One thing I’ve refrained from commenting on here is the Casey Anthony case and tonight, the eve of Braeden’s 5th birthday, I can’t help but post on it.
This story has touched my life for the past 3 years. Reading a news story about a little girl being missing in your area is horrible. As a mother, it is terrifying. Reading suspicious accusations and lies is troubling. Finding out that authorities found and identifying the body of the little girl decayed, with duck tape on her mouth, and too-small clothes is horrifying. Especially if it’s happening in your own backyard.
Casey Anthony is from East Orlando, my home. Her parents house is less than a mile from where a good friend used to live. A good neighborhood with moderate-sized houses and well maintained lawns.
As the media circus rose around my area (I stood in line behind Gerald Rivera at Barnes & Noble. It was surreal.) , the residents were saddened, frustrated, and then angered by the Anthony family. This trial has impacted me more than just a woman standing trial for doing unimaginable things to her child. This women frequented places I did. She danced at bars that I pass by daily. She probably shopped at the same Super Target that I did. The same gas stations. Our children were roughly the same age, though we clearly had different agendas about our lives.
Today’s verdict saddens and angers me, for Caylee’s sake. I don’t blame her parents for lying (wouldn’t you do the same for your kids?). I don’t blame the jury for finding reasonable doubt. I don’t blame the prosecution. I don’t think Jose Baez did a good job – he certainly does not deserve any awards. I just think about the little girl who lost her life. Who might not have been murdered, but definitely neglected. My heart is heavy for her.
Tonight I hugged my kids a little bit tighter and I thanked God that I am able to celebrate another birthday with my little man tomorrow.
I don’t want to beat a dead horse — but what are your thoughts?
I am totally speechless with this verdict. You know, I get it that probably there was not enough evidence for death penalty but she should have been found guilty. I think there was some pretty compeling evidence to find her guilty, other than to lying to the police. I mean, I have not kids but I think that any mother who loses track of their kids for a few minutes would freak out. This woman did not report her daughter for 31 days, and during this time frame she was out partying. I dont know…it really makes you wonder about our system. I think the most chilling sensation with this woman came today after the verdict was read. She was crying I am sure in relief, but then she was laughing happily. And I kept thinking, “why are you laughing and smiling? You daughter is still dead”. This woman is not grieving whatsoever the loss of her daughter. I think this jury will look back on this case, outside the vacuum they have been on for months, and regret their decision. Ok, maybe more than you wanted to know, but this has my blood boling.
No, this is how I feel too. She’s unavoidable on the news and seeing that sick smile and her laughing just makes me want to throw up. Something that I realized this morning was that she’s so young and she’s bound to have more children. I wish there was a law that could prevent THAT from happening.
Michelle,
I haven’t been following the case as closely as I should be but I think you definitely have it right. Nothing can bring her back and it’s so sad not matter what happened. Definitely do hug your little ones tight it’s wonderful to see such a loving mom and family when I visit your blog
There are no winners today. At least Jose Baez acknowledged that (unlike the cranky Cheney who just wanted to gloat).
But I still just don’t understand what the members of the jury were thinking. After I heard the Not Guilty on Count 1, I thought, “Oh, OK, they’re just going for Count 2.” Stunning. How else do they think the baby ended up in a swamp? This whole “let’s blame George” track just amazes me. Did they not listen to the tapes of her? Ugh, now I’m getting angry again.
Moving on. Moving on. Moving on …
YES. I felt so sick to my stomach when they said not guilty to counts 2 and 3. I’m still kinda speechless about it!
It’s hard to move on, should be interesting to hear what comes out of it though since she can’t be tried again thanks to double jeopardy. Hopefully she admits the truth. Or some version of it.
You said it very well, and your kids were on my mind all the way. The prosecution did a fabulous job, but the evidence was missing. Just a sad, sad case.
Yes, so sad. I am glad it’s over – hopefully Caylee will get the justice she deserves someday.
I didn’t follow the case closely throughout the entire trial (but then caught up yesterday), but I can’t imagine the feeling of knowing all this happened right in your own backyard. It adds another level of horror to an already horrific event. I find the entire thing so sad…and the verdict mystifying. I understand how our justice system works, and I understand that things had to be proven beyond a doubt for her to have received a guilty verdict – but at the end of the day, you still have a little girl who died a very tragic death and a mother who didn’t report her own daughter missing for an entire month. And she walks away happy. Where is the justice in that?
Well said – better than I could! I’ll be interested in hearing what really happened. I’m sure to some extent those truths will unravel over time. I hope Caylee gets her justice then!
I’m on your same page Michelle, the verdict made me very sad for Caylee. I don’t think Baez did a good job. I don’t know if Caylee was murdered or if it was an accident. What I do know is that any child, any human being, does not deserve to end up in a swamp. She deserved better.
Sometimes our court system makes me so angry.
I think we all realize why she’s guilty, but the members of the jury didn’t get to watch Nancy Grace go on and on about the case or any other media. We have all been influenced by outside sources. The jury had what they saw and heard in the court room, and that’s it. But I didn’t watch much of the trial, so I could be way off base.
She’s definitely guilty of something other than lying to the police, but it’s not my place to say what.
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Oh, I didn’t watch anything supplemental to what was going on in the courtroom. I agree that there was reasonable doubt when it came to Murder 1 — but the other two counts? I think the prosecution did a pretty good job proving that Casey was involved in her death. Even if it was an accident – as they claim – the duct tape and dumping of the body is disturbing. As were the searches done on the computer and the stains in the car that WERE linked to Caylee’s DNA. Oh well, like I’ve said I just feel bad for Caylee. May we all pray that Casey doesn’t have any more children any time soon (or ever!).