Casey Anthony biography

On July 15, 31 days after two-year-old Caylee's disappearance, Cindy Anthony reported her missing to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. After questioning Casey, detectives found discrepancies in a signed statement she made about Caylee's disappearance. Casey said Caylee was kidnapped in Orlando by her nanny, Gonzales. Casey’s friends and family had never heard of Gonzales, and detectives later discovered that, in fact,

there was no nanny. The investigators caught Casey in another lie when she told them she worked at Universal Studios, even leading them around the theme park. Casey finally admitted she had been fired from Universal Studios years before. Casey was arrested on July 16.

As the search for Caylee intensified, Casey Anthony came under increasing scrutiny for her actions in the days before Caylee was reported missing—including partying and, on July 2, getting a tattoo that reads "Bella Vita," or "beautiful life" in Italian.

Casey returned home on August 21, when bounty hunter Leonard Padilla posted $500,200 in bail. Padilla hoped Casey would lead detectives to find Caylee, once she was released from prison, but he was disappointed when she failed to provide additional clues. Padilla labeled Casey narcissistic and promiscuous, fueling the fires of public sentiment against Casey. The case became a national media sensation, and many in the public and the press were outraged at Casey's behavior.

Casey was back in jail only eight days after being released, this time charged with forging checks and using a friend's credit cards without permission.

Trial and Acquittal

On December 11, 2008, meter reader Roy Kronk found a plastic bag of human remains in a wooded area near the Anthonys' home. The skull had duct tape on it. On December 19, the remains were confirmed to be those of Caylee Anthony.

The trial of Casey Anthony began in June 2011, three years after the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee. Cable news channels broadcast the trial live, and Casey, Caylee, and the Anthony family dominated the news.

The prosecution painted a picture of Casey Anthony as a promiscuous party girl, unconcerned with her missing daughter, and responsible for her murder. A website about the toxic chemical chloroform had been searched on the Anthonys' home computer, and chloroform was found in the trunk of Casey's car.

Casey's defense, led by Jose Baez, told a very different story. According to the defense, Caylee had drowned in the family’s pool on June 16, 2008—and George Anthony had covered up the death so that Casey wouldn't be charged with child neglect. Baez shocked the courtroom when he said George had in fact sexually abused Casey, beginning when she was 8 years old—and that her brother Lee had made sexual advances towards her. A paternity test showed that Lee Anthony was not Caylee's father. Casey was used to covering up her hurt, Baez said. On June 30, the defense rested. Casey herself did not take the stand.

On July 5, the jury found Casey Anthony not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated child abuse.