Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin Weighs in on Casey Anthony

December 12, 2008

Earlier today, we heard from criminal profiler Pat Brown, who offered her thoughts on how yesterday's discovery of child skeletal remains will affect Casey Anthony's cooperation in the case - if those remains are identified as that of Anthony's missing two-year-old daughter, Caylee.

Since that time, criminal profiler Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin has offered her own opinion on what might happen next.

"Now would be the time to pressure her. If this is Caylee's body, then Casey knows it and realizes she lost any hope of pretending the baby is alive," Dr. Schurman-Kauflin said. "Of course, she will change her story. She has to. But this is THE critical time. This would be when detectives could get her to talk."

According to Dr. Schurman-Kauflin, Anthony's confession is the only thing she has left to offer in exchange for leniency.

"Casey has shown she will do what's best for Casey. And giving up the ghost could be the only way to save her own life," Dr. Schurman-Kauflin said. "Desperation has certainly set in. Women who kill their children are most likely to talk about the crime when the body is found because that's when their lies get exposed. The stories tend to go from a stranger 'did it', to 'it was an accident,' to 'I don't know what happened.' When they reach the 'I don't know what happened' stage, they say that they don't remember key parts of the murder.  They will say it is blank to them, but this is their way of hiding what they've done, even from themselves. If they are forced to look at what they did, even those with psychopathic tendencies feel uncomfortable. Psychopaths are all about toying with people and pleasuring themselves. They will avoid discomfort at any cost. She is a caged, wounded animal now. Remember how an injured animal behaves."

Unfortunately for Anthony, she may have waited far too long to cut a deal.

"She may be out of luck. Prosecutors may not be interested in anything this proven liar has to say," Dr. Schurman-Kauflin said. "She had her chance to cooperate, and she blew it."

For more information on Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, please visit The Violent Crimes Institute, LLC, at: www.drdsk.com.

Discuss The Caylee Anthony Case

Full Coverage : Casey Anthony Case

Photo Credits: Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin: Violent Crimes Institute, LLC

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Comments

[helenhudson]

Thanks so much for including comments from both profilers.

[Jessi]

They should put her in an interrogation room and show her pictures of her decaying baby. . . skull, bones and all and what I can imagine as partially covered in deteriorated flesh. Let her see the consequences of her actions!!! Possibly invoking mental images that will make her crawl in her own skin. Hopefully and ...maybe reality would set in with her. Interesting on the stages of how one will hide from themselves. This whole case just boggles my mind. Although, I am grateful how everything came together with everyone in the Anthony family not being home when little Caylee's body was discovered. I hope Caylee is surrounded in a place where she can hurt no longer and have nothing but love and hugs spoiling her rotten. Not a day goes by that I don't think about this innocent child. Lets hope this is the start of bringing more attention to similar cases in the future!

[Danna]

Lets hope there are no similar cases in the future.

[Gracie]

Very interesting, from an authority. I would have thought it would've been time to spin another tale... you know, the day the babysitter took the baby was when the babysitter kept Casey stringing on - to get what she could out of her.

I certainly hope, somewhere in society, that these sociopaths that eventually do "partially confess" or "downgrade their crime" (to accident and panic instead of premeditated murder) will NEVER be rewarded with lighter sentences and societal forgiveness in parole.

How many Susan Smiths, Andrea Yates, and Casey Anthonys will we feed and care for until their aged bones rot in jail? More for them than they did for their own?!

Gracie

[Jessi]

Yes, I certainly hope there aren't similar cases. . . although it would be unrealistic to say this would never happen again, whether on a degraded level or worse than this, even though it is hard to imagine :*( I guess my point was other cases don't receive as much media attention as this one has.

[beth]

How can Casey possibly spin a story about accidental death if there is duct tape over the child's mouth?

[Darlene]

Gracie I am in agreement with you. I figured once she is cornered she will then lead the story in the direction that the "nanny" must have heard them talking on the news and killed her. However, I'm sure that once all the DNA and stuff is done, they will likely be able to guess proficiently at a time of death.
In my opinion, if it proves this baby was killed around the time they have outlined in the time line, I would say she is guilty and I don't think LWOP should be an option. I believe she should get the death penalty.
She showed this innocent little baby no mercy in sparing her life so, why should we show her mercy and spare hers?
Another thing, in my opinion, of course that the courts need to consider...will she be a danger to others. I believe she would be. What if Lee were to have a child and Cindy and George start giving this child the attention they once gave Caylee. Would this trigger another murder? I'm not sure but, I do know one thing...I would never allow her around my child!!
Dee

[Liz G]

Oh Jessi! I cried when I read your post! I, too, think of that baby every day and hope to God she is being spoiled with love. This whole thing is killing me!

[Melinda]

After having found the remains, I wish the Sheriff's Office would have gone to see Casey in the jail, started the video recorder, and said "Great news! We've found Caylee alive and she's coming home!". Casey's reaction would have surely been telling...

