This acquittal was as far as you get from good news. A child was dead in the woods and there’s was plenty of evidence to convict. Sadly, family dysfunction, perjury and a defense that created fantasy theories they never came close to representing…freed her. Florida did not do itself proud in this case. Here’s a post where I’ve written a few comments.
Blessings and +PAX

http://www.bellofthewanderer.com/?p=2055

Pat,
I have not followed this case, but from what little I did see, I think I agree with you.  Very probably only the person or persons who killed Caylee really know if Casey is innocent or not—but God knows.  I pray that whoever does it seeks God’s mercy and forgiveness.

There’s many things that went wrong with this case. But even though I am not a mother I could never hide my kids death or gets scared and lie. Everyone accepts the fact that she is free , I could never accept it. I seen how my own mother reacted to my brothers death. No. Loving mother could sit there and hide their childs death. If you don’t want a child don’t bring it in to this world. People these days are forgetting about their children. Justice wasn’t served I think. Hug and kiss your children and tell them you love them. Every child wants their parents.

“A child was dead in the woods and there’s was plenty of evidence to convict”

A friend, a retired state and federal prosecutor, who has been following both trials (one in the court and one in the media) feels otherwise.  His opinion is that the prosecution didn’t come close to proving murder, and that even in the media reports he hasn’t seen indication of enough solid evidence to support a murder, or even a manslaughter, charge.

The apeal of this case is one more example of the great American pastime of voyurism through the media.  I did not follow the case, having no more interest in it than I have in many other media driven events.  We have a system of justice.  I trust the system .  I do not need to know the details unless they pertain to me any more than I need to know the details of my neighbor’s sordid life unless I am called by God to have a personal involvement with them.  I was not on the jury.  I was not a witness or friend or family member.  As a Christian my only obligation is to pray for all involved and let our system of justice work.

Darlene,
You say you, unlike the rest of us media driven lemmings, have NO interest in this case.  Yet you read this entire post and even felt compelled to comment.  How interesting.

Just the fact that Casey Anthony partied after her daughter was missing just screams of her guilt.  The tattoo that she got after her daughter was missing again screams guilt.  Her lies tell us a lot about Casey.  Also, if you look back on other murder cases, the accused takes a stand and says they were abused when they were young, etc.  But what is lacking is that doesn’t excuse the accused from the heinous crimes they commit as an adult.  We are all born with the “freedom to choose” that God gave us.  We are all born with an innate knowledge of “right from wrong”.  Some choose to do wrong.  In this case, Caylee was murdered.  Maybe with time someone will be found guilty of this heinous crime.

I believe that Casey was guilty, despite the fact that it was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.  We can only pray that her life after leaving jail will show a change in her behavior.  My criticism of the defense is that they used Casey’s father as a scapegoat, also without clear evidence of his involvement or guilt.  The family will never be the same, but time has a way of allowing the truth to come out.  The party held by the defense after the trial was offensive, given the fact that the case was not solved, and respect for Caley was certainly not present. 

It will be interesting to see if the judge cites the attorneys for some of their violations.  It is supposed to be done after the trial.

I am far enough removed from local coverage of the trial to see it as another failure of the national media to present the facts impartially. All the coverage I saw was based on the premise that Casey was a monster and clearly guilty. Since I did not hear the evidence, as the jury did, I cannot evaluate it. What I can evaluate, and complain about, is the pandering to the worst elements in human nature that turned this child’s death and her family’s tragedy into “Reality TV.” IF WE DIDN’T WATCH THEY WOULDN’T DO IT!!!!!!!

Twice I have had to call 911 for a missing child. Same child, different ages 18 mos. (found hiding in laundry pile in basement) and 4. Each time the child was out of sight for probably less than 15 minutes before the call was made. My point is, pretty much the first thing I did was call in the Police for assistance!

To my relief and, I’ll admit, embarrassment the second time the 911 operators said, “Hold on mom, I think we found him.” True. Little stinker followed his big sister to the candy store and some lady saw him and took him into a nearby business and called the cops…that kid was so ticked off and he we was brought home in a cop car!

Those who are crying shame at the justice system need to remember this: that very same article of law/rights that may have mis-fired in this case and let the accused go free is the same law and rights you’ll want used to its fullest if YOU ever get accused (falsely or not) of a heinous crime.  (There but for the grace of God go I—yes, any of us can snap and do something horrible- and any of us can be falsely accused).

This proving beyond a reasonable doubt is necessary for ALL human dignity becuase it prevents both mob vigilante vengence and over-zealous prosecutors, etc who zero in on a particlar person or action with some sort of self-righteous ego.  When faced wtih a decision that will actually put someone to death, I certainly want to be shown clearly that what you’re claiming took place actually did take place.  If you’re trying to get me to vote death for someone on conjecture, or simply because their behavior in the rest of their life is atrocious or even sinful, then God help us all.

