Casey Anthony - guilty, or not?

[iamkeri1]

When her Dad died when she was 15, my daughter rarely showed her grief. I was with her whenever she was not in school, and she was very stoic about it. "People do not need to know how I feel, There is nothing they can do about it. I cry when I am alone in my room at night. People will use it against me. You can't trust people. If they know I am weak they will use it against me." were things she said to me.

Casey Anthony is not a very likeable person. We don't like the way she focuses on herself rather than her daughter. This means 1) she is disfunctional OR 2) she is grieving away from the cameras. All evidence against her is circumstantial. I don't have an opinion as to whether or not she is guilty. I do not believe that the state has made their case. I believe that if she is convicted, it will be more because she is disliked than because of proof of guilt.

Smooches,
Keri

[NJFemmie]

Murderers have been convicted on circumstantial evidence before. Scott Peterson was one of them.

What makes Casey so "unlikeable" (IMO) is her excessive lying. The story keeps changing. Come to find out Zanny isn't even a real person. Now, instead of the supposed kidnapping, Caylee drowned. George did it, because George allegedly molested her. But George was the only person Casey wanted to see face to face while in prison (it's on tape).

She parties for the month after her daughter goes missing. She gets that tattoo.

Does this make a likeable person? Not so much. But, it is at her own doing. She CAN step up and tell the truth.

[Medusa]

NJ - You touched on something that has been orbiting for me in this case.

I don't have kids and don't even really like them so I often don't have warm fuzzies around things involving children than other people might. I do, however, get really pissed off/sad when I think about a small child being dead and her body laying out in the woods decaying and alone. If I were on that jury, I would ask myself if, as a Mother, I could go on about my life knowing that my child's body was decaying somewhere and that animals were possibly destroying her remains.
I personally couldn't do that and would feel incredible judgment about a Mother who could.

I think there is a level of mental illness going on with Casey and, in a way, I feel like she operates like a small child would on a lot of levels. The lying, attention-seeking, etc. all speak to someone who just wants to be loved, just wants to avoid responsibility. I wouldn't say I feel sorry for her at all but I do feel compassion for her.

[NJFemmie]

I don't have children either - as I get older, I find myself tolerating them less myself (but at the same time, I do like children, just not always "other" people's children) ... BUT, as you, if I were a mother, and my child was missing - I would have FITS about it. There is no way I could even step out in public let alone party, get a tat, yadda yadda. She was emotionless from the start - even when she was arrested for murder. If I KNEW I didn't do this, and I was arrested for murder, I would be screaming hell on earth so that even satan himself would cover his ears.

Obviously yes, she does has mental issues. I mentioned before that she's more than likely suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder - she has exhibited (if not) all of the signs. What do you do with people like this? I mean, really?

Live feed: (for anyone interested)

[Gráinne]

Just last night, I lost my son (age 11) in the huge crowd leaving the riverfront for not more than three minutes, but it seemed like a thousand years. The whole world stopped until he was safely within reach. There was no way I was taking one step until I saw him. That's what I don't get about Casey, and what is so chilling.

I take it that there's no insanity defense, which is notoriously hard to show. She seems as disturbed as Andrea Yates, but not just crazy but cunning. She won't go off to a hospital somewhere.

I personally think she's going to get manslaughter, with a long, long sentence a la Diane Downs, with appeals and dragged out legal things up the wahoo.

[NJFemmie]

Originally Posted by guihong

I personally think she's going to get manslaughter, with a long, long sentence a la Diane Downs, with appeals and dragged out legal things up the wahoo.

Honestly? Sitting in jail like Diane Downs is better than letting her out. At least we know Diane Downs won't be making any more babies to kill. (Her words back in 1984 were: " it is so easy to make children").

[Gráinne]

Originally Posted by NJFemmie

Honestly? Sitting in jail like Diane Downs is better than letting her out. At least we know Diane Downs won't be making any more babies to kill. (Her words back in 1984 were: " it is so easy to make children").

That's what I meant. I hope she's locked up, nice and long. If she's acquitted or goes free on some technicality, I think I'll be sick to my stomach.

[Peach]

that whole family is f*cked up. they all lie, and wouldnt know the truth if it bit them on the ass. I know they tested her brother to see if he was the father of the child, did they test the dad. it has never come out, who the father is. If they knew the guy, you would think the defense would have tried to pin it on him, they tried everyone else.
I do not think she will be convicted of 1st degree, mainly due the fact, they cannot prove how Caylee died, only that she did, and most likely at the hand of her mother. But they simply cannnot prove it wasnt an accident (which IMO it was not) and they cant prove the cause of death. I think she will be convicted of 2nd, or manslaughter of those are on the table.

[Peach]

My son wandered off one day, I didnt notice him gone for about 10 minutes, and life stopped the second I realized he wasnt in the yard anymore. We found him, a lady had him by the hand and was knocking on doors asking if this was their kid! I almost threw up from fear. That was ovver 30 years ago, and it still makes me ill to think what may have been. No way would I have been out at a party, getting a tattoo, and lying about it. I would have had the National guard out looking for him!

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by guihong

Just last night, I lost my son (age 11) in the huge crowd leaving the riverfront for not more than three minutes, but it seemed like a thousand years. The whole world stopped until he was safely within reach. There was no way I was taking one step until I saw him. That's what I don't get about Casey, and what is so chilling.

Originally Posted by Peach

My son wandered off one day, I didnt notice him gone for about 10 minutes, and life stopped the second I realized he wasnt in the yard anymore. We found him, a lady had him by the hand and was knocking on doors asking if this was their kid! I almost threw up from fear. That was ovver 30 years ago, and it still makes me ill to think what may have been. No way would I have been out at a party, getting a tattoo, and lying about it. I would have had the National guard out looking for him!

