Casey Anthony acquitted of murder in death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee

Casey Anthony holds hands with her defense attorney, Jose Baez, as they listen to the verdict, not guiity on murder charges, at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, July 5, 2011. The jury acquitted Anthony of murdering her daughter, Caylee. Photo by The Associated Press.

By The Associated Press

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

A Florida jury deliberated for more than 10 hours over two days after hearing 33 days of testimony.

She was charged with second-degree murder or manslaughter and was also charged with lying to sheriff’s detectives investigating her daughter’s 2008 disappearance.

The jury of seven women and five men had worked through much of the long weekend, hearing closing arguments Sunday and Monday morning and deliberating for six hours that afternoon. Jurors were chosen from the Tampa Bay area because of pretrial media coverage, and they have been sequestered in an Orlando hotel.

Prosecutors argued Monday that Anthony killed her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in June 2008 because the toddler interrupted her carefree partying and love life. The prosecution said the defense’s assertion that Caylee’s death was an accident made no sense.

Anthony’s attorneys say the girl drowned in the family’s pool. They have said Anthony panicked and that her father, a former police officer, decided to make the death look like a homicide by placing duct tape over the child’s mouth and dumping the body in the woods. George Anthony has denied that.

Prosecutor Jeff Ashton told the jurors no one makes an innocent accident look like murder.

“That’s absurd. Nothing has been presented to you to make that any less absurd,” Ashton said. He also spent significant time reminding jurors about forensic evidence that he said links Anthony to her daughter’s death, including the smell and chemical signature of decomposition in her car.

Lead prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick followed Ashton, telling the jurors that prosecutors presented every piece of evidence they promised in May during opening statements. Without saying it, she was pointing out that defense attorneys never presented direct evidence backing up their contentions that the child drowned.

She then hammered on the lies Casey Anthony, then 22, told from June 16, 2008, when her daughter was last seen, and a month later when sheriff’s investigators were notified. Those include the single mother telling her parents she couldn’t produce Caylee because the girl was with a nanny named Zanny — a woman who doesn’t exist; that she and her daughter were spending time in Jacksonville, Florida, with a rich boyfriend who doesn’t exist; and that Zanny had been hospitalized after an out-of-town traffic crash and that they were spending time with her.

“Responses to grief are as varied as the day is long, but responses to guilt are oh, so predictable,” Drane Burdick said. “What do guilty people do? They lie. They avoid. They run. They mislead, not just to their family, but the police. They divert attention away from themselves and they act like nothing is wrong. That’s why you heard about what happened in those 31 days.”

Burdick concluded the state’s case by showing the jury two side-by-side images. One showed Casey Anthony smiling and partying in a nightclub during the month Caylee was missing. The other showed a tattoo of an Italian phrase meaning “beautiful life,” which Anthony got a day before her family and law enforcement first learned of the child’s disappearance.

“At the end of this case, all you have to ask yourself is whose life was better without Caylee?” Burdick asked. “This is your answer.”

Anthony sat stone-faced during much of the prosecutors’ arguments, but occasionally shook her head in disagreement and spoke under her breath.

Defense attorneys claimed Anthony’s lies and erratic behavior were brought on by her grief over her dead child and by her family’s dysfunction. George Anthony has denied allegations from the defense’s opening arguments that he abused his daughter, and the judge said no evidence has been presented to support it.

Defense attorney Jose Baez said during his closing argument Sunday that the prosecutors’ case was so weak they tried to portray Anthony as “a lying, no-good slut” and that their forensic evidence was based on a “fantasy.” He said Caylee’s death was “an accident that snowballed out of control.”

Baez began his closing argument Sunday with his biggest question: How did Caylee die? Neither prosecutors nor the defense have offered firm proof.

He attacked the prosecution’s forensic evidence. He said air analysis of the trunk of Anthony’s car, which allegedly showed air molecules consistent with decomposition, could not be duplicated. No one could prove a stain found in the trunk was caused by Caylee’s body decomposing there. And witnesses showed maggots found in the trunk came from a bag of trash that was found there, he said.

