No Death Penalty For Casey Anthony

December 05, 2008

We've just learned of some breaking news in the case of Casey Anthony and her missing two-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony.

According to the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office, they will not be seeking the death penalty against Casey Anthony in the first-degree murder of her missing daughter.

"After due consideration of the facts and law applicable to this case, it is not in the best interest of the people of the State of Florida to pursue the Death Penalty as a potential sentence," reads a notice that was released today by Assistant State Attorney Linda Drane Burdick. "Therefore, the State of Florida will not be seeking the death penalty as to Casey Marie Anthony."

Anthony remains in jail without bond. Her trial is scheduled to begin on January 5.

Discuss The Caylee Anthony Case

Full Coverage : Casey Anthony Case

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[BeckyM]

Hope she's enjoying her taste of jail... no parties and her only boyfriends are the prison guards. I'm sure she can hook up with someone just like Susan Smith did. From what you've reported it sounds like her lawyer is the No. 1 right now.

[Diana]

Thanks for keeping us updated, David! I've been following this case since the beginning - very tragic, but quite interesting study in human behavior!

Will you be posting the videos that were just released of Casey's jail house visits with her parents? I'd be curious if you could have any experts in deception analyze her comments and body language. I've seen a few clips and at one point she's answering "yes" to a question about Caylee, but shaking her head no. Also, her answers to Cindy's questions are so ambiguous - for instance, Cindy asks about Zenaida's father's last name. She dances around it saying that it might be Fernandez, but he's her step dad so she's not quite sure if they have the same last name.

[Danna]

Im sure thats the smart strategy, but its disappointing. I was holding out hope that the DP might get her to tell where Caylee's remains are. Hopefully she'll at least get LWOP. It would disgust me for her to get out after a few years.

[cb]

That's not surprising.

They still have a solid circumstantial case that will likely put her away for a very long time, including the possibility of life without parole.

It appears that Baez may have smartened up a bit by not commenting on each evidentiary item that is released piecemeal.

Otherwise, he and the Anthony's could paint themselves into a corner with the 'Caylee is alive and kidnapped defense', limiting the opportunity to negotiate a plea, or to offer mitigating circumstances in an 'accidental death'.

[Buzz]

I believe she deserves the death penalty. She's being rewarded for making poor little Caylee's body unfindable. It was really the only decision the state could make. On the plus side it probably makes getting a conviction easier, will make getting an appeal heard harder, and save the State some money.

[Nala]

WHY DON'T THE POLICE DIG UP ANTHONY'S NEWLY POURED PATIO????
I understand the Anthony's had a new concrete patio poured in the backyard around the first week of July or so. We know Caylee was dead in the backyard because the dogs said so and we also know Casey backed up her trunk into the garage and borrowed a shovel...so whay aren't they searching back there?

Casey even told Lee that she feels Caylee is "close to home".

[RJ]

Nala it's only PAVERS they are removable. It's not a concrete slab. That's just misinformed information that is spread out there.

[Fawn]

I agree with Nala... unless I have not heard this part of the case.. have they searched the Anthonys' back yard? Like I've seen stated a couple of times, the dogs did sense something back there, did that not lead them to investigate further?

[Jaded Envy]

I'm pretty sure that two different cadaver dogs hit on the same spots in the backyard but when the ground was searched there was nothing there. I think it's generally believed that Casey put Caylee's body back there for at least some amount of time before taking it elsewhere.

[debbie in new jersey]

I also believe Casey deserves the death penalty. I can't stand to hear the way her parents talk to her in the jail house visits. They make it sound like Casey is the victim here. I just don't understand why Cindy and George don't demand answers. Everytime she doesn't want to answer a question, she says "Like Lee said, it's not a good idea to talk here because everyone is listening in", and her parents say "ok, you're right sweetheart". Give me a break. George just sits back not saying much, but his facial expressions say alot. He doesn't even believe Casey story, but he won't speak up. I just don't get it. Anyway, Thank You David for keeping us up to date.

[Marsha]

Ten Top Reasons There is No Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzales:
1. No one has come forward to say I am Zenaida's friend, landlord, neighbor, former employer, relative, etc. even though they could claim a $225,00 reward for their aid in finding Caylee.
2. We haven't seen a tax return from Casey where Zenaida would be listed as her childcare provider (including her socal security number) so Casey could take her childcare expenses as a tax deduction.
3. No one has been able to show that any Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzales' filed IRS tax returns from the Orlando area which, by the way, should show her source of income coming from Casey. The FBI could gain legal access to IRS filings needed for an investigation.
4. There is no record of ANY phone calls or text messages, incoming or outgoing, on Casey's cell phone to any phone belonging to a person with this name, and all of the numbers have been matched with Casey's friends, lovers and family.
5. The person who Casey said recommended Zanni as a babysitter, has never heard of Zanni
6. No artist's drawing of Zenaida has ever been issued by Casey's lawyer or the Anthony's private investigator, even though the Anthony's discussed that with Casey in a jailhouse video.
7. The Anthony's have never revealed where Zanni really lived (Casey lied to the police about her address) so her neighbors might help locate her or say if they ever say Caylee with her.
8. No one has ever seen a photo of Zanni with Caylee, or even alone, even though Casey took many photos (her old job).
9. No one has ever said that Zanni ever gave Caylee any birthday or Christmas gifts even though she was supposedly her nanny for almost two years.
10. George admitted to the FBI that Caylee never spoke about Zanni, even though she spoke about Casey's friends and others in her life. Caylee also just looked confused (George said to FBI) when he mentioned Zanni.
Here is my theory about one motive that supermom had to get rid of her baby: Caylee was starting (at almost age three) to really talk and Caylee did not want her lies revealed to her family-i.e. There is no Zanni, mommy has no job and mommy spends the night with various men.
May this precious, innocent baby find the peace in heaven that she was denied on earth.

[Believe]

So good to know that they will not seek the death penalty as there is no body. How kind and smart of them. Casey has been judged as a murderer because she hangs out in muscial bars, has a reason for lying because she is scared for the safty of Caylee otherwise. Someone trying to bring Casey harm threw something in her trunk, but no DNA evidence has found that to be Caylee. A MOM in trouble. A MoM that did not live a perfect life and who did not come from a problem free life is in trouble; she is suffering for her child and all of you continue to judge her as a murderer even through there are no facts to support murder, only personal opinion of the way Casey has lived her life which is not facts necessary in a court of law to convict a murder charge. Caseyis a MOM in trouble with nobody to stand by her She only has those like you to judge her lifestyle as being one who must have murdered her own chid. The friends must all be a part of it or they would not be lying. Casey stole from them and whoever and whatever else she did to make people upset with her and you blame the Mom who trusted her friends and believed they would never stop forgiving her for her faults. No body, no evidence of Casey murdering her child, only your personal opinions. Send Casey home to find her child. Caylee is probably in another state by now. A State where her friends have family and friends. Casey will find them. Moms are smart. Think Casey...you will find her.

[Lauren]

Marsha: SERIOUSLY??? Her life is constant lies and she has done NOTHING to help find her daughter. This isn't a grieving mom, it's a sick, twisted individual that has wove a web of lies to hide the inevitable.

[Julie]

If the remains found near Casey Anthony's home are that of Caylee, is it possible for the prosecution to change their minds regarding their decision not to seek the death panalty?

[lol]

she aint nothing but a murderer and shes gettin hers in there prolly wind up pregnant and well see it all over again sick i swear sick ppl