Juror 17 Speaks Out About Fallout From Jodi Arias Case
Many people who have followed the Jodi Arias case were surprised when once again, Arias was spared the death penalty when one juror voted against it. Known simply as Juror 17, the holdout who hung up the jury in the sentencing retrial is finally speaking out about the backlash that she has since experienced after the 26-hour deliberation in the Arias case.
In an exclusive interview with 12 News in Arizona, Juror 17, who asked for the network to conceal her identity, said that "there's people who hate me that don't even know me."
"I feel like I'm being judged. I didn't ask for this. I just showed up for jury duty," she said.
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It was reported earlier this month that the 11 jurors who voted for the death penalty have condemned Juror 17. They said that she made few comments during their 26-hour deliberations over five days. Late in the deliberations, they reportedly tried to have her kicked off the jury.
According to 12 News, reaction on social media has been "murderous". Juror 17 and her family members have reportedly been inundated with threats on Facebook and Twitter, and her name, address, phone number, and a photo of her home were said to have been posted online shortly after the mistrial was declared.
"After the verdict was announced," she said, "the judge … told us the media already had our information. That some of us had been followed home." As a result, police are now keeping watch on her home.
She also denied that she was a "stealth juror" who fooled everyone to get Arias off the death penalty.
"All I did was answer the questions truthfully," she said. "I didn't want to be involved. I didn't want this pressure."