Baez also attacked George Anthony as unreliable. He said a suicide note George Anthony wrote in January 2009 that claimed no knowledge of what happened to Caylee was self-serving and the attempt was a fraud. He said George Anthony claimed he was going to kill himself with a six-pack of beer and high-blood pressure medicine.

More like this story

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

unbelievable! she waits a month to report her daughter missing, lies over and over again to law, making false statements, and found guilty of only lying? how do these have nothing to do with her daughters death? System needs MAJOR changes..I am so mad about this..

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

she is right on the note about common sense.. it lacks greatly in our legal system..as well as everywhere else.. you can't honestly say that not reporting her daughter missing for a solid month and partying the whole time doesn't spell it out.. not counting the numerous lies told, and more.. sometimes even circumstantial evidence is more than enough to prove guilt, as long as common sense is allowed to present it. I know she is guilty as hell in my opinion..and sadly now she will be free to walk among us and bear more children..

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

Watching the trial live said much more.. The evidence produced and forensic testimony says more than any magazine..somehow the legal system failed again even with the mountain of evidence.

soxfan 1 year, 10 months ago

kind of reminds me of the oj trial don l chicasgo

JMO 1 year, 10 months ago

This is kind of shocking...I was pretty sure she'd be found guilty. The defense that they staged a murder to cover up an accident is just beyond ridiculous. They said she'd be found guilty of neglect and so they hid the evidence? It was better to have her stand trial for murder?

soxfan 1 year, 10 months ago

jmo-she did stand trial for murder don l chicago

JMO 1 year, 10 months ago

I know. What I'm saying is it makes no sense to "cover up" neglect - but let her stand trial for murder.

rodinman 1 year, 10 months ago

Justice served by 12 jurors who heard and saw all the testimony. Only the decision rendered by those 12 people who you sat in the courtroom every minute of the trial and were able to see all the physical evidence matters. All other opinions are just that - opinions.

JMO 1 year, 10 months ago

I agree with you. I'm surprised, but the prosecution must not have had much actual evidence. While her actions in that month the child was "missing" is suspicious, she wasn't accused of bad behavior. That "beyond a reasonable doubt" is harder to reach than most people think.

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

ahhh.. Nice to see you and I agreeing for a change;-) I couldn't agree more with what you said here...

muleman 1 year, 10 months ago

I am thinking the murder trial for the teenage girl that killed the 9 year old will turn into a three ring circus too. Another OJ trial

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

go figure.. even with a confession and a leading to a body, they find ways to get a not guilty verdict.. This country is sad when it comes to true justice and the proceedings under the facade of a fair trial

JMO 1 year, 10 months ago

Like I said, I thought she'd be found guilty, but unless we saw every bit of the trial, we really can't say the jury was wrong. Everything I know about this case says she's guilty - but a "not guilty" verdict doesn't mean "innocent" it just means the prosecution's case had holes in it.

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

yes but at the same time, it is sickening and heart wrenching to know she was acquitted and can't be brought up on the charges again, and she is free to bear more children..

Rison 1 year, 10 months ago

I think she did it. But what do I know? I wasn't there to see the evidence (or lack thereof) presented. Perhaps the state should've been a little less showy and gone for something other than Murder 1. It is the attitude of a couple on here that make me scared every time I see a cop. If I were to be wrongfully accused, I just pray graceful and jcmom69 aren't on the jury.

NoMoBigBro 1 year, 10 months ago

If you know this for fact, why were you not there prosecuting her?

You have such a disdain for anyone and everyone that does not come to the same conclusions as you Grace that it is scary! I have to agree with Rison about ever being wrongly accused!

John 1 year, 10 months ago

WW II had an interesting way of handing out justtice. The populist government simply made sure that the judges and the jurors (also members of the populist movememt) handed out the verdict those in charge felt to be correct -- evidentiary rules and laws didn't matter. Heck, they were even known to CHANGE the laws to make it a crime. What did they call themselves . . . . oh yeah, NAZIS ! Unfortunately, 6 million jews died at their hands. . ..