[Marsha]

As to Jessi's comments about forcing Casey to look at pictures of the decomposed remains of that once lovely child:
Actually, Casey's attorney (new member of her team, blonde woman named Baden) has asked the court to allow Casey to see the remains themselves because "she should be entitled to see the remains of her own child". Baden also asked for Casey to be allowed, as the mother, to make funeral and burial arrangements for Caylee. That was not done for Scott Peterson, and should not be done for Casey either. She will, however, see many, many enlarged photos of the remains when they are shown to the jury at her trial. I pity that poor jury.

[prevost1580]

I feel that the grandparents are guilty too. They have tampered with evidence and obstructed justice since the smelly car was found.

Many ppl feel compassion for the grandparents but I do not. I feel compassion,heartbreak and sadness for the victim Caylee, none of the A's have had any respect for this precious girl.The fake Caylee sightings , far fetched stories & t.v appearences are sickening to me.

[Woodleigh]

"...We've found Caylee alive and she's coming home!"

Liz G, I'd like to hear and watch Casey's reaction if she were actually told that. For the endless lies she's told, she well deserves it.

[Woodleigh]

Marsha, I understand how you look at George and Cindy. Actually, Cindy speaks out way more than George.

It's hard to believe that both of them REALLY believe their granddaughter is alive...out there somewhere. Cindy may have to cling to this belief to preserve her own sanity.

How can anyone handle the thought that their own child murdered their grandchild? Denial would be a normal reaction, I think.

From what George Anthony has told investigators, I believe he is not fooling himself. He is trying to stand by and protect his wife from the possible and awful truth.

They loved their dear little granddaughter. They have been put through hell on earth. They've lost her, and their daughter, whom they also love, may very well spend the rest of her life in prison.

Have a heart, can't you?

[Jodi]

Well, I guess if there is anything positive about all this, it's the fact Cindy has stopped running her mouth for the moment. One would think that out of sheer desperation Casey would start to talk now. To try and save herself. From reading other articles however, it appears the Anthony clan is going to either A, deny this is Caylee and keep following leads about little girls who are obviously NOT Caylee. B, the fictional baby sitter did it. C, Casey will come forward with a new story of how someone else did it to punish her and dumped her so close to the Anthony home to teach them a lesson. This circus is far from over.

[Liz G]

Prevost-I agree 100%!Thank God the A's abandoned the 2nd appearence on Larry King and have CLAMMED UP! Great work, David! Thanks so much for all your great reporting!

[Marsha]

Dear Woodleigh,
You are confused by how the comments are posted. I never even mentioned George and Cindy. That comment was posted by prevost1580. I am a grandparent too (of eleven grandchildren), and I also have a really big heart. ALL COMMENTS ARE POSTED ABOVE YOUR NAME, NOT BELOW IT!!! Please look at your own comment to see that. This comment is really from Marsha and my name will be BELOW it, NOT ABOVE.

[carol]

Thank God if it is Caylee, she is found. Does anyone remember when Casey wanted to be released to help find her child? Could it be that she knew that the body was too close to where they were going to search and wanted to go and move the body. Very interesting.... I would like to know if it was around the time when Tim Stevens was in that area. Casey should get down on her knees and thank God that there are Defense Lawyers that are willing to take this case because I would not think of defending anyone like her.

[debbie in new jersey]

Thank God, finally poor little Caylee Marie can be laid to rest, instead of tossed away like yesterday's trash. I agree if Casey sees the pictures of what her daughter looked like at the time she was found, maybe she might decide to tell the truth. Who knows, she'll probably never admit to doing this awful thing. I have to say my heart goes out to George and Cindy, they have to know this is their granddaughter. As a grandmother of 5 (one being a 3 year old granddaughter) I don't know how I could stand the pain. It's time for Casey to put an end to this lie, and let her parents have this time for their grief.

[Elizabeth]

The Anthony's Lawyer came out today and said that Cindy and George still believe that "Zanny the Nanny" is responsible for this. I have been really curious about what stance all the Anthony's will take now that there is a body. I have to say that a small part of me really thought that Cindy and George would come to the realization of what happened. Are they all really going to stick to this story?

[CrimeJunkieMama]

I too am disappointed that the Anthony's continue to stick to the absurd Zanny Nanny theory. They all think they can outsmart a judge and 12 members of the public but they can't. The evidence will be too overwhelming. I was so glad that Cindy was no longer talking until a quote from their new lawyer re: how they're sticking by Casey. Sick! Maybe Casey already confessed to her family when she was released on bond and the family has tightened ranks and will continue to stick to their stupid stories. I just pray to God there are fingerprint links to Casey on the duct tape, or that maybe the cover used for the body is a blanket from their home with traces of Cindy's beloved dogs.

[prevost1580]

Maybe I'm not being politically correct for this day & age but I can not stand,nor do I have ANY sympathy or compassion for the murderer or her parents who cover up for her. Hate me all you want but I feel only for the victim,Caylee.

