Jodi Arias: Guilty of first-degree murder

AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Rob Schumacher, Pool

Jodi Arias, a 32-year-old small-town waitress and aspiring photographer, was found guilty of first-degree murder on May 9, 2013 in the slaying of her on-again, off-again boyfriend Travis Alexander at his suburban Phoenix home in June 2008. Arias claimed she killed Alexander, a motivational speaker and salesman for a legal services company, in self-defense. But prosecutors insisted it was an act of first-degree murder that could bring the death penalty. The jury also had the option to convict Arias of second-degree murder or manslaughter. Arias faces a potential death sentence or life in prison, with or without the chance of parole. The sentencing phase of the trial will begin May 9, 2013 with the same panel deciding whether the killing was committed in an especially cruel, heinous and depraved manner. PICTURE: Arias looks at her family after the verdict is read, May 8, 2013, in Phoenix.

Jodi Arias reacts after she was found of guilty of first-degree murder in the gruesome killing of her one-time boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in their suburban Phoenix home, Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix.

Judge Sherry Stephens is handed the decision which found Jodi Arias guilty of first-degree murder in the gruesome killing of her one-time boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in their suburban Phoenix home, Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix.

Sandra Arias, center, reacts after her daughter, Jodi Arias, was found of guilty of first-degree murder in the gruesome killing her one-time boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in their suburban Phoenix home, Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix.

Jodi Arias reacts after she was found of guilty of first degree murder in the gruesome killing her one-time boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in their suburban Phoenix home, Wednesday, May 8, 2013, in Phoenix.

U.S. Marshals and Maricopa County Sheriff's Deputies block the entrance to Superior Court as spectators wait for a verdict in the murder trial of Jodi Arias, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 in Phoenix. Arias was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday in the 2009 killing of her one-time boyfriend Travis Alexander after a four-month trial.

Spectators react to a guilty verdict in the murder trial of Jodi Arias, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 in Phoenix. Arias was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday in the 2009 killing of her one-time boyfriend Travis Alexander after a four-month trial.

Spectators cheer as the crowd calls out the name of prosecutor Juan Martinez, after a guilty verdict is announced in the murder trial of Jodi Arias, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 in Phoenix. Arias was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday in the 2008 killing of her one-time boyfriend Travis Alexander after a four-month trial.

Spectators react in Phoenix, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 to a guilty verdict in the trial of Jodi Arias, a waitress and aspiring photographer charged with killing her boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in Arizona in 2008. The four month trial included graphic details of their sexual escapades and photos of Alexander just after his death.

David Hall, a friend of Travis Alexander, pumps his fist outside Superior Court in Phoenix, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 to a guilty verdict in the trial of Jodi Arias. Arias was a waitress and aspiring photographer charged with killing her boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in Arizona in 2008. The four month trial included graphic details of their sexual escapades and photos of Alexander just after his death.

Friends of murder victim Travis Alexander, Taylor Searle, left, and Michael Hughes smile as they leave the Maricopa County Superior Court building after a guilty verdict is announced in the murder trial of Jodi Arias, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 in Phoenix. Arias was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday in the 2008 killing of her one-time boyfriend Travis Alexander after a four-month trial.

From left; Virginia Aguiar, Jane Crook, Nisha Kataria, and Debbie Lambert all react in Phoenix, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 to a guilty verdict in the trial of Jodi Arias, a waitress and aspiring photographer charged with killing her boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in Arizona in 2008. The four month trial included graphic details of their sexual escapades and photos of Alexander just after his death.