Alyce LaViolette -- Testifying For Jodi Arias

The domestic violence expert, Alyce LaViolette is testifying in the Jodi Arias case. Under cross-examination we have learned that Ms. LaViolette has given a speech entitled, "Was Snow White a Battered Woman?"

Interestingly enough the speech raises some questions about how fairy tales affect the way children think. Ms. LaViolette points out how many fathers are absent, that females appear helpless, etc. I think we can all agree that fairy tales can have both good and bad messages attached to them. Obviously LaViolette is more interested in pointing out the negative.

The prosecutor, Martinez goes back and forth with LaViolette over information that has been previously presented. Alyce's testimony is reminiscent of Jodi's. She is difficult and abrasive. A root canal is easier to endure compared to watching her on the stand. Since Psychology is a "soft" science, meaning there are very few ways of being able to produce consistent results from one professional to another, Martinez has a fairly easy job of discrediting her. Ms. LaViolette seems to have an extensive background however she is lacking in credentials that allow her to test her subjects. She typically relies mostly on what her subjects tell her and from there she makes a determination of their situation.

In this case LaViolette was given Jodi's diary and she apparently had access to emails and text messages between Jodi and Travis and Travis and the other women he communicated with. She concluded that Jodi was a victim of domestic violence.

Martinez exposed the absurdity of this conclusion by pointing out that LaViolette had formed her opinion mostly on conversations exclusively with Jodi and other correspondences -- emails and text messages. She also concluded that these other women Travis was communicating with were vulnerable but never once spoke with them directly. Even more damaging to the defense Martinez rightly indicated that LaViolette's conclusions mean nothing if Jodi was being less than truthful with her.

Jodi was dishonest. She told LaViolette that she cut her hands while cutting apples.

Martinez pointed out that LaViolette in her own notes questioned the gas can issue since she was informed that they were borrowed for a trip to Mesa. In her notes she seemed to indicate uncertainty since she was under the impression that the trip was last minute.



The conclusions that LaViolette has come to concerning Jodi being abused greatly disturbs me. I have personally been in an abusive relationship and Jodi exhibits almost no signs of being abused but rather her behavior exposes herself as being the abuser.

Let's take a look at some of the common behaviors of abusers:

Keeps track of what you are doing all the time and criticizes you for little things.
Constantly accuses you of being unfaithful.
Prevents or discourages you from seeing friends or family, or going to work or school.
Gets angry when drinking alcohol or using drugs.
Controls all the money you spend.
Humiliates you in front of others.
Destroys your property or things that you care about.
Threatens to hurt you or the children or pets, or does cause hurt (by hitting, punching, slapping, kicking, or biting).
Uses or threatens to use a weapon against you.
Forces you to have sex against your will.
Blames you for his/her violent outbursts.

So, let's dissect this a bit. Jodi most certainly made efforts to keep track of Travis. She even moved to Mesa after the two broke up in order to keep an eye on him. She would sneak into his house; she admitted to going to the back of his house and peering into his window while he was engaged with another woman; she snooped in his phone. Later we learn that she broke into his Facebook account. She also claims that the two of them exchanged passwords for online accounts in order to keep tabs on him.

Of course it is well documented that Jodi accused Travis of being unfaithful and she has a history of accusing other men of being unfaithful to her. It is most likely that Jodi was the one who sent a "John Doe" email to the woman Travis was seeing. In this e-mail she called the woman a whore and told her to repent. I am unaware of Jodi using drugs or alcohol but her mother indicated when Jodi was a teenager she caught her growing marijuana in their home. Jodi most certainly destroyed property as she was also most likely the one who slashed Travis' tires two nights in a row. Then there is the car of his that she destroyed. Who knows if she attacked Travis' dog but it wouldn't surprise me to learn she did.

We all know Jodi used both a knife and gun to kill Travis. We also know she lured Travis into continuing a relationship with sex. She was very forward with him and was an excited, willing participant in all of their sexual encounters. Finally, the entire defense for Jodi is Jodi blaming Travis for the killing.

I cannot say with any certainty that Travis was some perfect guy. He most certainly had his flaws and it's safe to say that he exhibited jealous and controlling behaviors at times. This was a volatile relationship. Both of them appeared to be bullheaded at times but, it's clear to me that Jodi was much more of the abuser in this relationship.

I cannot understand how it is LaViolette is so blind to seeing Jodi's role as the abuser. Doesn't she know that abusers typically project their own actions on other people? Is she really so naive as to think only males can be abusers? Perhaps it is her fairy tale analogy that influences her into believing that only females experience abuse? A so-called "expert" should know that women are just as capable of abuse as men are.

Ms. LaViolette admits that Jodi displayed manipulative and deceitful behavior after the murder. Does she really believe that Jodi just became a liar after the murder? Did she forget that Jodi was calm and expressed almost no emotion during her interrogation as lie after lie spilled from her mouth? Does she really expect us to believe that all that these manipulative actions just appeared overnight? Being a liar and taking great pains to cover up her presence in AZ is not something a person does when they are otherwise considered to be honest. It is also not the behavior of someone who was defending themselves. Someone defending themselves may shoot or stab (not both), and run to a phone or escape and get to a police station. They do not run away, pretend as if they were never there, leave messages for the known deceased, call the police to fish for information, repeatedly lie for years, and then out of nowhere claim they were just defending themselves. This was not a one or two wound crime. This was multiple stabs that led to overkill -- a slashed throat and a shot to the head.

I am hoping this woman has good intentions and is not looking to gain 15 minutes of fame. I am inclined to believe that she believes what she says but I am not comfortable knowing this woman is involved in helping people deal with domestic violence. She is not thorough in her work, nor is she insightful. She is siding with the abuser, not the victim.

The fact is, Travis is dead. Travis is the one who endured 27 stab wounds, a slash across the neck from ear to ear, and a gunshot wound. He is the one who was stuffed into his shower, washed off, and left naked and dead. Jodi left with a cut to her finger.


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I would like to take a moment and make mention of  the Women's Center for Advancement, Omaha, NE, Formally the YWCA. They provide free counselling and domestic violence education for women and men who are in need of help. They helped me greatly in understanding what domestic violence is and taking the steps necessary to get away from the abuser.

If you or someone you know is being abused verbally, sexually, or physically seek help. Most areas have services available to you. If you would like to help people in these situations -- donate! Most places accept money, food, and clothes. Don't be a victim and help others to not be a victim either.