Yes, the fact is a little girl is dead, but no way of telling us she was murdered or it was an accident (and bizzare and unfathomable behavior by the mother DOEST’T automatically presume she did it—yes she’s guilty of something heinous, but partying when your child is “missing” isn’t worth the death penalty.  A trip to the psych ward yes, but death?).  The prosecution based even the mother’s behavior on a time-line that Caylee died on such-and-such a day, but no evidence can be provided that she actually died that day or later. 

There was just enough plausible deniability in this case to say “We don’t really KNOW what happned, so are are going to put a woman on death row because of what we FEEL happened?”  Come on - with the little that they had, and the fact that so much DNA and other trails were well spoiled or non-existent, then someone was involved who knew how to hide evidence. 

As someone said, God knows and God will bring retribution upon this.  We cannot see clearly enough at this time to know, so what gives us the right to condemn to death?  Maybe the prosecution should have gone for what they could prove, or spent more time gathering evidence.  It’s possible that the media circus they created to put pressure on Casey created a feeding frenzy in which they HAD to push to trial on the flimsiest of forensics.  Either way, the tragedy continues, but at least someone else doesn’t have to die because of our own societal narcissistic need for judgment.

She was guilty as sin. How is it possible to not call the police for 31 days and go out and party at a “hot body” contest IF YOU ARE NOT GUILTY of causing it. ...and why all the lies unless you are hiding guilt?? Common sense tells you she’s guilty. There is no reasonable doubt….no REASON TO DOUBT !!

Casey Anthony may do a little jail time but for the rest of her life people will whisper and stare. I don’t think she’s going to have a bella vita afterall.

Somebody on one of the news stations pointed out last night that the prosecution’s case mainly did a good job of demonstrating that Casey Anthony is/was not a good person. I didn’t follow the case closely but the bits and pieces that I heard seem to follow along that line. However, simply showing that she is a bad person or a bad mother does not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she was guilty of this crime. Sounds to me like the jury did their job based on the evidence they had. It can’t have been easy.

amber said: “If you don’t want a child don’t bring it in to this world.”
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Forgive me if I sound harsh, but I am really sick and tired of hearing that line.  Who doesn’t want something today and realize tomorrow it was a mistake?  You may buy a house and later realize you actually can’t afford it, or that you’d rather have the money and rent so you can do other things with your life.  You may truly desire a child today only to realize tomorrow you aren’t equipped to raise the child.  It happens.  You can plan all you want, but you never really know how you will react to something until you experience it.  I don’t think that’s a hard concept, is it?
___________
I especially get tired of the comment occurring on sites like this because it’s a Catholic site, and Catholics realize that children aren’t always planned.  That happens too.  Are you implying that when that happens and it is decided the child is unwanted one should simply do whatever it takes to not have the child?

This was most likely a difficult experience for the jurors, a child is dead yet the prosecution did not present an airtight case against the accused.  (I didn’t follow the trial closely.)  Today’s headlines say Casey Anthony will get a book deal.  Do the right thing - don’t buy it and don’t read it!  She should not profit from this tragic event even if she is innocent.  Poor Caylee should be given that much dignity in death.

Like the Lizzie Borden case, justice has not been—and may never be—done. In the meantime, the killer - whoever it is, walks free to the peril of the people.  Who can feel their children safe with the knowledge that a predator is loose?

I think the prosecution put their case too high with the death penalty.

The jury pool had people in it who would decline a death penalty.
There are mothers and fathers all over the country taking the lives of their own offspring every day.  It is a horrible fact.

The general picture was that Casey was a good mother, but this issue of chloroform use… some accident happened…not intending to murder.  The child had dark circles indicating exhaustion, hearing the mother took her to parties…and the grandparents would have taken over the care of the child if Casey wanted to move on, and Casey knew that.

The other point not covered was that Casey appeared to be falling into some psychotic state with stealing checks and money from her parents prior to Caylee’s death.  Considering the manner of pet burial in the family…that the duct tape put on after the accidental death of chloroform…and the psychotic behavior of driving about with her child in the trunk…taking police all the way to a work location she never worked in….she is delusional.

I think hers was a case of psychosis and aggravated manslaughter.  I don’t know if her father had abused her.

I did not like seeing the lawyers all celebrating either, because it was like their had turned their backs on Caylee and her untimely death.  And it will be bad as well to make money off of this child’s death.

As much as I love reading the Archbolds’ other articles, this is one of those essays that makes me glad that they’re journalists and not in anyway connected with the justice system.

The very fact that the woman was acquitted of child abuse and neglect shows how brain-dead the jury was. They deserve *no* praise, while the only error the prosecution made was pushing for the death penalty, which really did make the absolute certainty of evidence indispensable. Otherwise, they made a strong case, and one that was not properly absorbed. Now potential child-killers have been shown just how easily they can get off.

Pat,

In spite of the evidence, I error on the side of innocence. I am a Christian who knowing how Christ was killed on “evidence” that was twisted by the prosecutors of His day, in a murder case, I can not in good & clear conscience sentence someone to death or the possibility of death based upon circumstantial evidence & bad behavior.

