Casey Anthony: Victim, Sociopath or Purely Evil
88Casey Anthony's Video Diary
After the Acquittal...
Above: Casey Anthony, at an undisclosed location, releases her first 'video diary' entry.
A Toddler Named Caylee...
The famous 911 call that started it all: A panicked grandmother on the phone with a 911 operator. She just found out her two-year-old granddaughter has been missing for over a month. She didn't know until now because the baby's mother, her daughter, has been gone for a month too. The grandmother tells the operator that her daughter finally admitted to her that the baby was missing.
"There's something wrong, it smells like there's been a dead body in the damn car!" Said the near hysterical grandmother. A statement that would come back to haunt her, only she doesn't know it yet.
The woman on the phone with 911 is Cindy Anthony, grandmother to the missing toddler, Caylee Anthony and mother to accused murderer Casey Anthony. Daughter Casey then took the phone from her mother. Her voice is disturbingly calm with a slight annoyance to it. There is a hint of unpleasantness to the operator's voice. "Why did you wait thirty-one days to report your daughter missing?"
The answer to that question still remains a mystery. In the beginning she blamed a fictional nanny by the name of Zeniada Gonzales (Zanny the Nanny). A person nobody knew, whose looks Casey described as being a ten. She told a lot of people about Zanny during this time frame, while lying about her whereabouts to her family. Casey claimed she has spent the last thirty-one days looking for her daughter.. apparantly at night clubs.
Once the story broke pictures of a hard partying Casey Anthony were shown repeatedly on news shows like Nancy Grace and splashed on gossip magazine covers. In the days after Caylee's disappearance, Casey participated in a "Hot Body" contest, and was photographed dancing on poles. Behavior most women wouldn't induldge in even if their child were missing. The topper of it all, a tattoo Casey got days after the child supposedly went missing. It said La Bella Vita, Italian for "Beautiful Life."
The lying started getting pointless and even pathetic. Casey claimed to police she worked for Universal Studios. In fact, everyone she knew thought she worked for Universal. While interrogation, the police asked Casey if she would take a ride over to Universal Studios so they could talk to some people. After driving to the headquarters, getting past security and walking around aimlessly, Casey stops, turns to the officers and said, "I lied. I don't work here."
Casey was finally arrested. Cowboy hat touting bounty hunter, Leonard Padilla posted her bail. Conditions were clear. Casey must tell the truth about Caylee's whereabouts after bond was posted, which she did not. She went back to jail and stayed there until her trial. In the meantime, little Caylee's remains were found by a meter reader. Due to rumors, Casey's brother, Lee, was forced to take a paternity test to find out if Caylee was his daughter. Her father, George Anthony, attempted to take his own life. Finally a woman by the name of Zenaida Gonzales, who never knew the Anthonys, surfaced and tried suing Casey Anthony for damaging her reputation. Through it all, Casey Anthony shows no emotion. When she does appear to be crying, it looks fake. While her family appears to be truly suffering, Casey is just as cool as a cucumber.
The Trial Begins
After three long years the 'so called' trial of the century has finally began. Casey Anthony has become the Lizzy Borden and OJ Simpson of the new millennia. Just like them, most people believe she is guilty and just can't look away. Lizzie and O.J were acquitted due to lack of evidence - or more likely, a seemingly incompetent prosecution team and a not too bright jury.
When day one began Casey's attorney, Jose Baez dropped the bombshell none of us were quite ready for. Caylee was never missing. She drowned in the pool. Her dad hid the body in order to protect Casey from going to jail. It gets worse. Baez claims Casey was molested by her father and later, by her brother.
Finally, the defense admits Casey has been lying this whole time. The web of lies is frightening. Zenaida Gonzales never existed. Friend and co-worker, Juliette Lewis, never existed, and neither did her daughter. There was no phone call that Zenaida made to Casey- a phone call that she told the police about where she spoke to Caylee. She made up people, locations and situations. She was very detailed with her lies and as we listen to recordings where she is talking to her parents and being interrogated, she sounds very convincing too.
