If you are interested in this case this is the best source for a complete look at how things have developed in the disappearance of baby Elaina:
http://www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=914476#.UczLO0qRLbk
The defense has filed 2 new motions- one to vacate death eligibility and the second to vacate the aggravating factor. One of the primary reasons cited in the motions by the defense is the use of the word ‘especially’ in the phrase: “especially heinous.” Nurmi contends that use of that word implies the statue was designed for a judge, not a jury. He said that ‘layperson jurors’ are left to ‘muddle through’ the definition with a defendant’s life in the balance. Maricopa County Attorney called this a standard procedural move: “Those are defense attorneys doing their job advocating for their client,” Montgomery said Wednesday. “Obviously, we disagree.”
So here’s the latest tweets from our favorite murderer:
2 days ago:
1. ‘To all those worrying who is tweeting for me NO IT IS NOT DONAVAN. Thank you.’ (She thinks we still care because she is so very important.)
2. ‘For the last 3 nites, Estrella’s kitchen served dinner in Styrofoam containers to nearly 2,000 ppl per nite. Sorry, planet.’ (An attempt to prove she really does care about that recycling idea though her allocution was the one and only time we ever heard she even cared.)
3. ‘Let’s clear up any confusion. Anyone asking 4 donation$ right now on my behalf 4 my appeals is not legit.’ (People are trying to rip me off!)
4. ‘I’m not currently accepting donations 4 appeals. Just don’t know yet if I will plea or appeal.’ (I am in control of this whole show.)
5. (Re-tweet from @Geraldo Rivera): ‘Am I the only one who thinks Nancy Grace’s relentless cheer leading for Jodi Aria’s Death gross and excessive? The anchor as executioner?!’ (I hate Nancy Grace!)
6. ‘I drew a bighorn sheep, now at JodiArias.com. These are beautiful animals native to the Southwestern United States.’ (I’m a fantastic artist and you should buy this.)
1 day ago:
1. ‘Please don’t send any photos I’m not allowed to receive them. MCSO;s website is misleading.’ (I’m so popular that I have to stop all my fans from sending me stuff.)
2. My friend Griz wrote me and posed an interesting Q: “Why do people find it so easy to hate and so hard to love?” (My imaginary friend is trying to get all you haters to stop.)
From 13abc.com (link below):
Angela Steinfurth appeared before the grand jury today and was indicted for obstruction (giving false information). After telling the police that baby Elaina was injured and that she did not seek medical help for her, Angela was also charged with Child Endangering. The baby has been missing for over 3 weeks now. A tip to the FBI early last week implied the boyfriend threw the baby against the wall, then put her in bed. When checking on her later she was dead, so Angela and her boyfriend wrapped Elaina in a blanket and threw her in the river (See mu earlier post ‘Baby Elaina Dead?’ for more info. Police spent much of the last week in and around the river searching for the toddler, with no results. Link to full article:
http://www.13abc.com/story/22672334/missing-toddler-mom-indicted-for-obstruction
So is anyone else going to watch this movie tonight with me? @WildAboutTrial will be tweeting through the whole thing and he is quite funny. I heard the acting is horrible. Also heard that they took a lot of liberty with the real story… (spoiler alert) like:
1. Instead of Travis walking up to Jodi (their first meeting, according to Jodi) the movie has her following him into a restroom.
2. The story where the Hughes were upstairs talking to Travis about Jodi and she was listening at the door- now they are by a pool?
3. Jodi had been living in Yreka for a while when she drove to Mesa to kill Travis- in the movie she is telling Travis the night of the murder that she is moving to Yreka.
4. We don’t know what really happened right before the murder, in the movie it is a text from another girl that sets her off.
For more see this article: http://www.today.com/entertainment/true-or-false-lifetime-takes-liberties-jodi-arias-movie-6C10345062
Relatives of a cellmate of Angela Steinfurth (the baby’s Mom) contacted the FBI with the following information: Angela confessed to helping her boyfriend dispose of the baby’s body. According to the source (Connie Elam) Angela’s boyfriend, Stephen W. King, threw baby Elaina against a wall late the eve of June 1, injuring her. He then put the toddler down for a nap and returned later to find the baby had died of the injuries. They then wrapped her up in a blanket and took her down by the high-level bridge and threw the baby inn the river. A neighbor said she saw the couple leave between 12- 1am in their van for about 20 minutes. Relatives of the cellmate say she has nothing to gain by providing this information. Link to full article:
Rumors are being spread about a male sitting next to Jodi’s Mom blowing kisses and winking at Jodi.
Here’s the scoop and the people giving us the inside look-
From Twitter:
@josemcyntire: Any chance you saw the Romeo wooing Jodi Arias in court today?