I have no doubt she knows what happened. But that doesn’t equal murder. We try to ask ourselves why would someone innocent act this way? It’s a valid question… and the answer is “we don’t know” more than it can be “because she’s guilty.” How do we know? Evidence & “supposed eyewitnesses” were used against Jesus, too. Yet he was not guilty. Should we allow ourselves to be so conclusive in our opinions of judgement?

We know she’s guilty of lying, but could you say beyond a reasonable doubt (and before God) that “she” did the murder? Could you say beyond a reasonable doubt (and before God) her being a “party girl” is a valid motive for killing her daughter? I believe the evidence was unable to prove it without a bit of faith on our part in the facts themselves. I bring God into the reference in hope that it takes your thinking from a spectator, to being an accuser before Him against her. A new perspective.

I couldn’t do it any more than the jury could. But I respect that you and many other can. Just thought I’d share my point of view on it.

She is guilty as sin - an incompetent prosecutor is to blame - she was well represented.  she probably is a psychopath

I found the following article by Dr. Keith Ablow, a psychiatrist and “member of the Fox News Medical A-Team”, to be helpful in trying to make sense of the Casey Anthony verdict, especially in light of what appeared, from a majority of media reports, to be an open and shut case— http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/07/05/why-casey-anthonys-verdict-makes-sense/.

People akways miss the point here. Reasonable doubt does not mean I have not doubts. Could she be innocent, sure. But, the evidence I have heard, would lead one to believe that she did murder her child. If we have come to the day when we must prook beyond a doubt, then not many criminals will be in jail. Any good defense attorney can put doubt in your head. But is it reasonable. There is no CSI is that is going to give complete evidence in every case.

The other issue is the death penalty. Would a jury be more likely to convict if it was not a matter of life and death for the defendant. I think it is far easier to convict when there is a chance for a “do over”. When our sentence is final, then people raise the standard of proof, which I think is justified. I could not have put her to death, but I could put her prison. There is enough evidence for that.

I agree….the Divine Judge will handle it. I think the child probably did drown and I think that this girl is severely damaged. I lived with an abusive husband. The first time I saw that girl’s dad on TV screaming at the media, at the prosecutor, at everyone, I said “whoa. There’s a crazy dude.” He destroyed both girls, old and young. The state couldn’t and didn’t prove its case. Simple as that. You can mourn the child and pray for all the souls involved. But none of us will ever know the truth. The media has assured us of that. God bless ALL murdered, missing, and abused children of all faiths, all ages, and all races.

Pat,

You comment askance at Darlene’s post. I relate to her. A few months ago someone on TV said with glee that this trial could rival O.J.‘s (ALERT!) So until the jury’s verdict was blathered all over the media yesterday I didn’t know Casey from Caylee. Not saying this is a virtue, but today I am glad of it.

I have watched this trial from gavel to gavel, Pat Archbold, and you are very wrong that there wasn’t evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. Reasonable doubt is NOT no doubt!!!

I have to wonder if the jury would have convicted Anthony if they had a video of her committing the murder. (Probably would say somebody used Photo Shop or come up with some other “reasonable doubt” as the alternate juror who said he believed the ridiculous accidental drowning story that had been disproved by both Cindy and Casey Anthony months earlier!!)

Casey Anthony was the last person to see her daughter alive, sent investigators on wild goose chases to coverup her crime, and showed depraved indifference to her plight. Who but Casey Anthony had means, motive and opportunity? Who had EVERY major piece of evidence tied to them: duct tape, shorts (hey, wasn’t she drowned?????duh-duh), the laundry bag that served as her coffin, and the car that Casey Anthony had access to the entire time period.

My personal belief is that the jury liked Jose Baez, the defense attorney, who bonded with them over the course of the trail, and were going to show prosecutor Jeff Ashton that he wasn’t going to get away with his laughing. I, too, was disgusted with that behavior, but you don’t acquit someone because you like the defendant’s lawyer better than the prosecution.

I’m very angry that this horrible mother (no good mother is more concerned with getting her boyfriend’s phone number than finding her missing child!) got away with murder. And if her Dad sexually abused her as she claimed, would a good mother leave her little daughter with the molester, as she left Caylee with George?

I want to be Christian about this and piously note that God will avenge this in the end, but right now I’m really angry at the injustice of this. If Casey Anthony couldn’t be convicted with the mountain of circumstantial evidence against her and her own “consciousness” of guilt, then no one can be convicted any more. She made sure that poor baby decomposed before the police could find her, and with the body the DNA on the tape. Stop watching CSI, folks, and get real.

You, Pat, need to go back and watch the trial from the beginning. I don’t know what trial you were watching, but it couldn’t have been that one!