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

To put it another way.. with the FACT of this woman not reporting her child missing at all (her mother did a month later) clearly says there should have been charges of either involuntary manslaughter or hiding of a corpse, accessory.. something... I mean she outright lied about the drowning occurring in a pool, forensic examiner testified that it was not fresh water in the lungs, it was consistent with swamp water, neighbors testimony of the borrowing of a shovel, the matching duct tape, cadaver dogs sniffed to trunk where chloroform was found, search on her computer, and numerous other facts presented that show intent to at the very least covering it up.. Come on, something is just not right with her not getting anything but the false statements to law. I guess in Florida, it is ok to murder your child or cover the death up as long as you do not lie to the cops!

Rison 1 year, 10 months ago

I totally agree with you. The problem is simply this, was it Murder 1? If there is reasonable doubt about that, she has to be acquitted. Otherwise, what is our system worth? I would go as far as to bet she did it, or had someone do it, but is there proof she did it in a way that constitutes Murder 1? They should've aimed for a slightly lesser charge and let the other moms in prison deal with her, because they would've given her the closest thing to justice she could get from someone other than God (assuming she's guilty). This is why I'm glad I'm not a lawyer. I will say, though, the way the defense railed on the media afterward was PRICELESS.

NoMoBigBro 1 year, 10 months ago

I believe Casey is, in some way, culpable in her daughter's death. But the prosecution decided to go for broke and failed. It seems our only hope now is that she is highly punished for the 4 counts of lying. Sad for Kaylee.

online_editor 1 year, 10 months ago

Rison: Lesser counts of 2nd-degree murder and manslaughter were included in the charges. The instructions given to the jury outlined each of those alternatives, but the jury found not guilty on those as well.

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

sometimes you just don't need a smoking gun to know guilt.. every corner says she did it.. Whether at her own hands or someone elses. To know that this little wench is going to be free to bear yet more children makes me sick to my stomach.

John 1 year, 10 months ago

You're absolutely correct. To heck with the law and evidentiary rules; hang the . . . what did you name her . . . . oh yeah, the little wench.

John 1 year, 10 months ago

It is amazing to me that there are so many of you folks who "know" Casey is guilty of murder is some form or another, and yet, 12 jurors (tried and true) along with the alternate jurors (at least those I have seen interviewed) all seem to believe the verdict was the correct one and that is was NOT proven she did it. In MY mind, if the evidence wasn't there to PROVE she did it, then it is simple, she did NOT do it. That is the way our legal system works. Would you of the mob-mentality prefer our laws were changed to allow popular opinion (esepecially of those who have NOT SEEN THE EVIDENCE on BOTH SIDES) decide who is guilty? Especially when such an opinion is based upon the stories (whether true or not) read or seen in various news sources.

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

i heard the evidence live as the trial went on.. why do you think EVERYONE filming the trial and even the people in the courtroom were shocked at the verdict? If you watched it then you would know what I am talking about.. Hell, even the judge had a "excuse me" expression on his face..I find it even odder than she showed NO expression at all during the details of her daughters condition when found, not one tear, zip, notta! until....the verdict..Even if there was a smidgen chance she had nothing to do with it, (i dont believe that for a second..) she deserves at the very least negligence of a child and a few more..it just doesnt make sense..

John 1 year, 10 months ago

Thank goodness "they" don't have to "explain" a thing to anyone. As far as "the evidence was there," how do you know? It appears that 18 people (according to the verdict and to those who granted interviews) who were actually there and saw the evidence and it's presentation disagree with you, that is 18 to 1. By the way, they saw and heard the evidence from BOTH sides. Are you so presumptious as to believe that you know bettter than all of them?

John 1 year, 10 months ago

So now you use the phrase "common sense." What does that mean? Do really believe people are born with an understanding of certain things? I would have sworn that each of us, somewhere along the line, were taught or self-learned things. That would explain why there are folks who want to throw out a jury's verdict and hang, fry, or inject someone because they THINK they know better.

JMO 1 year, 10 months ago

Nancy Grace and shows like hers are the reason why so many people believe in her guilt...she was villified for three years...of course everyone thinks she's guilty.

JMO 1 year, 10 months ago

"Just because there are few people that think one way doesn't make it correct." Did Graceful really say that? I find that incredibly ironic.

I do believe that Casey Anthony either killed her child, knew she was dead, or at a minimum knew she was missing and did nothing. But what I believe doesn't matter. What matters is what could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. "Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer." - William Blackstone. Innocent until PROVEN guilty is the very essence of our legal system.