If the A's would admit that they too are hurting like the rest of America,I may feel differently.Then there is Lee the loser ripping up and shredding the memorials left for Caylee. What a heartless and cruel thing to do-

[Robbie]

If taping-up, handling, and moving around her precious daughters cold, stiff, lifeless body wasn't enough to make her break down...seeing pictures of bones isn't going to phase her. I've said from the beginning...Casey is going to stick to her story. She is not going to take a plea, she is not going to come up with something new.

But I just realized...how is she or anyone else going to claim that "Zanny" snuck into the house with her key to get items to frame Casey. I mean, hasn't the house been on surveillance and watched almost from the beginning? Would "Zanny" be brave enough to poke around the neighborhood, let alone the house? Her parents will wake up some day and be very angry for her lies.

[Ardra]

She'll have to see pictures of the crime scene during the trial. I guess she could close her eyes, though. I have given up hope on her confessing. She is just too cold to admit and that seems to be indicative of these sociopathic personalities - keeping the illusion going that they are cool, good, upstanding, happening, with-it people matters more than anything else in their whole universe. Just like with Scott Peterson. He couldn't admit it because then he'd have to come to grips with the fact that he was a "bad guy". And then, even worse, everybody else would know. Same thing with Casey.
-Ardra

[SJAZ]

I agree with you prevost1580. As a grandmother myself, I really wanted to have sympathy for George & Cindy, but I can't. I pray to God I NEVER find myself in their shoes! However, if I did, before any lawyer can help out, before any cop can come & arrest my child, before ANYTHING, I am going to grab my child by her neck and shake the whereabouts of my grandbaby out of her! Come on! At the very least, the Anthony's KNOW Casey is a liar and a thief! I believe Cindy stated in a police interview or somewhere that Casey is a sociopath! (look at the definition...sounds like a dead on description of Casey to me! http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/narcissisticpd.htm)Maybe Cindy feels so much guilt beecause she insisted Casey have a baby when she didn't want one!
As for Lee...something about him has bothered me from the jump. I can't pinpoint it. After last week's reports of his refusal to submit fingerprints/DNA w/o a subpoena, I really started thinking about his odd behaviors throughout all of this. Talking almost in code to Casey during jailhouse calls & visits. Almost controlling. Reminding her that calls/visits were recorded. Telling Casey....careful who you trust. Careful what you say.... Talking his parents out of taking polygraph tests months ago. WHY??? I also kept thinking about Casey saying to her parents that she was "protecting" the family by remaining quiet. As we have seen, there actually seems to be a little bit of truth tangled up in her lies. You may think my theory is crazy, but here goes....Any chance Lee is Caylee's dad? It could explain A LOT! It could explain his refusal to fully cooperate with anything & everything requested of he & his family during the investigation. It could explain Casey's behavior after Caylee "went missing" (was killed)and why she had no problem partying after Caylee was gone. It could explain her promisquity. It may be the truth in her statements to her parents about protecting the family. I have no doubt that Casey killed Caylee and I do believe "Zanny the Nanny" was Xanax. I feel she knew she had options if she didn't want to raise Caylee. Maybe it was more than not wanting the responsibilities of parenting? Maybe following this crazy case has turned me crazy. :)

[Debra]

You know, I think Casey SHOULD NOT be prosecuted for Caylee's murder! I feel she should be prosecuted only for the thefts and lying to the police and sentenced to the maximum for those crimes and sent to prison, in the general population!! There, she will be judged and sentenced by a jury of her peers (thieves, liars, murderers, etc.)

[SanSmith]

There's something that George said when he was interviewed by the Sheriff's office that made the hairs on my neck stand on end. He was talking about Casey not allowing him to go near her trunk on June 24th to retrieve something. That's when she hurriedly popped it open to throw the gas cans at him and slammed it shut. George was angry and thought at the time that it was because she stole the gas cans. He said she wouldn't let anybody near the car and speed off in a hurry. The car must have stunk then and she knew she would be discovered if she didn't do something to cover herself. Could Caylee have still been in the car I wonder? Was she planning on getting rid of the evidence by setting her car with Caylee inside on fire somewhere with those gas cans and was stopped because of George? That has me wondering what her intentions were with those cans.

[Janie]

I would like to know under what circumstances are DNA files put under "COURT SEAL"? The police have DNA from all the Anthony famly members. I have long suspected that LEE is the father of his sister Casey's child Cay-Lee. And, What the heck was Lee kissing on his wrist at the baby's memorial service as he spoke to "C.M.A." ?? He was only wearing a CASEY button on his shirt that day... The statement: "OUR Caylee" - I think this speaks volumes. The only thing Cindy has done right in this whole mess was to pick a terrific song, GONE TOO SOON for the film remembrance. As for Casey- I think the police should videotape her getting WATERBOARDED- then set that film to music! I don't know exactly what is entailed in this torture process but if it can make her give up the facts of what happened, and hurt her a wee bit too, I'd be satisfied.