Not guilty, but not innocent either

I'm a crime junkie. It all started with a little trip in August 1995 to San Francisco, California. I fell in love with Alcatraz and begged my parents to take me there. I was 7. We didn't go on account of the fact that the whole prison concept scared my older brother and younger sister. Wimps. And then there was the project my sophomore year of high school in which I presented high profile crimes of the 1930's. There were so many to pick from it was overwhelming. So I went for the most gruesome. And sometimes I go out of my way on trips to Columbus to take route 83 so I can drive by the correctional facility in Mansfield. One time I got so lucky as to follow a bus of prisoners for a short time.

So naturally, I'm practically exploding with excitement that the the Anthony and Anthony trials are going on at the same time. (Anthony Sowell and Casey Anthony -- coincidence they both share the name Anthony? Crazy!)

So here are my thoughts: Were I a member of the Anthony family, I would be devastated that the death of Caylee Anthony has not been solved. However, until Caylee's murderer admits to murder, we'll never know exactly how she died because the fact is "the evidence is that there is no evidence." Though her cause of death is unknown, I do believe she was murdered. I would undoubtedly be beside myself to find a 3 year old who had drowned in my pool, but my gut reaction would not be "guess I should duct tape her mouth and dump her in the woods." Nor is there a plausible explanation for a 3 yr old duct taping her own mouth shut. There are many holes in what happened in the months between June 2008 when Caylee disappeared and December 2008 when her body was found.

• Cindy didn't report Caylee's disappearance until 31 days later. 
• Casey went out and partied in between her daughter's disappearance and her arrest.  
• A utility man gave tips to police about a suspicious object near the Anthony home. No search was conducted, but later tips from the same man led to Caylee's remains. If it were me, I would look to that guilty man for more answers.  
• Casey was arrested 4 times and release before ultimately being indicted with felony murder, child abuse, manslaughter and 4 accounts of giving false information to the police.
• Caylee was found with duct tape over her mouth that was at one point in the possession of Casey's father, George. 
• In the months after Caylee was found, no hard evidence pointed to anyone in her family as her murderer.
• Since being arrested, Casey accused her father of covering up Caylee's accidental drowning in the family pool as well as suffering emotional distress from suffering from sexual abuse from her father and brother.
• Casey's "friends" have all turned up to be imaginary.

Obviously, the family has some issues. I think George and Cindy were well aware that Casey had some psychological issues which they weren't dealing with which may explain why Cindy did not report her granddaughter's disappearance for over a month. Casey's psychological issues would also explain her imaginary friends as well as her justification for partying and going out in the months after her daughter's disappearance. Her issues could also explain why she gave false information to the investigators and her accusations of sexual abuse. Is Casey innocent? Probably not 100%. I think she knows something that she's not saying. And her lawyer which is probably why he decided not to have her testify. I always get a little wary of the defendants who don't testify. Was their solid evidence that Casey did kill Caylee? No. Was there solid evidence that George or Cindy are responsible for Caylee's death? Uh, did you watch any of the closing arguments, the defense was grasping for anything to possibly link Cindy and George to her death. 

But what happens next? So Casey is a free person and then what? I doubt she'll be moving back home. Can you imagine that conversation, "hey Mom and Dad, I know I accused George and Lee of sexually abusing me when I was younger and I also realize you think I'm a murderer, but is it ok if we go back to our living arrangements from 3 years ago?" "Oh sure honey! So happy to have you home, the murder and abuse allegations are all water under the bridge! I baked you a cake as part of you getting off as not guilty in regards to the murder of our grandbaby!" I can bet that won't happen.

So where does she go? I would assume that nearly 98% of the population believes she is guilty. Me, I really don't know because I don't have all the details of the case, but I do feel bad for her. She won't have the easiest time adjusting back to society. Ask anyone readjusting to civilian life whether they're returning from a tour of duty, prison, or even a volunteer opportunity. Ultimately, her daughter is gone for good and she does need psychological counseling. She won't be getting that in prison, that's for sure, but she won't be court mandated to get it either. Is living in the civilian life safe for her either? Only time will tell. Does she have any other options? Probably not at the moment. Let me remind you, she may have been found not guilty, but she wasn't found innocent either.