I hadn’t heard of this case until the verdict came out and people started shrieking ... I don’t watch TV. But whenever a case of this type comes out, I always remember that Australian woman who was tried in the media, convicted, and sent to prison for killing her baby and hiding the body while out on a camping vacation. One of the aspects that convicted the mother, at least in the media trial, was her lack of “proper” emotion during the trial ... she was too stoic for the media’s taste and they decided that indicated guilt. Awhile later, the baby’s body was found ... he had been dragged away and killed by dingoes (wild dogs) just as the mother had maintained all along. So put my vote in for skepticism all around.

I do need to add one thing. I do disagree with the death penalty and would have voted for the second charge that included life imprisonment with parole rather than risk the death penalty involved in first degree, but Casey Anthony was not convicted of ANY charge other than lying to police. Thanks a lot, Jury.

They were swayed by emotion, not common sense. I could go on and on but won’t.

One FBI profiler was quoted in an interview that the circumstantial case against Anthony was “overwhelming.” He went on to say that the prosectution must have offended the jury for them to ignore this mountain of evidence. I agree.

And who makes an accident look like a murder? Why would you put duct tape over the mouth and nose of a baby who had drowned in a swimming pool?

Common sense, folks!

Casey Anthony was jealous of her own daughter, repeatedly got angry with people who admired the baby instead of her, resented her having to take her into the bed she shared with her lover (is that sick and a good mother??), and listened to her dysfuntional mother claim that child “not as Casey’s but ours.” Anthony didn’t want the kid when she was pregnant with her but was forced by the Mom to keep her and be responsible for her. Casey preferred the party scene. Anyone can pretend to be a good Mom when people are watching.

I’m going to go pray and ask Jesus to help me get calm.

I agree with a lot of what Joanne S. has written.  My two cents:

Casey Anthony was a liar and a slut…..among other things.  If the jury had truly been a jury of her “peers” justice might have been served.  It takes one to know one…...and I know one.

It always disturbs me to see such hateful comments on Catholic/Christian sites. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but we must remember that Christ called us to live by a higher standard. I definitely was surprised at the verdict, but I do not harbor hatred toward Casey, nor do I go around condeming her for a crime that she was found (justly or unjustly) not guilty of. My confidence lies in the truth that God alone is Judge! WE shoul refrain from pointing fingers because we are all in fact, guilty of something. Whether she ‘got away with murder’ or was aquitted of a crime she did not commit does not change what is required of me as a Christian. She will have to live for the rest of her life with the knowledge of the truth, and with the consequences of her actions and inactions, and one day, face the Father, as we all must. My duty as a Christian is to pray for her soul, as well as for the soul of that innocent child, because, to truly love, in the example of Christ, I must desire heaven for EVERY soul, even Casey’s.

This is one of the saddest times in our nation. This woman was judged before the first moment of the trial. Watching some of it, I am guessing Casey has some severe mental problems, at the very least. I’d like to see what Dr. Amen, famous for tens of thousands of detailed brain scans, (including on serial murderers) would have to say about her brain, what might be missing or nonfunctional. He not only diagnoses but also provides solutions, including counseling and medication. He does not make excuses for people who have been convicted of crime, but he reminds us that only God can ultimately judge a person’s soul. That most people watching this case unfold wanted nothing less than blood, sickens me. What have we become as a nation? Prayers for all involved in is order. I am reminded of a saying, “Get a life” All of us have families and/or friends, and concentrating on serving them and the needy, and working on our own spiritual life, should be our priorities.

Thanks Pat. I agree absolutely. The prosecution simply did not, perhaps could not with the existing evidence, prove their case beyond and reasonable doubt. I feel that the jury acted in the only way they could given the evidence and their responsibility. My emotions tell me that there might be something to the abuse allegations against Mr. Anthony, and that Casey’s bizarre behavior might stem from that. However, even that would have nothing to do with the charge of murder and the evidence available. I would have not considered it in a verdict were I a juror.

Joanne, there was no single piece of evidence that could only be linked to Casey Anthony and Casey Anthony alone at the time of Caylee’s death.
There was no DNA evidence, and any forensics work was inconclusive at best, shoddy/unprofessional at worst.  The prosecution made it clear that this was a capital case; because of that, the inconclusiveness of the scientific evidence and the conflict between the experts from both sides means there was reasonable doubt.  Confusion resulting from being bombarded with very technical information that is being contested by the defense is considered reasonable.  OJ Simpson’s acquital showed that.  And the circumstantial evidence could show nothing more manslaughter.  There’s more to the story than the prosecution could show, and that Caylee Anthony will tell, as sad and immoral as that maybe.  But justice won the battle, because the govt could not prove its case.

It is my humble opinion that Casey killed Caylee but did not murder her.  She probably accidentally broke the child’s neck while shaking her out of rage or frustration.  Then she panicked and disposed of the body.  So she was responsible, but I do not know enough law to judge her legally or circumstances to attempt to judge her morally.  She was the last one with the child and did not notify anyone that Caylee was “missing.”  The charges were too serious for the situation.

