The State of Arizona vs. Jodi Arias is one of the most remarkable murder trials in recent memory. Considering the state is prosecuting Arias with the ultimate penalty of death, they need to establish premeditation. We have all heard that she originally possessed two gas cans but purchased and returned the third for a refund. What has not been presented or covered, at least to this point, is evidence WHY Jodi would have needed the third gas can for her trip.
Jodi Arias has demonstrated that she is smart like a fox. She is articulate, well composed, and capable of generating emotion on-command as needed. It is this fact that her perceived need of gas cans to avoid running out of fuel in the desert raises the following premeditation theory.
The Vehicle In Question And Range
Jodi rented a 2008 Ford Focus in Redding, CA. Based upon the specifications, the manufacturer identifies:
• A gasoline tank capacity of 13.5 gallons
• Fuel Economy of 24 MPG City, 35 MPG Hwy
Calculating fuel range on the above economy standards:
- 13.5 X 24 MPG = 324 miles
- 13.5 X 35 MPG = 472.5 miles
Arias’ ex-boyfriend, Darryl Brewer, testified that Arias stopped by his house in Monterey, California, on June 3, 2008 and borrowed two gas cans. Jodi then headed to Salinas, CA and testified that she purchased a third gas can from WalMart but returned it the same day for a refund. Prosecution evidence shows that WalMart did not record a return for that item which may come up in the rebuttal case. Jodi’s last recorded transaction in California was at 8:46pm on June 3, 2008 getting fuel at a Pasadena, CA ARCO station.
The prosecution has argued that the gas cans were used to avoid any electronic purchase or surveillance video in the state of Arizona.
The Case For Needing The Third Gas Can
If Jodi was in a premeditative state of mind, she would have needed to calculate the total miles traveled between Pasadena, CA to Mesa, AZ as well as leaving Mesa, AZ to Hoover Dam, NV. We will consider both a “Worst Case Scenario” on the manufacturers City range of 24 MPG as well as a “Best Case Scenario” on the manufacturers Hwy range of 35 MPG.
For this exercise, it is important to note that the total number of miles needed to leave Pasadena, CA, arrive in Mesa, AZ, and then enter Nevada at the Hoover Dam checkpoint is 668 miles.
Fuel Range Based Upon The Worst Case Scenario
Most likely, Jodi would have based her decision on the “Worst Case Scenario” in order to eliminate any concern of fuel range issues. The following is the breakdown and miles of each segment:
• Pasadena, CA to Mesa, AZ = 387 Miles
Using the City MPG calculation, the Ford Focus would travel 324 miles on a full tank (13.5 X 24 MPG = 324 miles). This is short of the 387 mile Pasadena, CA to Mesa, AZ segment. In this scenario, Jodi would have been 63 miles short of her destination requiring 2.6 gallons from her reserve tanks.
Adding the 7.4 gallon balance in the two 5-gallon gas cans would have left her fuel gauge somewhere between 1/2 to 3/4 departing Mesa, AZ for the Hoover Dam. After leaving Mesa, AZ, the next segment is:
• Mesa, AZ to Hoover Dam, NV = 281 Miles
Consider the following fuel range calculations using the City MPG “worst case scenario”:
• Full tank (13.5 gallons) plus two 5-gallon (10 total gallon) reserve tanks – 13.5 + 10 X 24 = 564 Miles –
Since the two driving segments are 668 miles, the third gas can is an absolute necessity in this scenario.
Fuel Range Based Upon The Best Case Scenario
If Jodi based her calculations on the “best case scenario” of 35 MPG, she would have arrived in Mesa, AZ with an approximate unused fuel range of 85.5 miles or roughly 2.44 gallons in the tank (13.5 gallon tank X 35 MPG = 472.5 miles less the 387 miles traveled from Pasadena, CA.). Adding the additional 10 gallons Jodi claimed she had in the two gas cans, her tank would be roughly one gallon short of a full tank. This scenario gives Jodi plenty of fuel (roughly 12.5 gallons X 35 MPG = 437.5 miles). Less the 281 mile segment, the tank would still have approximately 4.4 gallons or just shy of a half of a tank.
The important fact to consider in this scenario is that the 281 mile segment from Mesa, AZ to Hoover Dam, NV takes you through some of the most desolate regions in Arizona. Even if the “best case scenario” is considered, Jodi would have left Mesa, AZ for Hoover Dam, NV with EMPTY gas cans. This is completely contrary to her testimony where she identified fear of driving through the desert without spare fuel.
The additional 5-gallon gas can not only provides insurance, but may have been considered a critical thought process to extend the range if needed. Therefore, based upon the Ford Focus manufacturer’s specifications and Jodi’s testimony regarding fuel range concerns, this only exposes more inconsistencies.
Mr. Martinez has already introduced additional electronic purchase evidence at a Salt Lake City Tesoro gas station. His calculation of this purchase shows that it would have filled a third gas can. Although that evidence was compelling, the above scenarios would have to have been considered in advance of the trip. This is more powerful and we at GPS Tracking Expert believe is essential to establishing premeditation.
Many car rental agencies have considered GPS tracking to monitor their fleet. Jodi Arias’ vehicle was not equipped with this technology. Having a detailed historical vehicle tracking record of Arias’ trip from June 2, 2008 through June 7, 2008 would have uncovered a wealth of information. This could have included possible location of the murder weapon, where Jodi allegedly stopped in the desert, etc. Unfortunately, there was no GPS tracking device on the rental vehicle so the jury is left with circumstantial evidence.
