You should have read it. It would have helped your response.
Of course sex has a major factor in this.
If Travis was named Juan or black, I doubt Arizonans would have such a wonderful opinion of him.
Why would a pretty woman go to such an extreme to kill a man? She was (baptized) into the Mormon church. She easily could have gone to any singles ward in Mesa or Yreka and found plenty of prospects.
Why would a "spiritual" returned missionary complain about being stalked by this girl (and claim that he wanted to end things with her) and then send x rated text messages to her at 2:00am? If you know that the person you are dating still likes you, thee absolute worst thing you can do is give them hope that things might continue. By sending her romantic messages and by continuing to sleep with her, he continued to give her hope that things might work out. Hard to end things with someone if you continue to sleep with them.