Casey's father takes the stand and predictably, denies the claims of abuse. Her friends and two ex-boyfriends took the stand during the first week as well, describing Casey's personality and interractions with her child. All the while, Casey is in the background trying to hold back her crocodile tears.
Did George Anthony molest his own daughter or is Casey Anthony throwing her dad under the bus to save her own skin? If her father did in fact molest her, what does any of this have to do with Caylee? If the drowning was an accident, why didn't they just call 911? George Anthony was a detective for many years. He of all people should know the law. If George Anthony didn't molest her, then Casey Anthony might be more of a monster than some suspected.
The defense stratergy was seen as absurd and quite a gamble. A reporter said that it seems like the defense team just threw ideas against a wall to see what would stick. As ludicrous as it seems to make an accident look like a murder, it may just be enough to create reasonable doubt.
Sociopath or Victim?
Casey Anthony is a fascinating person. I think that's the reason many of us can't keep our eyes off this case. She's a theif, a pathological liar, cold, calculating and rarely talks about her child. She mocks her parent's grief and brags to another inmate about taking a roadtrip once she's out of jail. Her google searches for chloroform, neck breaking and shovel are quite shocking. It's disturbing to think we can share the world with such a person, even more disturbing to think how many others could be like this.
Google defines a sociopath as a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes, behavior and a lack of conscience. Casey Anthony certainly exhibits signs of a sociopath. She does not display proper emotion. She was partying and living it up in the days after her daughter was supposedly missing. She stole money from her grandfather and a checkbook from one of her friends. The times her mother and father would visit her in jail, she would throw tantrums, roll her eyes and at times looked happy and upbeat while her parents were visibly distraught. She clearly does not feel for anyone other than herself. She has no conscience, at least not that we can see.
She is also a pathological liar. She lies without regret or remorse. As we watch the trial, we hear friends, detectives and family members speak of the lies she has told. We listen to audio tapes where she is talking to her parents in jail and with detectives. The lies go on and on. It's cringe-worthy. It's strange to watch her sit there as we hear the tapes. All her lies have been exposed, yet she sits there without a shred of shame or guilt showing on her face. Sociopaths are expert liars because they do not have a conscience.
On the other hand, many victims of sexual abuse can also exhibit many characteristics of a sociopath. The victim learns at a young age to lie (as Jose Baez correctly pointed out) and learns to disassociate herself from situations. Many abuse survivors do this to avoid being hurt again. Promiscuity, heavy drinking and other risky behaviors are common with incest survivors as well. Dr. Drew for one, noted on his show that he always suspected Casey was sexually abused.
So far, George Anthony is proving to be more credible than his daughter. He has gone out of his way to protect and help her. He has cooperated with cops and has not given anyone reason to doubt anything he says. As for Casey, nobody can tell when she is lying or telling the truth. Unlike his daughter, George seems to wear his emotions on his sleeve. Casey Anthony is hard to read.
One thing is for certain: Incest survivors do not all grow up to be killers. Oprah Winfrey, Ashley Judd and many other successful men and women have been sexually abused as children. They did not go down a murderous path. Then take a look at serial killers like Jeffery Dahmer. He had grown up in a healthy environment. The point is that whatever trauma happened to you in your childhood, it does not cause you to become a monster as an adult. If she is lying about this, which is highly possible, she has slapped every victim of child abuse in the face.
As adults, we all have a choice. If Casey Anthony was in fact abused, it's irrelevent to the case.
Beyond the Trial
Sociopaths are born sociopaths. They can't be changed. There is no amount of drugs or therapy that can help a person who is a sociopath. Once we called this evil but now we know it's a disorder that cannot be cured. If Casey Anthony is a sociopath, she cannot ever be a productive member of society. Due to lack of feelings, she will always be dangerous.
On Monday, July 5th 2011, less than two days of deliberation, the jury came back with a verdict of not guilty and Casey was cleared of all charges except four charges of lying to the police. All those charges are misdemeanors. As most people believe she is responsible for little Caylee's death, the public is justifiably outraged over the verdict. As Casey 'wept' with joy, her parents quietly snuck out of the courthouse.