@tarakelley320: yep he sat in the family row by her mom right in front of me.
@katiecoolady: It was a young male with a dramatic striped hairstyle-never saw him before.
*Jose McYntire is awesome. He is sharp as a tack and often gets the scoop before anyone else. You should follow him.
*Tara Kelley was an alternate juror and has been featured on HLN many times.
*Katie is a blogger who is in court and often featured on WebSleuths. Her sister Cindy was murdered.
Twitter: @maryellenabc15: Mystery man blowing #jodiarias kisses & winks will remain a mystery. Due to Judge’s orders 2 seal deputies can only say his name is Johnny. (From the ‘justice4travis’ page- link: https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Travis)
Commentor- Tara Harris (from Justice4travis page):
I’ve never seen him before and at one point security was talking to him. He did blow her kisses.
Texas trial watcher:
mom and a male friend escorted to the back of the room, like maybe they tried to make contact or something….finally getting the convicted killer treatment!! (From the ‘Love for Juan’ facebook page- link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-for-JUAN/536593039731786)
Katiecoolady (Kathy Monkman) later indicated on Websleuths.com that he was kicked out of court.
By the way- did anyone notice the miracle? Jodi no longer seems to need glasses! (Unless there is a jury present??)
Here is a play by play of what happened in court today via Twitter:
From ‘@WildAboutTrial’:
-In the courtroom at the Jodi Arias trial. Many of the usual faces are here in the spectator section. Media is rather thin. I see Tara Kelley and some other jurors in the gallery. Nurmi and Willmott just went back into chambers. Jodi Arias is not in the courtroom yet. Juan is here…Det. Flores just arrived. Just to remind everyone, this will not be live streamed and most of the hearing will be held in chambers and sealed. Jodi just came in wearing her gray prison striped outfit with salmon socks. Jodi Arias was just escorted back by the well armed sheriff’s deputies. She is in chambers now. These guys are scary looking.
@Chriswnews: Never seen a Jodi Arias escort like this. Arias walked to chambers her shackles making a racket. Arrives in chains surrounded by what appears to be an MCSO SWAT team.
@WildAboutTrial: Willmott just bolted out of chambers and smiled at Flores and Juan, she is getting something from her desk and heading back in. No sign of Travis’ family, just supporters.
@chriswnews: Was told Travis Alexander aunt the only family member expected in the gallery. Sis Samantha to attend via phone. Family civil attorney here.
@WildAboutTrial: Looks like other attorneys here for other trials. Nurmi, Willmott and Jodi Arias are still back in chambers. Flores and Juan continue to semi-reclinate and laugh while they chat. The courtroom is full of chatter. Flores and Juan were just summoned back into chambers. Everyone is coming out of chambers. Jodi Arias has full umbrella bangs and makes a clanking noise as she walks. She went to her room.
@maryellenabc15: Jodi Arias is walked back through court to her holding cell…she is shackled, handcuffed and in jail stripes. Jail SWAT is guarding her.
@WildAboutTrial: The armed sheriff seems to be clearing Jodi Arias’ table. She is brought out now and is sitting down. There are 4 fully armed sheriff deputies here to keep an eye on Jodi Arias. These are some serious deputies. Wow. Jodi Arias is sitting with the DP mitigation specialist whispering. Sheriffs haven’t left her side. Jodi Arias did not seem to have a smile on her face, looked rather tired. Attorneys are back. Judges Stephens is present and addressing the court now. Court is deferring the ruling on the motion to delay the trial until July 18. The hearing is over.
@tarakelley320: Seeing Jodi in shackles was totally worth being at the courthouse today!!!
Both Tara Kelley and Marilou Allen said on the Dr. Drew show tonight that they will be in court for Thursday’s hearing. They both said they are ‘still invested’ and want to ‘see this through.’ Tara was an alternate but Marilou was in on the deliberations. Marilou said the jury went into deliberations (on the Murder 1 charge) without preconceived notions and debated the felony and the premeditation aspects of the case. She also mentioned the ‘sheer brutality of the murder, underscored by Dr. Horn’s testimony.’ When asked about the defense’s asking for a delay Tara said it was ‘ridiculous.’
Both women are still approached by friends and people in the community to talk about the case. They are slowly getting back to their lives.
The hearing this Thursday (8:30 AZ time) should address the delay request. It will not be live streamed but the pool and still cameras will be there.
According to ABC15.com’s Corey Rangel, the prosecution has filed a motion asking the judge to deny the motion for a delay filed by the defense. They defense had said they needed time to find other witnesses to stand up for Jodi (they have had 5 years) and that they had scheduling conflicts. Martinez responded: ““Neither reason warrants a continuance of the proceedings until the first part of next year.” For more here’s the link:
mixedbagblogdotcom 