# Anyone following the Casey Anthony trial? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652 "2011-05-29T12:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/101 "2011-06-03T21:12:42Z")
Oddly enough, though this is going on in my my state with the jurors having been culled from my county, there’s very little of it in the local paper. Is everyone hearing about it on-line or Nancy Grace or what? As was already mentioned, my theory has always been that she was in the habit of sedating Caylee while she went out and partied and it went too far, not unlike that movie (I think) “Freedomland”. I haven’t read throught the whole thread but it sure sounds like some wild shit is being tossed around regarding abuse and whatnot. Does it ring true to anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/102 "2011-06-04T04:57:09Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I have to wonder, what kind of long-term planning do people like this have? > > “OK. I’ll kill my kid and then party like it’s 1999 for… a while.” But, surely as adults they have the ability to think weeks and months down the road and try to visualize how all of this will eventually play out, no? > > Scott Peterson was the same. Kill wife. Lie about it. Let it blow over and then get on with life, with another woman who he was dating at the time this happened. What, he couldn’t figure out at some point his new girlfriend would start to put the pieces together on a time-line and figure it all out? > > I’m gobsmacked about these kinds of people. Shit I worry if I miss a deadline at work, or a bill payment, and what the implications might be. Impulsiveness and inability to plan ahead are characteristics of antisocial personality disorder. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/103 "2011-06-04T05:13:58Z")
I hadn’t thought things through before posting. :smack: I had the trial running in the background while I worked. I shouldn’t post unless I’m focused. Sorry. 🙂 Everything changed when the defense admitted she died in June. Suddenly those t-shirts, web sites, and charity’s to find Caylee have a whole new meaning. > [@Omar\_Little](#): > > 😕 The defense has already admitted to the jury that Casey knew that Caylee died on June 16th. They claim she drowned in the family pool. In all of these videos Casey is claiming her main goal is to find Casey and have Casey returned. If Caylee drowned in the family pool, and was not killed by Casey, why would Casey continue the lies and charade of seeking her return in these jailhouse videos? They do not put her in a positive light. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/104 "2011-06-04T12:41:10Z")
I’ve been following the live blog in this matter when I’ve had time. It appears that there is a group of followers that feel reasonable doubt requires something akin to a video of the crime to overcome. Since it only takes one strong person to hang a jury, I’m wondering if all this smoke and mirrors Baez is presenting is enough to do just that? ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/105 "2011-06-04T13:13:55Z")
> [@Pyper](#): > > Impulsiveness and inability to plan ahead are characteristics of antisocial personality disorder. If it’s not that disorder, there’s some disorder involved. Psychologically normal people just don’t lie compulsively, commit serious crimes to allow them to live the lifestyle they’d prefer, not spend much time or effort covering them up, and move forward with their life with no apparent thought to the consequences of their actions or their crimes being discovered. There’s something seriously off with Casey Anthony’s brain function. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/106 "2011-06-04T17:53:01Z")
I’m having trouble with all the commentators saying that the Anthony family is “dysfunctional”. Is that a given, when one family member is unbalanced? George, Cindy, and Lee appear normal and well-adjusted. Are they considered a dysfunctional family just because they’re “cooperating” with the prosecution? I’d like to know more about Casey before this happened, what kind of kid she was, did she have friends, how she did in school, etc. Will the defense get into that when they present their side? Anyone know why her jail conversations were on video? Was she only allowed privacy with her lawyers? Is that common? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/107 "2011-06-05T13:39:55Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I’m having trouble with all the commentators saying that the Anthony family is “dysfunctional”. Is that a given, when one family member is unbalanced? George, Cindy, and Lee appear normal and well-adjusted. > > Are they considered a dysfunctional family just because they’re “cooperating” with the prosecution? > > I’d like to know more about Casey before this happened, what kind of kid she was, did she have friends, how she did in school, etc. Will the defense get into that when they present their side? > > Anyone know why her jail conversations were on video? Was she only allowed privacy with her lawyers? Is that common? Don’t know much about her childhood, however, she allowed the family to plat a graduation party for her from high school knowing that she was 1/2 unit short of graduating. Apparently, she told them at the last minute but wanted the party anyway. Her attorney visits are private, however, the visitation at the facility where she resides are video conference visits and are clearly labeled as “recorded.” There are a few who claim that she is merely grandstanding during these visits as she knows it’s all being recorded. I’m curious. I know that M1 with death, and M1 with life without are possible, but are there any other lesser offenses in Florida, such as M2 or M3 included in the possible outcomes of this case? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/108 "2011-06-07T00:43:12Z")