Matt: there was no DNA because the body had decomposed in the swamp and heat, and any DNA had disintegrated with it. This is not TV where DNA is everywhere. It was, as one investigator said, “a dry bones case.” Casey sent everyone on a wild goose chase in the hopes the body would never be found and she could continue concocting new lies—hardly the action of an innocent person.

She made sure no one could find the body in time to extract DNA, etc.

However, there have been murder convictions without ever finding a body, soobviously there was no DNA for previous juries!

This body had duct tape across the nose and mouth in three separate overlapping pieces. Before DNA was used so extensively, juries weighed evidence on circumstantial evidence and not just forensics.

If you listened to Jeff Ashton’s closing, he demonstrated how both defense and prosecution experts agreed on the essential points. Even if you eliminated parts of their testimonies where they differed, it didn’t change the conclusions.

George Anthony had no access to that car before so many people smelled decomposition—including he and his wife, the tow truck driver and many others. The baby was inside three trash bags, so you wouldn’t expect to find much in the trunk. The very idea that decomposition of a human body can be confused with household cleaners is absurd.

Just haqving the defense throw out allegations to divert attention from Casey Anthony doesn’t cut it. A pathological liar says that her father and brother sexually abused her, and without any evidence people buy into that. Why didn’t the defense ask the brother, Lee Anthony, if he’d abused Casey? Probably because the father was supposed to be the fall guy. Baez never mentioned it again after his opening argument and his one question—denied—to George Anthony. Even the judge wouldn’t allow him to use it in his closing because he presented no evidence to back up Casey’s allegation—a woman who was desperate to find excuses for her behavior.

And to the person who said we shouldn’t even be discussing this because God will judge, then let’s just fire our police departments, do away with our entire court system and open the prisons because no one wants to judge or condemn. Excuse me, but this woman is a sociopath who has no conscience and will kill again the next time somebody keeps her from doing what she wants to do.

Matt: There was no other person beside Casey who had access to ALL four pieces of evidence: duct tape, shorts, laundry bag and car. If you eliminate the others on the basis of one missing piece, it leaves only Casey.

She was the last person to see Caylee alive. Would you invent imaginery people who had her if there was an innocent explanation? The accident theory was disproved early on. Then when the trial starts, Cindy Anthony—who’s testimony about the chlorophyl search was impeached because she was at work at the time—suddenly decided she left the ladder up that day when she related to Greta Van Susteren in a TV interview that she never left the ladder up and that that theory was eliminated early on.

George Anthony was a police detective. Whether you like him or not, would common sense tell you he would make an accident look like a murder and implicate his daughter. Would he throw the body of his precious granddaughter in a swamp???

Come on, people, use your common sense. No, justice was not served, and we should not celebrate that fact. Who else but Casey Anthony had a motive for the little girl’s death, had the opportunity to kill her, lied about her whereabouts, and had access to the duct tape, shorts, laundry bag and car? Who showed depareved indifference concerning a missing baby? Who told her best friend who was frantic over the missing Caylee: “What a waste” to have called you. It was all about Casey, Casey, Casey.

Her partying or sleeping around doesn’t make her guilty of murder, but her actions after she left that house with Caylee—a night after, I might add, she had a ferocious fight with her mother over money she had stolen from her grandfather’s nursing home account—tell me she was an angry, spiteful daughter determined to get vengeance on her Mom by killing the baby she knew she loved. The competition with her own daughter and the need to live th elife she wanted was the motive. Period.

One other thing: the jury had other options besides convicting Casey Anthony of murder in the first degree where the death penalty or life impisonment without parole were attached. There were several lesser charges that included aggravated child abuse, manslaughter, etc., etc, so the idea that the jury didn’t convict her because it was a capital case is not right. Instead, except for the misdemeanors of lying to the police they found her not guilty of anything.

Wow.

Joanne

You said - “I’m going to go pray and ask Jesus to help me get calm.”
I think that’s good advice for us all.

One comment (to all):  When reacting out of emotions (anger, fear, hatred, sickness, shock, etc), we are reacting out of our base instincts, what may be called our ‘reptilian’ brain, since we are all creatures, animals, made on the 6th day.  But we were then created also with the image of God, the imago Dei, which gives us, among other things, the ability to not only reflect, but reason, have compassion, empathy, love.  Love which doesn’t overlook sin, but longs for God’s justice, which is nothing else than converting a sinner to being just, righteous.  Transforming a heart from selfish narcissism to one seeking the best for the other - even the enemy and the outcast. 

THe problem is, we want justice/vengeance for the other guy, God or the governments punishment with impunity for their sin.  But we never want that justice for ourselves, because if God were to distribute that kind of justice, not one of us could be saved.  Thank God he is merciful, desiring not the death of sinners but that they turn and be saved.

Yes, the goveernment must pursue what it must in order to strive to protect the common good.  But ultimately it only derives its authority from God, and it is just only when it reflects God’s TRUE justice.  And love, and compassion, and desiring the best possible good for, yes, even Casey.  If that is what God is about, how can we justify ourselves to be different than HIM?

