Dr. Stephen Reich interviewed in special TV report on Jodi Arias

Woman convicted of first-degree murder in brutal slaying of boyfriend

NEW YORK, NY - Forensic psychologist Dr. Stephen Reich was interviewed for a national television special report that focused on the case of Jodi Arias, whose trial and conviction for the brutal slaying of her ex-boyfriend stunned the nation.

Dr. Reich provided his analysis of Arias and the likely emotional motivation that led her on the path to murder and a series of wild lies to cover up her role in the slaying.

"I think that she's a woman who is very much aware of the power of her sexuality," Dr. Reich said during an interview. "She was a woman who was able to attract a man easily and deeply into her personal space, and keep that man in her space."

However, Dr. Reich said Arias could not handle rejection and had to be the one in control.

A national television audience watched broadcasts of the Arias trial, which led to her conviction for first-degree murder in the death of Travis Alexander. The trial exposed numerous lies told by Arias, 33, who tried to blame the brutal death in a suburban home in 2008 on masked intruders.

"I think she doomed herself out of her own mouth because she said more and more and more ... and she couldn't stop her mouth," Dr. Reich said. "... and each story made the story which preceded it ... she tried to tell it as if it never existed and of course, that's ludicrous."

Dr. Reich, who is also an attorney, directs the Forensic Psychology Group, a team of leading providers of expert forensic psychological and psychiatric services. He testifies as an expert witness in courtrooms around the nation and is widely known for his expertise in criminal, employment discrimination, civil and immigration cases.

Dr. Reich is frequently sought out by national media outlets for his analysis of major cases.

In his analysis of the Arias trial, Dr. Reich said so much of what Arias tried to explain away to police and in a Phoenix courtroom just didn't make sense. "There are no tell signs of pathological lying. Every human being has his own inner detector of when someone is lying. It's not very difficult to say that she's pathological because her story so violated common sense. It's not the fact that it was a pathological lie, it's how bad a pathological lie it was," he said.

Up next: The sentencing phase of the Arias trial. The original jury in her trial could not agree on her sentencing.