We may never what really happened to Caylee. All we know is that a seemingly heartless and cold woman with a history of lying may have gotten away with murdering her own baby. Is Casey dangerous? By the looks of it, yes. What will happen to Casey now that she is acquitted is anyone's guess.
The Anthony family must now pick up the pieces. George and Cindy Anthony will finally have a chance to mourn their granddaughter's untimely and violent death. Something we don't get to see is the sad reality that is behind the media circus, the protests and the tabloids: A family that has been destroyed and greives for a precious toddler named Caylee. A little girl who never got the chance to grow up.
What do you think of Casey Anthony?
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Hi Feenix, thanks for commenting. I hope the truth comes out at this trial. I'm curious to see how this all turns out.
We will never findout the real truth. Was she abused? could be. Did she kill her daughter. A big Yes. I do not believe a word of the father, but those pictures of her at the hot body contest was the icing on the cake for me
Yeah, I agree. It was only a few days after her kid went missing, who does that???? Unfortunately none of us will know the truth. Thank you for commenting American View. :)
I dont think she was abused, but even if she was that does not excuse her killing her daughter. Also if she was abused why would she ever trust her father around Caylee, if anything victims of abuse are very protective of their kids. She is a a sociopath and pathological liar. People ask "how could cyndi not know she was lying and making up all these people" would anyone ever think that their own child is psycho and could be making up all these different people when casey always had an answer or story with details of what had happened, what people looked like and what they had said? At the beginning of this case I was unsure of what could have happened, if she was really guilty or not but the more i hear about all these lies the more im convinced that she is just a cold murderer whose loving baby was just in her way of the life she wanted (partying and whoring around)
People are so quick to judge Cindy Anthony. I agree that no mother would be able to face that their own daughter is a killer and a psychopath. I actually feel sorry for her parents. I think they are starting to accept the reality about Casey. I cannot imagine how painful it would be to lose your granddaughter and your daughter is in prison being tried in her death. They really lost two people. Then with the media circus.. It's no wonder George Anthony attempted suicide. How much can these people possibly take? Thanks for commenting Lisa.
I think that her death was a accident. The crime was in the cover up.
This trial and this story is very confusing. I am sure she did it, but I dont think it was murder. I think it was an accident.
If I "accidently" killed my daughter, or my daughter had drowned, I would still call 911 in hopes and denial that she was still alive. Any sane person would. How could you dump your daughter's remains in some yard, accident MY ASS! If her daughter accidently died, that lady would not have been out acting like a skank. She would of been wanting to die, and would have been in shock along with loosing her mind that her daughter was dead. I don't believe her dad EVER touched her, this is all just in hopes that the jury will spare her. People are abused and molested everyday, all over the world. They still live normal lives and know that they can't live in the past and end up having families, and kids that they do NOT kill. I don't feel bad for this lady, abused or not. There is no excuse. If it was an accident, you don't cover it up, you mourn because you child is dead.
Lulu and Susan, thank you for sharing your opinions. In the beginning I prayed it was an accident because it's deeply disturbing to believe a mother can do this to her child. I have to agree with Shayna. if this were an accident she would have called 911 and tried to save her baby. It doesn't make sense to go through all this trouble to cover up an accident.
I think Casey had a plan to kill her parents and is probably why she was looking up all the things to do with "death" on her computer. She DID tell AMY that her parent were moving out of the house and that it was going to be HERS! I mean COME ON, where in the world did ANYONE ever hear that their parents were moving out of their house and just giving it to them??? It went so far that AMY had reserved a moving truck but, Casey kept putting the date off... This would have been perfect for her to say that the last time she saw Caylee, she was with her parents and now they are murdered and someone stole the baby! I think that was her ULTIMATE plan but, didn't work. That would have been the FINAL chapter in the sick book she wrote!
Hi Ree,
That is such an interesting theory and I think you may be right. It makes sense and I wouldn't put anything past this sicko. Thank you for commenting.
