Arias: Rebuttal April 24

Det. Robert Brown, computer forensic examiner for the City of Mesa, testified regarding three photos of Jodi Arias retrieved from a Helio phone.  To whom the Helio phone belonged wasn't stated.  All three photos were taken on June 3, 2008.  Each showed a closeup of Arias with what appeared to be brown or dark auburn hair -- without highlights.

• Exhibit #637 taken at 2:12pm
• Exhibit #636 taken at 2:25pm
• Exhibit #638 taken at 2:28pm

Two other photo exhibits (dates and times not given during this testimony) were reintroduced:

• Exhibit #414, photo of Arias (with blonde hair) and a black dog 
• Exhibit #452, photo of Arias (with blonde hair) and her sister (wearing a cap)

Exhibit #237.008 is reintroduced, a Walmart receipt dated 6/3/2008 at 15:22 military time (3:22pm):

• FACIAL CLEANSER #002270000054 @ $3.97
• FACIAL CLEANSER #002270000054 @ $3.97
• NEUUS85BNS #007050157285 @ $9.92
• NEUUS85BNS #007050157285 @ $9.92
• 5G KERO CARB #004454931777 @ $12.96

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I believe it's been well established Jodi dyed her hair after renting the car in Redding but before arriving at Travis Alexander's home in the early morning of June 4, 2008. But the purchase of two facial cleansers and two other unidentified items bug the heck out of me. Arias testified she returned the five-gallon gas can because she really couldn't afford it (and we know she didn't).  So why did she buy two facial cleansers?  Why did she need so much cleanser if money was tight?

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Det. Esteban "Steve" Flores, Mesa Police Department, returned to the stand for rebuttal testimony.  On direct, Flores states the home of Travis Alexander was thoroughly searched over three days from "top to bottom" -- including the attic.  The following items were not found:  gun holster, gun case, bullets, gun cleaning kits.  Neither of Alexander's roommates owned guns.  Under cross examination, Flores admitted he did not personally conduct the search but relied on others working under him and their findings.

He also testified he returned to the crime scene on March 5, 2013, to reexamine the closet in the master bedroom. He restored the configuration of the shelving in the master bedroom closet to the state they were in following the murder.  He showed that the shelves are all the type which rest on four metal pins, i.e. they are all adjustable.  The distance from the floor to the top of the top shelf is 83"; from the floor to the ceiling is eight feet.  A photograph was shown of Flores resting his hand on the front of a shelf, showing that the back of the shelf flips up with relatively little pressure. (ref. Photo Exhibits #639, 640, 641).

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Thank God for this rebuttal. I feared Juan Martinez wasn't making it clear during the main case how unstable that type of shelving is. The minute I saw the original closet photos I knew Arias was lying about standing on a shelf in order to reach the alleged gun.