John 1 year, 10 months ago

Well, let's answer in reverse order. Those times she did not show emotion (although I was watching and she DID show emotion, tears, handkerchief, the whoe 9 yards) was probably because he lawyers, when readying her for the trial, emphasised time and again for her to have as bland a look on her face. That is standard tril procedure. You cannot guarantee jury sympathy when showing grief, it can just as easily be mistaken as guilt. "EVERYONE filming the trial"? How can that be if they were filming the trial, how could you see them? I watched the trial too, what you appear to be calling surprise could, at least on some of them, be a sign of relief. Again, you did not see the evidence except vicariously, you didn't have the luxury of reviewing each item multiple times. YOU were NOT THERE.

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

in this case..I would have to say evidently I among millions of others share that knowledge and are sickened by the incompetency of the ones responsible for setting this murderess free. When she lies about how and where her daughter drowned(proven with pathology testimony)Never reports her daughter missing and parties it up (on camera)knowing her daughter was dead... the woman is guilty as hell!

tonto 1 year, 10 months ago

The prosecution's case went away several weeks ago, or rather the prosecution's outline for what might have been a case went away several weeks ago. The tabloid media propped up that outline, and most people didn't notice the lack of science and facts to support the prosecution's case.

I agree with muleman. This is just like the OJ trial, another set of incompetent police and prosecuting attorneys failed to produce enough (any, in this ase) proof to get a guilty person convicted. At least this set won't go on to higher elected office.

I even sort of agree with graceful, except that the people lacking common sense are the public officials who went ahead with filing charges when they had no real proof. You can't win when you go ahead with a trial just because you hope the lab tests will go your way and the scientific experts will support your wild theory. Worse, when you lose like this, the guilty person can't be tried again on those same charges.

The jury did their job as well as they could but the situation was hopeless. and nothing we can say or do will bring the little girl back to life.

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

you could here the cameramen.. you could hear the news broadcasters, and if you read people right you would have seen that 99% of the courtroom including the judge had a confused look on their face.. You are right, I was not there, and neither were you.. You see tomatoes, I see tomatoes.. I am a Mother and to try to understand any action of this woman is beyond any caring Mothers perception.. her actions from the on set triggered guilt in millions eyes. Would I bet my kids lives on her guilt? NO.. would I bet my own.. you bet! Caylee was murdered by the hands of her own Mother and or knew all about it.. Covered it up and walks.. Lucky her.. I guess in Florida it is ok to murder your child or be an accessory, as long as you do not lie to the cops.. Sad!! very sad!

NoMoBigBro 1 year, 10 months ago

"murdered by the hands of her own Mother and or knew all about it.. "

Well, you just explained the part about reasonable doubt jcmom when you said "or she knew about it". "or she knew about it" does not bring about a guilty verdict for the offense of Murder 1.

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

which is why earlier on I stated earlier there should have been an accessory charge or involuntary manslaughter.. just doesnt sit right that she gets nothing but a few misdemeanors..

John 1 year, 10 months ago

Glad to see you are so logical in arriving at a guilt verdict, it's all about appearance, right? Such an attitude might be considered as being on the verge of being vainglorious. It appears that not only have you adjudge the jury as being wrong, they are also incompetent, and that they, the jurors, are also abetting in the crime of murder and should therefore be charged as well? NONE of the things you wrote in your previous post indicates ANY evidence that the mother committed the crime of murder.

jcmom69 1 year, 10 months ago

This woman continued her life as normal. This says alot.. No it doesn't prove her guilt, but it does prove that her lack of being affected with her going day to day partying bar hopping, etc. smiling in the pictures the whole time KNOWING her child was dead lying in a swamp to rot. Is it that off base to naturally assume just from this fact alone that she should have been charged and convicted of something reflecting her child's demise?

3DMom 1 year, 10 months ago

But it's proving GUILT that's the prosecutor's job and they didn't do it. I'm not happy about this woman getting off but the jury did exactly what they were supposed to do. These people cried as they decided on the verdict because they knew she wasn't "innocent" but there was nothing they could LEGALLY do about it. I for one am proud of all of them for doing their job the way it was intended and not being driven by emotion.

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