One’s insticts, one’s guts, cannot reason or find sound judgment - especially when emotionally charged. This case is a tragedy; I can’t say Casey is innocent; justice may indeed NOT have been served.  But in the end that is not our call. Praying for peace, God’s peace, in the midst of this will bring light to your hearts.  I pray that peace and repentance finally finds Casey, but if not, that too is a tragedy.

Pat: you compared the OJ and Anthony cases, noting that “the OJ case was tried in the media and the media won. The Anthony case was tried in the media as well, but this time the law won.”

As I recall, the media thought OJ did it as well, so the media did NOT win when OJ got off. I know that the Anthony case got a lot of media attention, but I have to tell you that I did not start following it until they showed the trial live on TV. I made my own conclusions from that, not the media. I will confess that since my anger over the conviction, I have gone back and researched some of the earlier interviews with some of the involved people. All that did was reinforce—not form—my conclusion.

Tim Miller of Equisearch, e.g., tells various media how he was asked to look for Caylee right after the child was first reported missing some 31 days after Casey took off with her. Even then, Casey wouldn’t cooperate with the search, and he felt it was a waste of his time without any leads or help from her.

I actually never paid attention to the whole “Jerry Springer-esque” atmosphere that the media stirred up over this whole thing. I actually thought that “Casey” was the name of the little girl until yesterday, when I saw the sheriff on TV talking about the verdict and apparently expecting riots, because he was repeatedly asking people to be peaceful. All I can say is, like A Joy commented, I can’t conceive of waiting over a month to call police about my missing child. That makes no sense to me at all. When my son was 4 he was missing for maybe a 1/2 hour - by the time I found him sleeping on the floor under the couch I had neighbors looking for him and was seconds away from calling the police. It was getting dark, we’d looked everywhere, and I was scared to pieces. What kind of parent doesn’t call for help right away if they think their child is in trouble? That makes no sense to me. None whatsoever….

Something very close to this actually happened to me. Luckily I was not tied in the court of public opinion. But, unlike this jury, the jury actually convicted me of 2nd degree. Fortunately the judge did not believe it, and I went home. I had prayed the chaplet of mercy once hoping and believing, it was tough but I believed.  I was responsible for the death there is no doubt, I live with my stupidity every day. But it was not murder. unbelieveable stupidity, but not murder.

I thought she was guilty all along.  I fell for the media/prosecution playing on my emotions.  They did not have enough evidence so they went for hate.  It almost worked with me.  And then they announced that the jury would give their verdict in 15 min.  I was in the car with my husband and they were talking about murder one and the death penalty. I cannot explain it, but I could feel the tears welling up in me.  Is what she did bizarre?  Did she look guilty often times?  Yes and yes, but do any of us have a right to take a life? Any life?  I don’t think so.  I do not judge those who believe in the death penalty, I did for a long time until I realized that I told my kids that life belonged to God, abortion was an absolute evil.  How could I think any human had the right to take a life.  Justice belongs to God.

HOwever, there are a few things I saw yesterday.  I watched and listened live to the defense team.  Clearly their senior partner was angry at the media and rightly so.  But Baez (sp?) was measure and so very gracious.  And so moved by the weight of all this that he was moved to tears several times.  He said he had mixed emotions, he was happy for Casey but very sad that there was no justice for a little girl, Caylee.  He is against the death penalty.  He said and I quote, “...murder is disgusting…” but he too said, none of us has the right to kill another human being.  At one point early in his statement, he said he was happy for Casey because “Casey did not kill Caylee, period.”  He never said she didn’t know in fact he said up front in the case that she did know the little child was dead.

The prosecution blew it not leaving the door open for a lesser verdict. Casey’s parents are complicit in this as well,whether there was abuse or not.  They will all be brought to justice one day. God’s justice is perfect, unlike our own.  Perhaps this was God’s way of humbling us to remember that justice is truly His alone.

And yes, the constitution worked as it should.  We are a country of laws and the law worked.  It sickens me that the talking heads are judging the jurors.  “They were tired of being sequestered”  “There was too much evidence, it overwhelmed them” ... so they let her off.  No one on the jury was a high powered business person, “they were all unauthoritative in their life therefore they couldn’t make an authoritative decision.”  What?  They made an incredible decision knowing full well how it was going to look, probably knowing or feeling just as most of us do taht Casey is guilty of something.  They were courageous!

The problem with this case is it reveals how the fact that our 21st century society DOES NOT value human life or dignity.  It all begins there.

@Jane

“Casey Anthony was a liar and a slut…..among other things.  If the jury had truly been a jury of her “peers” justice might have been served.  It takes one to know one…...and I know one.”

Since it takes one to know one are you saying that you too are a slut and a liar?

@jane

In other words DON’T JUDGE OTHERS because, in your own words, THERE BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD, GO YOU…

The woman is as guilty as the day is long.

