Casey Anthony Evidence

The Casey Anthony Verdict

Introduction

On July 15, 2008, Cindy Anthony, Casey Anthony’s mother called 911 twice. One call was to report Casey had possibly stolen a car and money, the second call to report that her granddaughter Caylee, Casey’s daughter, had been missing for 31 days. Casey claimed that a babysitter had taken her daughter and disappeared. On July 16 2008, Casey was arrested for child neglect when investigators found the apartment where Casey claimed the babysitter lived had been vacant for four months. After a lengthy investigation and the discovery of the body of Caylee Anthony not far from the Anthony home, Casey Anthony was charged with first degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child, and four

One of the first pieces of forensic evidence in the trial was the smell of decomposition in Casey’s car. A hair that was found in the trunk also resembled Caylee’s according to an FBI trace analyst. The car was also tested and showed gases present that could only come from a decomposing body. Arpad Vass, a researcher on decomposition testified that the chemical tests he conducted in the car showed that the smell was definitely from a decomposing body. Vass also claimed that in his testing he found evidence of chloroform in the vehicle. They suspected that chloroform was used on Caylee when she was killed. On December 11, 2008 Caylee’s body was found in a field. Investigators believe the body could have been decomposing in the field for six months. A piece of duct tape was found over Caylee’s jawbone, and investigators believe that the chloroform was used, then the duct tape was placed over her mouth and nose to suffocate her (Casey Anthony Trial,

The 2011 statute in Florida for aggravated child abuse says, “Aggravated child abuse occurs when a person: (a) Commits aggravated battery on a child; (b) Willfully tortures, maliciously punishes, or willfully and unlawfully cages a child; or (c) Knowingly or willfully abuses a child and in so doing causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the child. A person who commits aggravated child abuse commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084” (The 2011 Florida Statutes, 2011). There was not sufficient evidence in the Casey Anthony case to show that Caylee was abused or tortured. There is enough evidence to show that Caylee was killed, but there is not evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she was