Amy
I think Casey Anthony is a sociopath. I think Casey would use zanax (aka, Zanny) to put her daughter to sleep as she partied but this became too expensive or she no longer had access to the pills. So then she researched and used chloroform to knock Caylee out, still telling people that she was with her nanny, Zanny. I think Casey put her sleeping daughter in her trunk to "sleep" while she partied. When Casey went to get Caylee she was dead... Casey could have used too much chloroform or she could have left her in the trunk for too long-- which killed her. Being a sociopath, she knew she would be charged with child abuse (at the least), so she didn't report it because she wanted to live her life. She probably thought Caylee was already dead, what would reporting it do??
Hi Kristina, I think that's what happened too. If you piece it all together, the chloroform searches, hair in the trunk and abandoning her car that smells like human decomposition there's no other explanation. I also believe she hates her mother and wanted to punish her by not allowing her to watch caylee. I mean why dope up your kid when you have a mom who would willingly watch your child?
This is a tragedy, for all.
Yeah, Kristina's hypothesis makes sense. I dont think anyone else was involved in the cover-up. Regarding the abuse-claim: possible. And the jailhouse videos don't speak against that hypothesis. Contrary to what some journalists write, actually, the victims will often have a seemingly 'very good'/entitled relationship to the male perpetrator, who will treat them special. And if it is the father, then the relationship to the mother is very often strained. The victims despise the mother for not helping them stop the abuse, and the father will often take the daughters side against the mother. But I don't see, what relevance this allegation has - may it be true or not.
I mean, without backing up the hypothesis of some psychological disorder (caused by abuse or a tumor or whatever) via some expert-testimony, which says that this disorder explains her actions... it is pointless to raise such hypotheses.
Hi Finn, I know someone who was sexually abused by her dad. I knew here since childhood and this all came out in the open a few years ago. It was shocking but what you are saying is true. She adored her dad and despised her mom. It really confused me, but a therapist once explained it to me. Her father made her feel special, her mother resented her and she resented her mother for not protecting her. This girl also comes off as cold and manipulating. It's very possible that Casey was molested but on the other hand, she has lied so much it's hard to say.
Caylee Anthony is covering up her child's death because of her brother Lee. Lee is the actual one who killed Caylee Marie Anthony. Just wait and see, it will come out. Caylee is protecting her brother, not her parents. There is something mighty strange about Lee Anthony. The defense needs to examine him much closer. I wonder if anyone on Caylee's legal team, has thought to have Caylee hipmotized by a Phsyciatrist. It wouldn't hurt to really find out the truth.
The idea that socialpath's are expert liers falls apart at the lame, stupid lies she made up.
We need to stop glorifying sereal killers.
Agreed. Her lies are very stupid but what makes her an expert liar is that she sticks to her story, remembers her lies, and at least up until now, everyone around her believed her lies.
Psychopath is a sociopath who cannot distinguish good from evil. A sociopath Knows the difference and chooses evil.
Casey Anthony is both.
What worries me the most is that she will be released back into society; and will she inevitably kill someone else for her own selfish gain?? OJ sure ended up back in prison - so I gotta wonder........
