[This article is by contributing writer Ivy Bigbee. She is a Washington, D.C.-based writer.]
"In order to have life we must lose our old lives, so that we may be reborn."
- Casey Anthony while incarcerated, in a letter to Robyn Adams
ORLANDO, Fla. — In order to “have life,” Casey Anthony must “lose” her “old life.” Can Anthony’s cadre of defense lawyers save her from being executed by lethal injection in Florida’s death chamber?
In order to be “reborn,” as her letter to inmate Robyn Adams expresses, Anthony’s attorneys must explain considerable evidence strongly supporting the 25-year-old’s capital punishment charge for killing her daughter, Caylee, 2, in 2008, then dumping her daughter’s body in woods near the house they shared with Anthony’s parents, George and Cindy Anthony.
Three-plus years in arriving, after a trial expected to take six to eight weeks, the verdict cannot come soon enough for case followers. On May 24, 12 jurors and five alternates from Pinellas County, Florida, will hear testimony to give — or deny — the young woman her life. Here’s what we know about Casey Anthony’s jury:
Juror 1 — The Counselor: White, female, age 65, married, two children. Retired nurse and volunteer counselor. Death penalty stance: “I value life. I also value the criminal justice system.” Has smelled decomposing bodies. Capable of understanding, relating to others the scientific evidence in trial, her communication skills and education qualify her as a strong candidate for jury foreperson.
Juror 2 — The IT Worker: Black male, mid-thirties, married, two children: a daughter, 4 and son, 9. Like defendant, Casey Anthony, juror’s mother was a single mom. “My impression was that, ‘yes, I thought she did it.’ ... If I had to return a verdict, I would say ‘not guilty’ right now.” Death penalty stance: Does not believe in the death penalty. “God is the one that makes the final judgment.”
Juror 3 — The Weaver: White, female, age 32, single, youngest of five children. Nursing student, St. Petersburg College. Crafty: Hobby is weaving; works in fiber and is a member of a weavers’ guild. Her pet dog is a rat terrier. Said she has little knowledge of and is not following the case. “I know my ignorance works in my favor at this point!” Admitted she wanted to be on the jury. On a scale of 1 to 10, she rates the death penalty at “a three or a five.”
Juror 4 — The Church Lady: Black female, 40s, no children, lives alone. Unknown occupation. Plays “Farmville” on Facebook. “Most of the time, I play my computer games” she notes. Quiet, unassuming, does not like to judge people by what other people say about them.
Juror 5 — The Retired Nurse’s Aid: White, female, late 50s, three children. Has 11th grade education. Had a driving under the influence arrest in 1998. Lives with boyfriend, a retired plumber. Was a juror for a criminal trial case. Does not own a computer. Works in yard, goes to gym. Death penalty stance: “I guess I believe in the death penalty. I’d have to know a lot of facts before I really considered it.”
Juror 6 — The Chef: White male, 33, married, two children, ages 6 and 21 months. Sells restaurant equipment and is in Orlando on business once a week. Has University of Florida business degree and owns a cat. Did not want to be on the jury. Could vote for the death penalty; “If the law dictated it, I would be able to follow it.”
Juror 7 — The Lawyer’s Daughter: White female, 41, divorced with no children. Once a victim of home invasion, but physically uninjured. Works as administrative assistance in juvenile justice welfare. She has limited knowledge of the case, maintaining that she could vote to recommend the death penalty. “It would be — gosh — a solemn decision, but it is an option under the law.”
Juror 8 — Verizon Service Representative: White, female, 50s, married, two sons approximately Casey Anthony’s age (mid-twenties). Father worked in law enforcement. She would have no problem with the death penalty if warranted, provided she had heard “all the facts.”
Juror 9 — The Logger: White male, 53, never married. Semi-retired; moved to Florida 4 years ago from Indiana because he was “sick of snow.” The caregiver for a stroke sufferer; he also does odd jobs. Watches PBS and the History Channel. He believes Casey Anthony’s “whole story” has not come out; holds no bias, supports the death penalty, and could vote to recommend it “in the proper situation.”
Juror 10 — Verizon Retention Specialist: White male, 57, never married, no children. When asked what he knows about the case, he said, “I really don’t know any details ...” and that he does believe “... everyone is innocent until proven guilty.” Disclosed that his sister and her boyfriend committed a violent crime against their father. He regards the death penalty as a “necessary option.”
Juror 11 — The Teacher: White male, 30s, unmarried. A high school physical education and health teacher who believes Casey Anthony is guilty, who also relates the opinion in the teachers’ lounge is that Casey is guilty. In his profession as an educator, says he “had to learn to listen to differing opinions,” and could put aside his leanings in order to fairly judge Casey Anthony. States the death penalty is a “necessary option.”
Juror 12 — The Publix Cook: White female, 60s, married to Publix supermarket employee, two children and one young grandchild. Has very little knowledge of the case, although she initially followed it. No cable TV; “not that into” newspapers or TV. She does not own a computer. Rating the death penalty as ten on a scale of one to ten, she would have no problem deciding on LWOP (Life without Opportunity for Parole) or the death penalty.
How Much Do You Know About the Casey Anthony Case? Take a Quiz >>
Alternate Jurors
Alternate Juror 1 — The Executive: White, female, 48, divorced, has 5-year-old daughter. A project sponsor for an information technology company, she oversees computer software implementation. Watches more TV sports than news.
Alternate Juror 2 — The High School Government Teacher: White male, 50s, third marriage, currently to elementary school teacher; has grown son and two step-children. Had prior job in U.S. Postal Dept. labor relations. Has a prior driving under the influence charge that was reduced to reckless driving. Hobbies include reading spy novels; likes author David Baldacci.
Alternate Juror 3 — The Widow: White female, age 37, has a 12-year-old son. Was married to a man jailed on drug charges; husband died during incarceration. She works as a car dealership cashier, lives with her parents, and says serving on a jury would present an “emotional hardship.”
Alternate Juror 4 — The Carpenter: White male, 25, single. The former daycare teacher now works as a carpenter and lives with his parents. He has a juvenile conviction for drug and paraphernalia possession, for which he served probation.
Alternate Juror 5 — The Water Reclamation Plant Operator: White, 39, married, no children. Former Coast Guard mechanic/military policeman. Has some knowledge of the case, which was “not big news in my circle.” Prior to receiving a jury duty summons, planned on taking grandmother to a ball game. He plays computer games. Described a YouTube parody about Casey Anthony by syndicated radio personality, “Bubba the Love Sponge.” Recalls odor in Anthony’s car trunk that was attributed initially to pizza. Says, “I don’t like to judge people on what other people say.”
_____________________________________________________________________________
The televised death penalty trial of Casey Anthony begins May 24, 2011, at 9 a.m. in the Orange County Courthouse, Orlando, Fla.
Related Links:
Listen to Casey Anthony Recorded Messages, 911 Calls and More
Discuss The Caylee Anthony Case
Full Coverage : Casey Anthony Case
Casey Anthony: Mom or Murderer
Recent Comments