Yes, this exactly. I don't know of a single mother who could do what she did for a month.

I understand being private, quiet, stoic...all of that. I am not a "public griever"....I don't go to funerals. If I'm hurting, I prefer to do that in private or with a single close friend.

For me, that's fundamentally different than being in a "hot body" contest, drinking, partying and celebrating the "beautiful life" with a tattoo.

My life would not be beautiful if my son were missing or dead. I'd be a wreck.

[cinderella]

No shit!! I'd be insane if my child was missing for a nano-second - so how can Casey callously party for 31 days while her child is 'missing'? That's because Casey knew Caylee was NOT missing, but dead!! Good God! It boggles the mind how unbelievably macabre that is!!

Originally Posted by Peach

My son wandered off one day, I didnt notice him gone for about 10 minutes, and life stopped the second I realized he wasnt in the yard anymore. We found him, a lady had him by the hand and was knocking on doors asking if this was their kid! I almost threw up from fear. That was ovver 30 years ago, and it still makes me ill to think what may have been. No way would I have been out at a party, getting a tattoo, and lying about it. I would have had the National guard out looking for him!

[NJFemmie]

Originally Posted by Peach

that whole family is f*cked up. they all lie, and wouldnt know the truth if it bit them on the ass. I know they tested her brother to see if he was the father of the child, did they test the dad. it has never come out, who the father is. If they knew the guy, you would think the defense would have tried to pin it on him, they tried everyone else.
I do not think she will be convicted of 1st degree, mainly due the fact, they cannot prove how Caylee died, only that she did, and most likely at the hand of her mother. But they simply cannnot prove it wasnt an accident (which IMO it was not) and they cant prove the cause of death. I think she will be convicted of 2nd, or manslaughter of those are on the table.

Caylee's father was (kinda) revealed. He was killed in a motorcycle accident years ago. Last I heard, there was talk about exhuming the body for DNA testing, but I don't know what happened after that.

[The_Lady_Snow]

I have not followed the trial, I can't I recently just regained custody of my kid so reading here and learning the details makes my head swimmy and I want to literally puke. I would be devastated and would be a mad woman driving the police force nuts cause I would be there everyday asking them if they had found my child. Life would go on but I know I would have a gaping hole I'll be honest thinking about it makes me want to cry in desperation cause I can't imagine living it up and not knowing where one of my kids is/are, hell they are adults and I like for them to keep me informed of their plans. Living this far from them is hard so I just can't imagine how this woman could not have lost her mind when her baby was missing.

It's mind dusturbing... I also feel that her looks play into how she's viewed, she's a cute petite white "girl next door" so she plays to that, if this woman was different say looks, race, size, class we'd gave a whole different story but that's another thread.

[Heavenleahangel]

They found her INNOCENT!!!! UNREAL!!!!!

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by NJFemmie

I mentioned before that she's more than likely suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder - she has exhibited (if not) all of the signs. What do you do with people like this? I mean, really?

It's a good question.

On a personal level, because of my history, I keep as much distance as possible from people who exhibit those behaviors (including family members).

On a societal level, I think we hold them responsible for their actions. Narcissism isn't an excuse for criminal or irresponsible or negligent or *fill in the blank* behavior.

It also isn't a crime in and of itself. Casey may be highly unlikable, but being unlikable isn't criminal. We can't judge her based on disliking her, but we can judge her actions.

[NJFemmie]

Originally Posted by JustJo

It's a good question.

On a personal level, because of my history, I keep as much distance as possible from people who exhibit those behaviors (including family members).

On a societal level, I think we hold them responsible for their actions. Narcissism isn't an excuse for criminal or irresponsible or negligent or *fill in the blank* behavior.

It also isn't a crime in and of itself. Casey may be highly unlikable, but being unlikable isn't criminal. We can't judge her based on disliking her, but we can judge her actions.

True. But my point is that her behavior is what makes her so unlikeable by the public. It's one thing to just fess up and own what you did, but it's another to make up stories, blame other people and create nanny's that aren't there (and knows it). It's easy to say "oh, people just don't like her, so that's why they'll find her guilty", but um .... .. there IS a reason WHY people aren't liking her.

[scootebaby]

The only thing i recall about the body getting to the woods is the fact that Casey borrowed the neighbor's shovel...did i miss testimony regarding the fact she took her to the wooded area? and the burying of the body--was it buried or did it end up covered and buried in mud bc of the fact the area was flooded for a period of time due to the heavy rains? Yes i know the implication is there,but was there anything to the actual act?

As a mother *I* cant imagine hurting a child in any way...but i consider myself somewhat empathetic,sympathetic,and normal whereas Casey is lacking in these and many other emotions/feelings that "normal" people have. Again i dont condone her actions,but we all seem to be looking at it as what *we* would do or not do, when in the broader spectrum this world is full of people that do/handle things differently,for a variety of reasons beyond our understanding--am i making sense?

I dont know about others,but i know for myself--and based on things i went thru as a child i have the ability to hide things well, to hide my emotions, to *forget* things that cause me pain,hurt,sorrow,disgust etc--not to an extreme extent,but i can to some extent all the same. My point is this--people are talking about Caseys actions during the 31 days--although the death of a child is extreme is it not possible that Casey was able to block that fact out...i mean she did spend at least 75% of the time drinking,partying--and we all know alcohol dulls the senses and allows us (or some of us) the ability to *forget*