I believe either there was an accident of some sort and a panicked cover-up... OR Lee or George were behind the death somehow and Casey being under the control of either did what she was told to help cover up THEIR cover-up and continue to cover up yet another family secret. She may have been convinced that if she did this they would not be discovered or that she would not be convicted and therefore she bore the brunt of the whole thing. the lies were created to continue this. And then there's the possibility that she IS a sociopath and is guilty of all charges.. But in the end there's no denying that her father was the only one who truly had the experience and knowledge to create the trail and evidence that pointed to his daughter.. FYI: It is standard for the accused to be instructed to stay emotionally neutral during court as well as the jury and all spectators in the room. And having all eyes on you, no matter who you are, for a veeeerrry extended period of time is a difficult thing to deal with so it is very hard to objectively read a person under those circumstances. Another thing to note is that people respond to grief in soo many different ways and being that Casey is already a very disturbed individual her partying may have been the only way she felt she could escape and deny the devastating reality that her daughter was no longer alive. People who have no idea are so quick to judge and convict and believe what the media and ignorant people are saying about a person, place or thing and it is sad and disgusting behavior. Whether or not she is actually guilty or a sociopath or what-have-you the evidence that was presented by the prosecution was part fabricated, part manipulated or contaminated mixed w/some undeniable truths. The defense was able to make this VERY clear in the closing arguments. It could not be denied and that is what the jury had to go on... Period. George Anthony showed many more signs of sociopathy than Casey (in my opinion as someone who dealt very closely w/a sociopath for 3 yrs)and has anyone thought to ask how is it that the very same rare duct tape that was placed over Caylee's face to create the idea of murder ended up back in George Anthony's hands?? Would Casey have taken the time to put such a thing back in the house after using it to silence/suffocate her daughter? Doesn't make sense! Why not just toss it in the a swamp, ocean, river, lake, pond or dumpster never to be found? SO, as guilty as she may look or even BE, the EVIDENCE did NOT PROVE that. The jury did it's job respectfully and honored the system in a way that any one of us out there would hope would be done for us if we were wrongfully accused of murder or any crime. These are the realities that the blood-thirsty public and media MUST face. Whoever is responsible for Caylee's tragic death will be held accountable in due time by the ultimate judge, GOD!
I find the article and most of the comments informative and interesting. My questions are if Casey Anthony was not abused by her father or brother, who then is Kaylee's father? Was he featured during the trial at all? (Not sure I heard anything about him.)If Casey had wanted to kill her daughter, why wait till she was two years old? Is there a conspiracy here that we will never be privy to? In whose custody was Kaylee when she drowned? How did her body found a way to the woods from the pool? Perhaps the law is looking in the wrong direction. I am not exonerating Casey's involvement especially as a mother even if she wanted to live a fun filled life, she out rightly demonstrated an attitude belittling of a mother. There are so many WHYs that are yet to be unraveled but only time will tell. I believe judgement was delivered based on so many unsolved mysteries and for lack of evidence but no matter how long it takes to lie, truth will prevail someday.
Casey Anthony is insane...her parents know this too, but are protecting her.
She should be institutionalized before she harms someone else.
The coroner could not pinpoint a cause of death. If no one knows how Caylee died, the case presents huge problems. At least in OJ there was a known cause of death.
We would not be here today or any of the previous days, if Caylee drowned in the pool, there would be no reason to dump her in a swamp. You don't make an accident look like murder. Not to have this circus one would quietly bury her in the back yard where all the pets are. I believe that Casey really didn't want a baby, but her mother prompted her to have the baby. Casey's mom, dad and Lee were her support system. That meant she could smile, laugh and play with her daughter Caylee, until she got tired of it and wanted to be onto a more exciting life, lies, lies, lies and her mother Cindy wanted Casey to step up and take her responbilities seriously. Take the support system away leaving Casey alone with her baby. Caylee much younger a couple of months old, I think Caylee would have been dead at a few months old - SIDS anyone? Casey to me is a sociopath, and killed her child and threw her away.
I agree with you, bgamall. You can't really compare this case to oj. There was DNA evidence in the oj case. We didn't have that here. If only caylee was found sooner, i think there would have been a much different outcome. Thanks for commenting!!
AWESOME HUB!! Very well written and SO true! I am still sick about the verdict and I can't get out of my head the opening statements by Baez saying those horrible things about George Anthony and Roy Kronk. How slimey is Jose Baez??? I don't believe for a second that George Anthony molested Casey.... not at all. I can rest knowing that what comes around goes around... and Casey Anthony will pay and Baez has proven himself to be slime ball.. at least in my opinion. Voted up and awesome!