Todays testimony with Dr. Vass was very interesting. I’ve seen specials on the Body Farm on 60 minutes and other news shows. The Body Farm’s controlled studies of controlled, decomposition studies have created an entire new field for scientists. (not a job I want. Thank You. 😉 ) Nice summary of today > **[Casey Anthony Trial: Air Samples of Anthony's Trunk Could Be O.J. Simpson Moment](https://abcnews.go.com/US/casey-anthony-trial-air-samples-trunk-oj-simpson/story?id=13773007)** > > Prosecutors in the Casey Anthony trial may face an O.J. Simpson moment if Judge Belvin Perry allows air samples from Anthony's trunk that reeked of human decomposition to be smelled by jurors. I wonder if the prosecution will dare risk opening one of those cans in front of the jury? I’m sure they are painfully aware of of the OJ glove that didn’t fit and all the jokes. If they have several cans, I’d open one first and make sure the stink is still there after three years. If so, then pop open one for the jury and hope it stinks too. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/109 "2011-06-07T13:42:27Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I’m having trouble with all the commentators saying that the Anthony family is “dysfunctional”. Is that a given, when one family member is unbalanced? George, Cindy, and Lee appear normal and well-adjusted. > > Are they considered a dysfunctional family just because they’re “cooperating” with the prosecution? > > I’d like to know more about Casey before this happened, what kind of kid she was, did she have friends, how she did in school, etc. Will the defense get into that when they present their side? > > Anyone know why her jail conversations were on video? Was she only allowed privacy with her lawyers? Is that common? Three members were functioning well in society, but Cindy and George have been separated before. There’s also a story floating around that George once threw his father through a window during an argument. Cindy’s brother accused her of enabling Casey in unhealthy ways. If that’s true, it could lead to some very dysfunctional family dynamics overall. Casey is said to have made good grades in school (except for missing that half credit that stopped her from graduating with her class). She was a cheerleader and on the track team. She’s always had friends, although she seemed to drift from social group to social group and change best girlfriends every few months. She was on very good terms with her ex-fiance and a couple of ex-boyfriends/hook-ups. Some friends mentioned her penchant for lying and oneupsmanship, and it seemed to factor into the end of several friendships. It’s worth noting that her friends and boyfriends distanced themselves from her, some immediately after Caylee was announced missing, some as the evidence against her continued to mount. ---
**Author:** ![skylyn12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@skylyn12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skylyn12)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/110 "2011-06-07T14:43:04Z")
> [@sugaree](#): > > Three members were functioning well in society, but Cindy and George have been separated before. There’s also a story floating around that George once threw his father through a window during an argument. Cindy’s brother accused her of enabling Casey in unhealthy ways. If that’s true, it could lead to some very dysfunctional family dynamics overall. > > Casey is said to have made good grades in school (except for missing that half credit that stopped her from graduating with her class). She was a cheerleader and on the track team. > > She’s always had friends, although she seemed to drift from social group to social group and change best girlfriends every few months. She was on very good terms with her ex-fiance and a couple of ex-boyfriends/hook-ups. Some friends mentioned her penchant for lying and oneupsmanship, and it seemed to factor into the end of several friendships. > > It’s worth noting that her friends and boyfriends distanced themselves from her, some immediately after Caylee was announced missing, some as the evidence against her continued to mount. There is also the fact that they (Cindy and George) completely ignored the fact (and denied to relatives) that Casey was pregnant (when she was pregnant with Caylee). IRC, Casey was living with them and was 7+ months a long before they knew… There are picture out there of a very obviously pregnant Casey and Cindy still denied it (at the time). ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/111 "2011-06-19T15:34:15Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I agree that everything points to Casey (and I believe she did it), but it’s still all circumstantial evidence, as I understand “circumstantial”. There are no witnesses, no DNA, no fingerprints. > > I think the strongest evidence the prosecution has is the bad smell in the trunk of her car, the research on making chloroform, and her behavior while Caylee was “missing”, but that’s all circumstantial. > > She had no real motive, not in the sense that Diane Downs and Susan Smith had motives – getting rid of their kids because their boyfriends didn’t want them. Casey was being hassled by her parents for partying – big whoop. That’s not a motive for murder. There’s no evidence that Casey mistreated Caylee, no signs of abuse, etc. > > I’m not arguing that she’s not responsible, just that the jury might have a hard time finding her guilty in a death penalty case without some **direct** evidence that it was premeditated murder rather than an accidental overdose of chloroform. > > It wouldn’t surprise me if she gets off. Just wait until you see the second autopsy report by Spitz! It really bothers me when the prosecutor’s autopsy/prosecutors testimony is full of holes/incompetent/a lie/whatever. Casey may have accidentally killed the