Jodi Arias Update: Prosecutors still plan to pursue death penalty for convicted murderer
(CBS/AP) PHOENIX - Authorities plan to try again to secure the death penalty for convicted murderer Jodi Arias after jurors in her trial deadlocked last month on a sentence.
PICTURES: Jodi Arias pleads with jurors for a life sentence
READ: Jodi Arias: A timeline of a sensational murder case
Arias was convicted of murder May 8 in the 2008 killing of boyfriend Travis Alexander at his suburban Phoenix home.
About two weeks later, the same panel failed to reach a unanimous decision on whether to sentence Arias to life in prison or death. Before they began deliberations, Arias begged for a life sentence, asking for her life to be spared for her family's sake.
While her murder conviction stands, prosecutors have the option of pursuing a new penalty phase aiming for the ultimate punishment or avoid it altogether, leading to a life sentence for Arias.
Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said Wednesday that his office is preparing for a retrial.
A new panel will need to be seated before the next penalty phase can proceed. If the second panel cannot reach a unanimous agreement, the judge will then sentence Arias to either her entire life in prison or life in prison with the possibility of release after 25 years.