I have not been following this at all lately, because early on (a few years now?) when they dropped the initial charges against her, you could tell this was gonna be a long drawn out row over legalities, meanwhile the ability to execute justice for a baby girl withered with time. I’m also not sure how much celebrities like Nancy Grace helped with their protracted media swivel but I would guess very little. Having said this, I think Patrick is correct in that the prosecution failed and the jury did what they could with the evidence presented.

What a shameful article.  Good News? You definitely are no expert on this case nor on our justice system; therefore you should refrain from writing and giving an opinion on a subject you know little about.  You are as ignorant as the 12 jurors Mr. Archbold.  As Joanne S eloquently states, Reasonable Doubt does not imply “No Doubt”.  If you listen to the on Juror who spoke today and the alternate Juror who came out yesterday for his 15 minutes of fame, you can see clearly this jury didn’t understand the facts just as you don’t understand them.

Murder One was just one option these jurors could have found her guilty of.  Joanne S. has given the most cogent response on here.  The system failed plain and simple. But as a Catholic, we must forgive the sinner, as horrid as this one is.  God will have the ultimate say in the end.

Articles like this show the slippery slope of society.  You sound like a liberal protestant progressive in Catholic clothing Mr. Archbold.

A couple of the jurors are finally speaking out on why they found “reasonable doubt” to convict Casey Anthony. What is so sad is that they ignored the duct tape found over the dead baby’s nose and mouth as well as much other evidence of a homicide and who did it. After listening to one juror say what questions “weren’t answered,” it was shown that they clearly were but that the juror must not have been listening (she never took a note)and that there was no way the jury could have reviewed much of the 300-plus pieces of evidence in their less than 11 hours worth of deliberations.

I don’t want to go through the whole case again (see my comments earlier in the week), but I have genuine concerns that what is admittedly a high burden of proof for the prosecution has now become an impossible burden of proof. It’s scarey to me that expectations raised by CSI and other forensic shows people watch on TV will destroy our justice system—and that’s nothing to rejoice about.

Mr. Archibold’s headline “Casey Anthony Acquital Good News” upsets me greatly because there is absolutely nothing “good” about this miscarriage of justice. Maybe if this article had been framed better it might not have hit a nerve in me. No one here is for mob mentality or trial by the media, but to say the prosecution had “little evidence” and suggest people suspend their common sense, as did the defense in this case, is ridiculous.

I see the “good news” a little differently.  The good news to me IS the media handling and public outrage over this case.  It’s a long overdue backlash against the culture of death.  It’s 30+ years (since Roe V. Wade) of repressed rage over babies being murdered, stuffed in trash bags and thrown out like garbage.  In many cases this is probably a subconscious reaction, but you can’t ignore the fact that people are most upset by the mother’s selfishness and the wanton disposal of the body.  I do find it disturbing when people (on this website who should know better) have defended Miss Anthony as a tragic figure who had a baby too soon. This suggests an abortion at 24 months.  Neither does Miss Anthony’s actions in any way resemble, Jesus Christ our Lord’s. Nor does having compassion for a fellow sinner discharge anyone from their duty to protect the innocent (and actually, how is it compassionate to condone this woman’s actions and allow her the freedom to do it all again?).  God is absolutely the ultimate judge of one’s soul, but juries don’t judge a person’s soul, they judge a person’s fitness to live among society. Allowing psychopathic murderers to run free because someone doesn’t want to “judge” is gravely sinful. And after following the case closely, I believe this was the issue (along with the jury’s disbelief in the REALITY of EVIL) more than any lack of evidence.  I am worried frankly, about some of you saying , “Oh, gosh, well, that’s the jury’s verdict, I guess it’s fine then…besides it doesn’t really effect me one way or another.”  There is such a thing as a higher moral law, which you should care about, which is everybody’s business.  For example, Hitler’s actions were judged innocent by some people and really didn’t involve me one way or another, but as a follower of God (a God of love AND justice) I am rightly OFFENDED by his actions because they were EVIL.

I truly believe that Casey is guilty of the Kaylee’s death, be it murder or accidental.  The jury was not to consider the penalty phase in their deliberations, but I believe they did based on comments made by one of the jurors.  Now Casey is free, but she has yet to meet the Greatest Judge and juror, which will happen in her future.  That is the only consolation that I have.

“I have genuine concerns that what is admittedly a high burden of proof for the prosecution has now become an impossible burden of proof. It’s scarey to me that expectations raised by CSI and other forensic shows people watch on TV will destroy our justice system—and that’s nothing to rejoice about.”

Forgive my conspiracy theories, but this is the diabolical point.  Karl Marx promoted the materialist philosophy of socialism, claiming that the material is reality.  Afterwards, “scientism” became the rage, that science could solve and explain everything.  God and Evil got tossed by the wayside. 