Interesting case ~ and you have written it up well! :)
Amymarie....Not a speck of doubt, Casey is an incurable Sociopath. I have diagnosed hundreds. She has, not just some, but every single classic symptom and behavior of a pure sociopath. You are correct that this is an illness, however, not ALL sociopaths are born as one....but instead, some simply have propensities to this illness. Given the genetic make-up and/or combination of upbringing, education, environment and experiences, can evolve into total Sociopathy, (depending upon the degree all of these.) You are also correct when you state that "they" cannot change or "be cured," so to speak. Once the brain is programmed and positioned & sociopathy is apparent, it remains as such forever. What does this all mean? It CLEARLY means: Casey Marie Anthony is literally doomed to self-destruct....sooner, rather than later. Anything the courts COULD have done to her, will pale in comparison to what lies in store for Casey, by her own hand. This is a guaranteed fact. Great hub!!
Hi Fpherj48, thank you for sharing your knowledge of sociopaths. I admit that I assumed sociopaths are all born that way, it's interesting that a variety of things can bring this out in someone.
I wrote another hub about the jury making the right decision (based on the constitution) I mentioned that same exact thing about Casey Anthony screwing up again -just like OJ did. :)
Simply put, your hub is very well written and clearly brings out the importance of the need for people to become familiar with these types of human "freaks." Awareness is the best defense to falling prey to these pathetic individuals. If your hub prompted only a few people to educate themselves on Sociopathy, you have done a wonderful thing! Keep on hubbin!
Great article still to this day I feel she killed her daughter. She is a psycho that got away with murder just like mentioned by someone else just like OJ Simpson.
Very well written and very easy to read. But what a heartbreaking story. I really wish the truth would come out for the sake of this poor little girl.
Rosepetals, she's an absolute psycho and there's not a shred of doubt in my mind that she did it and that she's lying about her father.
Blairtracy, it is truly heartbreaking and I just hope little caylee didn't suffer the day she was killed.
Thanks to both of you for reading and commenting.
amymarie_5 I totally agree with you Casey Anthony is a SOCIOPATH..what mother is going to show NO emotion when someone is talking about the death of her child? Pole dancing and partying while your child is missing is definitely not normal behavior.
No I don't believe she was ever abused and I think that she wanted to live her life and her child was in the way.
She got away with murder, but I look at it this way...she has to live with what she did and one day answer for it!!
I am new to Hubpage and I really enjoyed reading this!
I am really confused about Casey Anthony. I would like to believe that she did not kill her daughter, but the fact that the child was not reported missing for 31 days is beyond my ability to understand. Maybe she killed her by accident and was afraid to report it. Still not normal. I do not believe we will ever know exactly what happened.
I know what you mean Texasgirl. It's hard to believe a mother can kill their own child. Especially someone like Casey who did not seem to have any real reason to commit murder. Her mother was willing to adopt her child. If she didn't want her, she could have simply let her mom adopt her. It doesn't make sense but I believe she did it. There's no other explanation. Thanks for commenting & sharing your opinion.
onlymeaimee....It's highly unlikely anyone will ever know the real truth behind the "abuse accusations." The fact is, George is a bit strange in his behavior & has a history of lying & violence. (much of his story is not public knowledge)and truthfully, Cindy has some serious oddities herself. Everyone has felt so sorry for the "grandparents," they fail to accept that George & Cindy RAISED this sociopath and hold much responsibility for her wickedness. Remember, Sociopaths are created and "evolve" over time. It would be a bit of comfort to think that, as you mention, "Casey has to live with what she has done......" but sadly, Casey is void of a conscience and her deeds do not and will not ever haunt her. She is perfectly able to go on in life without missing a beat. The rest of us must grieve for Caylee. Welcome to hubpages!!
,.covered it up by so many lies. Too bad jury so stupid and had no sense to see thru smoke screen set by Baez. She deserves death!
feenix Level 7 Commenter 11 months ago
Amy Marie_5, this is well-written, detailed hub and quite informative.
At this point in time, I do not know what to think of Casey Anthony, except that she is a very troubled and disturbed young woman who was unfit to have custody of her child.
I am afraid that this is one of those cases in which the whole truth will never be known by the general public.