Cheers, Tears at Arias 1st-Degree Murder Verdict The jury has found Jodi Arias guilty of first-degree murder in the death of her one-time boyfriend in Arizona. Arias initially denied involvement and later blamed the killing on masked intruders. Two years after her arrest, she said she killed Travis Alexander in self-defense. After a four-month trial that included graphic details of their sexual escapades and photos of Alexander just after his death, jurors began deliberating Friday afternoon. This is what AP reporters on the scene Wednesday are learning about the events unfolding: In another segment of her interview with Fox affiliate KSAZ, Jodi Arias said if she could change what she did, she "would turn around and drive to the Mesa Police Department" instead of heading to Utah to see another man after Travis Alexander was killed. Arias initially denied involvement in the killing and then blamed masked intruders before finally saying she killed him in self-defense. Jodi Arias said in a post-conviction interview with a TV station that she prefers the death penalty over life in prison. Arias talked to Fox affiliate KSAZ in the courthouse minutes after she was convicted of first-degree murder. She said she would "prefer to die sooner than later" and that "death is the ultimate freedom." Mesa Police Chief Frank Milstead said he was very pleased with the police work on the case. He called lead detective Esteban Flores' work "exemplary," and also praised the lab workers and other support staff. Milstead said: "To not have police work come into question in a real high-profile case is amazing." Travis Alexander's family singled out the prosecutor and a key witness in their public thanks. In a statement, given to media by Attorney Jay Beckstead, Alexander's brothers and sisters thanked prosecutor Juan Martinez and Mesa police Detective Esteban Flores, who was the lead detective on the case and testified extensively. They also said they appreciated the outpouring of support from the public, but asked that people respect their privacy. Coverage of the case escalated during the trial. One of those who covered it from beginning to end was Nancy Grace, host of a show on cable network HLN. Shortly after the jury returned, she cheered the guilty verdict on her show, saying: "This is not bloodthirsty revenge's cries of joy. It's not that. It's the fear that justice would be snatched out of our hands. It's the fear that Travis' murder would go un-avenged. It is the fear that our system would fail as it has in the past. But today, our system, Lady Justice, triumphs. Phoenix defense attorney Julio Laboy said the aggravation phase could last a couple of days, consisting of arguments from the prosecutor and testimony by a medical examiner who might describe for the jury how Alexander died - shot, stabbed repeatedly, his throat slashed. Laboy expected the penalty phase could go on for about three weeks, with opening statements, closing arguments and testimony.