carotid artery, and trachea had been slashed and that Alexander had defensive wounds on his hands. One of the detectives even stated that the victim was almost decapitated from one of the vicious attacks. Horn further testified that Alexander may have been dead at the time of the gunshot, and that the back wounds were shallow. One interesting aspect of Arias’ character was shown during one of her interrogations as she appeared to only pay attention to and answer questions from male detectives. 

Citation List:

ABC News, ABC News Network, https://abcnews.go.com/US/friends-warned-travis-alexander-jodi-arias-dangerous-months/story?id=68731237.