A female inmate serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of her boyfriend secretly makes thousands of dollars selling artwork.
Jodi Arias, 44, who was convicted in 2013 for the 2008 murder of her on-again, off-again boyfriend Travis Alexander, runs a website where she sells various paintings and prints, one of which is valued at as much as $2,500.
She recently shared on Instagram that she was recently commissioned to paint a cow for a fan, after “someone I really couldn’t turn down asked me to paint one for her office.”
Arias’ conviction for murder became a media sensation over a decade ago, as she narrowly avoided the death penalty. However, her artwork does not violate any Son of Sam laws, as she does not directly profit from her crimes.
Jodi Arias, 44, who was convicted in 2013 for the 2008 murder of her on-again, off-again boyfriend Travis Alexander (pictured together), has secretly made thousands of dollars selling artwork behind bars
Arias’ artwork includes this painting titled “Beyond the Horizon,” which the convicted murderer is selling for $2,500
The convicted murderer claims on her website that she has loved art since she was young, but that she stopped for a while when she “completely turned her life upside down.”
After she started painting again, she started selling her paintings on eBay. Later, she also started selling her paintings on her website. With the proceeds from her website, she buys more supplies.
Ten percent of profits are donated to charity, while “a portion goes to Jodi’s campaigns,” the website says.
Most of Arias’ prints sell for between $28 and $39. She also sells sets of postcards for $34.95.
When she was recently commissioned to paint the cow, she said on Instagram that a prison guard was the inspiration for the unorthodox title.
“An agent interested in the progress of the painting kept asking me how ‘old girl’ was doing,” she wrote.
‘She said it a few times and then it hit me: that’s the title!’
The discovery of Arias’ prison artwork comes after she served 11 years of her life sentence for the murder of Travis Alexander in his Mesa, Arizona home.
Arias said she was recently commissioned to paint a cow for a fan after “someone I really couldn’t turn down asked me to paint one for her office.”
Most of Arias’ prints retail for $28 to $39, and she also sells sets of postcards for $34.95
Arias became one of America’s most notorious female killers in 2013 when she was found guilty of murdering her on-again, off-again boyfriend in a fit of jealousy
Alexander suffered 27 stab wounds, a slit throat and a gunshot wound to the head
The couple met in September 2006 at a work conference in Las Vegas, but their relationship was on-again, off-again for more than a year as they often lived in different states.
Prosecutors said Arias was a jealous and manipulative girlfriend who became enraged at Alexander when she discovered he was dating other women.
Arias allegedly discovered that Alexander was planning a trip to Mexico with another woman, prompting her to kill him.
Alexander was found dead in his shower on June 4, 2008, with 27 stab wounds, a slit throat, and a gunshot wound to the head.
A digital camera found in Alexander’s washing machine also contained several photos of Arias and the victim in sexual poses. Another photo was taken shortly after Alexander was killed.
The photo showed him lying “bleeding profusely” on the bathroom floor, where a bloody handprint was found containing Arias’ DNA.
Arias initially denied the murder, but later admitted to it, claiming it was self-defense after he attacked her.
It was said that Arias planned the murder after discovering that Alexander was planning a vacation to Mexico with another woman
In 2013, she was found guilty, but jurors split on whether to impose the death penalty. Arias was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Arias was once one of America’s most notorious female killers, but her artwork allegedly does not violate the ‘Son of Sam’ laws, the New York Post.
These laws, also known as “criminal reputation protection laws,” were created out of fear that serial killer David Berkowitz might want to sell his life story. They prevent criminals from profiting from the publicity surrounding their crimes.
However, Arias’ paintings do not cross the line because the artwork is not related to Alexander’s murder. Furthermore, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry says it is aware of her profit motives.