Satan has been using scientism and materialism to erode our trust in the Almighty.  God gifted us with Reason, and yet we want all the answers handed to us, because “science” can do that.  We’ve been tricked into believing that if “science” doesn’t answer a question, than an answer doesn’t exist.

In terms of the trial, the Jury says “questions weren’t answered”...by science.  They were expecting forensic evidence to be clear-cut…but science has limitations.  Being typical materialists/scientists that our education system has trained them to be, they would logically assume that if science can’t prove something, than “we really can’t know for sure…”.

The hard fact of this is that the life of a beautiful is over.  Obvioulsy, by someone’s hand.  This case was tried in the media.  They were outraged that this happened.  And rightly so.  But what about all the children who are murdered in abortion mills every day?  The media is strangely silent about their deaths.  And that is a huge tragedy.

I’ve followed the case for hours everyday on HLN every day. Even if Casey is as guilty as sin, I’m glad she’s spared death penalty. She will probably be found guilty in the civil trial like OJ (another one I followed almost around the clock because I wasn’t working).
No the prosc didn’t prove guilt, but neither proved innocence.

From the Florida State Jury Instructions:

A reasonable doubt is not a mere possible doubt, a speculative, imaginary or forced doubt. Such a doubt must not influence you to return a verdict of not guilty if you have an abiding conviction of guilt. On the other hand, if, after carefully considering, comparing and weighing all the evidence, there is not an abiding conviction of guilt, or, if, having a conviction, it is one which is not stable but one which wavers and vacillates, then the charge is not proved beyond every reasonable doubt and you must find the defendant not guilty because the doubt is reasonable.

FL ST CR JURY INST 3.7

After hearing some of the jurors talk to the media, it sounds like they hung their hats on the defense’s merely speculative theory that Caylee drowned in the family pool - and although the defense has no burden of proof, that was a theory that was completely unsubstantiated. Hence, I think that the “doubt” that led to Casey’s aquital falls under the “speculative or imaginary” doubt that the instructions caution against.

As for the evidence, it is not the prosecution’s “fault” if certain things cannot be determined exactly - like the precise cause of death, due to bodily decomposition. Given the state of the evidence, the prosecution did the best they could. How the jury can ignore the duct tape on Caylee’s face, the hair and cloroforme found in Casey’s trunk, Casey’s guilty behavior, etc. and then rest thier conclusion on mere speculation that Caylee drowned in the pool is ridiculous. Anyone who knows the definition of REASONABLE doubt should not take the jury’s word at face value…

Casey Anthony wasn’t declared “innocent” of the crime. She will forever be the ultimate living loser, followed closely by her parents and her daughter’s father. What’s the situation with him? Is he alive, and if so, why isn’t he publicly asking some very probing questions, if for no other reason than to say what must be screaming inside to make its way out. I can’t imagine how I could’ve kept my silence in this completely avoidable and outrageous tragedy.
  Am I stepping out too far on a limb for wanting to rip into the local DA’s office and whatever agency responsible for handling child abuse cases for asking why the hell wasn’t this young woman at least cuffed for child neglect and whatever else they could’ve hauled into the clink for ... if for no other reason than to prevent her from tainting everything under the Florida sun so as to render the most serious crime truly impossible to prosecute. I used to be a (state) prob./parole officer working in Orange County, but that was thirty years ago. Looks like some folks have forgotten what a handy charge “obstruction of justice” is when you want to make sure the evidence and jury won’t be tainted well in advance. Hell’s bells, the legal eagles down there must’ve watched a few Law & Order episodes to figure that much out.
  As for little Caylee, she’s only real winner. She’s with God.

Good point, Steven.  “Not guilty” legally doesn’t mean innocent necesarily!  At the same time, “Guilty” can be ruled mistakenly, like in that Oklahoma murder case John Grisham wrote about (or recall the Shawshank Redemption).
  However, even if the 1st degree charge might have been the prosecution’s fatal error, the lesser charge of manslaughter or neglect was wisely placed…no parent would wait 30 minutes, much less 30 days, before asking the authorities to help find a lost child!  Her lies were clear - to the point of rightful conviction 4 times over.
  As many of you have pointed out, she really needs to see the light before God.  And that’s something none of us can forget for ourselves either!

Excellent points, Mike. There’s something about that young woman, her family and the whole circus that surrounded this case from day one, that I can’t help but describing as an American Suburban Gothic Horror Story, (but on ‘roids.) Boy am I thankful my wife said the middle level cable was costing us too much. Imagine having to pay more to watch television knowing that junk was going to pollute so much of the “middle tier” news/cable shows. We’ll all learn more from watching old Law & Order reruns. LOL, I wonder how long it would’ve taken Lenny Briscoe to crack this case? Perhaps not even as long as it took the FL jury to say they couldn’t find her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Who really even knows when Caylee died.  So many different stories from the Anthony about when they last saw her.  I for one think if Casey wanted to kill Caylee, she could have just put her in the pool called 911 and been the grieving mother. Some thing stinks about the rest of it- when something smells rotten it is.