child, and Casey is definitely not normal, but I think Casey is innocent of m1, and I think there is something here done… by somebody else that we dont know yet. I think somebody else, besides Casey, did something wierd, strange, and probably illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/112 "2011-06-19T15:39:51Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Let’s say you made a beautiful chocolate layer cake. You put it on the kitchen counter and leave for 15 minutes. > > You come back, and the cake is a wreck, with several sloppy handfuls missing. A chair has been dragged next next to the counter. You follow the trail of frosting and crumbs, which leads into the bedroom of your three-year-old child, who is sitting there with yummy frosting on his face. …except that there was no frosting on Casey’s face. Your case becomes wide open once we find that the three-year old has absolutely no trace at all of any cake, no frosting, no crumbs, no nothing. The problem with circumstantial cases comes in when there are key points where evidence is totally lacking, which means it does not fit,and if anything does not fit, then the premise is wrong since the correct answer always fits in every way, it has to. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/113 "2011-06-19T15:46:47Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > Just wait until you see the second autopsy report by Spitz! It really bothers me when the prosecutor’s autopsy/prosecutors testimony is full of holes/incompetent/a lie/whatever. > > Casey may have accidentally killed the child, and Casey is definitely not normal, but I think Casey is innocent of m1 Even if it was accidental, it was still M1 under felony murder > [@](#): > > and I think there is something here done… by somebody else that we dont know yet. I think somebody else, besides Casey, did something wierd, strange, and probably illegal. What is the evidence that anybody else was involved? I think Casey is so far off the charts of normal human emotion that it’s extremely unlikely she could have found anybody as freezing cold as she is to help her, nor is here any reason I can see that a 2nd person neede to be involved. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/114 "2011-06-19T15:57:04Z")
The frosting is on Casey’s face, not Caylee’s. Her daughter was missing for a month and Casey said nothing about it to anyone. If she was afraid of her mother’s reaction, then she could have looked for Caylee on her own, asked her friends to help, etc. But she said nothing and did nothing until her mom demanded to see Caylee. I don’t see how an incomplete autopsy (if it was) changes anything. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/115 "2011-06-19T17:04:10Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > Just wait until you see the second autopsy report by Spitz! It really bothers me when the prosecutor’s autopsy/prosecutors testimony is full of holes/incompetent/a lie/whatever. > > Casey may have accidentally killed the child, and Casey is definitely not normal, but I think Casey is innocent of m1, and I think there is something here done… by somebody else that we dont know yet. I think somebody else, besides Casey, did something wierd, strange, and probably illegal. Literally thousands of pages of evidence have been released under Florida’s Sunshine Law, and me, well, over the past three years I’ve read them all. And in those pages there’s no hint that anyone besides Casey did anything weird, strange, or probably illegal, at least not in regards to Caylee. The police have investigated her family and her friends _extensively_, looked into literally every person she had so much as phone contact or was photographed with during this time period, and no clue points anywhere except to Casey. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/116 "2011-06-20T02:09:15Z")
I’m confused why Dr G. didn’t check Caylees skull. I’ve seen all the episodes of Dr G. She always opens the skull. It’s a standard autopsy step. Baffling why she skipped this step in such a high profile case. Craps going to hit the fan Monday. Defense has the cofounder of the Body Farm ready to testify that duct tape video (photoshopped) the prosecution presented was total fantasy. He’s already said that Saturday in response to the judges question (jury was out). This guy has very good credentials. Heck he help found the forensic entomology organization. Prosecution won’t make him look like an idiot like they did that young bug expert Friday. So far, my opinion hasn’t changed. Casey did it. There’s a few holes in the case but nothing big enough to drastically change my mind. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/117 "2011-06-20T02:15:29Z")
Is it a standard step when the remains are skeletonized? I mean, you open up the skull to look at the brain, but why bother if there is no brain matter left, and no signs of external trauma to the head? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/118 "2011-06-20T02:21:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Craps going to hit the fan Monday. Defense has the cofounder of the Body Farm ready to testify that duct tape video (photoshopped) the prosecution presented was total fantasy. :eek: No way! Is he also an expert on photography? 😃 I hope he goes there, because it will be fun watching Nancy Grace’s head explode. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/119 "2011-06-20T03:08:49Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I don’t see how an incomplete autopsy (if it was) changes anything. Spitz has done 60,000 autopsies. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652/120 "2011-06-20T03:15:37Z")
Doesn’t mean he can’t be wrong. Wrong, or a hired gun saying what he’s been hired to say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-following-the-casey-anthony-trial/583652.md?page=7)