Mitigating Factor: Casey's Parents

[Silkprint]

Considering my own long life, so too would I be infuriated. KC had advantages that many, if not most kids, in this country would give anything to possess. While to outsiders, CA appears overbearing, she was also a mother who shouldered practically all the childcare and financial burdens of her daughter. KC was a spoiled brat who rebelled when her mother finally demanded she grow up and face her responsibilities for Caylee. Is the family dysfunctional? What family is not, to some degree, especially when viewed in a catastrophic circumstance? For the most part, I think the Anthonys were a pretty average family, with typical problems revolving relationships and finances. Until, of course, their daughter killed her baby. I believe that in their minds and in their hearts, they know that. They're living their dark night of the soul and trying desperately to believe an alternative exists to their child being a monster. They failed to recognize her demons and poor Caylee paid the ultimate price. So they deny, deny deny...their guilt must be overwhelming.

My thought also but said so much better !
Excellent post

 

[Quiche]

Imo, GA and CA are, if anything, overly indulgent parents... CA may expect KC to reflect well on the family, but other than that? They gave KC a decent home, with decent opportunity-- and she blew it. mo

 

[HRCODEPINK]

I have always worried about mitigating factors in a different way. At some point, the "victims" are able to stand and speak for all they have lost in losing their loved one. In a case like this, who would make the impact statement and if it is GA and CA, I am afraid that we will hear all about the impact it has made on them to lose them both and it will make people feel sorry for them and sentence her lighter than they would have. It isn't often that the family is so enabling that the alleged murderer would be thought of before the victim. :sigh: Who will speak for Caylee and of the loss of Caylee?

 

[BigMomma]

The only thing I can come up with for Ann F.'s theory about how KC was used as a decoy or scapegoat is if KC was taking the rap for one of her parents stealing money from the other parent.

It is pretty clear from Cindy's July Myspace post that Cindy thinks SHE is the martyred one. Since the purpose of Cindy's Myspace post was to manipulate ICA with guilt, I believe Cindy thought ICA took her money.

It is strange that IF George was really the one stealing Cindy's money, he always took the exact amount needed to pay ICA's cell phone bill--according to Cindy's financial records and ICA's cell phone payment records.

I think somewhere in your post rings a little true, considering GA had to call CA to bring money to get the car out of hock. Seems GA had no rights to do this on his own and it sure could be 1 parent GA blaming ica for the spendature of the large funds. I really do wonder at times how much was bought and then fluffed off/blamed on ica This could be a possibility as I have recently read how some parents do use their children's names and such to get credit or telephones since their own credit is shot.

I should add in here, why would GA go and collect the car by himself if he needed another person to drive the towed car home? It has crossed my mind if they had something like Triple A and why not use it to bring the car home? Well, I think we sort of know the answer to that one!

 

[sariebell]

I have always thought that the only strategy the defense has is to drum up reasonable doubt by casting suspicions on the Anthony family (especially CA and GA). It was their car, their house, their duct tape, their laundry bag, etc. It seems to me that the DT will claim that one of the others actually did it and KC covered up, because of her dysfunctional family dynamic. They may claim that because of alleged past abuse, she allegedly feels compelled to do their bidding. I think it's all hooey, but it might work if performed for the jury just right. I have been away from the case for awhile, but I believe the physical evidence could be bended to point in another Anthony's direction. I hope, however, that the jury sees through all of this and sends her to prison for life as she deserves.

 

[Solace]

Most will disagree, but anyway, this is the part where Cindy and George are held to task for dropping the ball both in parenting with KC and then with leaving Caylee with a sociopath. This does not mean I believe she was sexually abused. They have to use something and they are going to use this (they also said a scapegoat - so I am not sure about that - could mean they are going to say George did it or something else).

I know this is not a popular view, but if she had been raised correctly or a lot better than she was and if her sociopathic traits had been addressed, we would not be here right now.

It is just very sad. I don't think they will give the death penalty - although 27 out of 30 wins for the death penalty is daunting. KC looks very serious now. No more laughing and rubbing your hands together as she did when CM joined the team - no more laughing with the paralegals who look about 12. Now it is serious.

Now the realities of life are being shown to KC - something they were not before. KC has been allowed to do whatever she wanted basically. And the fact that Cindy let her go on lying about being pregnant is unconscionable imo. Cindy wanted another baby and she knew that KC was preganant and also knew WAY TO IMMATURE to be a mother.

And the person who suffered from all of this is Caylee. The whole thing is really sad. KC looks exhausted and at times very much afraid. It is hard to listen to a prospective juror say "I would think it would be horrible to spend the rest of your life in a 6 by 9 cell - I couldn't do it".

 

[miimaa]

This info about KC being emotionally, verbally and sexually abused - used as a scapegoat - not protected by parents came from where? From KC and for exactly that reason I do not believe it.

Can the defense team present these things that KC told them in court without verifying that any of this actually happened? Can KC tell them GA put cigarettes out in her eyes and they use it without finding if it is fact or another of KC's lies?

 

[miimaa]

KC does not look at all afraid or nervous to me. Except for listening to the indictment she acts exactly like I have seen women acting in bars. Posturing, turning of head, playing with hair, facial expressions, moving, pretending all designed to get attention, put on a show of happy-go-lucky got-it-all-together fakery.

I see people in the KMart checkout line more real than this. The picking up a piece of paper, turning to her left, speaking to the attorney sitting there, pointedly pointing at something on the paper, asking questions. Her motions are exaggerated and imo very very calculated to appear a certain way, attempting to give the desired impression.

 

[iluvmua]

Most will disagree, but anyway, this is the part where Cindy and George are held to task for dropping the ball both in parenting with KC and then with leaving Caylee with a sociopath. This does not mean I believe she was sexually abused. They have to use something and they are going to use this (they also said a scapegoat - so I am not sure about that - could mean they are going to say George did it or something else).

I know this is not a popular view, but if she had been raised correctly or a lot better than she was and if her sociopathic traits had been addressed, we would not be here right now.

It is just very sad. I don't think they will give the death penalty - although 27 out of 30 wins for the death penalty is daunting. KC looks very serious now. No more laughing and rubbing your hands together as she did when CM joined the team - no more laughing with the paralegals who look about 12. Now it is serious.

Now the realities of life are being shown to KC - something they were not before. KC has been allowed to do whatever she wanted basically. And the fact that Cindy let her go on lying about being pregnant is unconscionable imo. Cindy wanted another baby and she knew that KC was preganant and also knew WAY TO IMMATURE to be a mother.

And the person who suffered from all of this is Caylee. The whole thing is really sad. KC looks exhausted and at times very much afraid. It is hard to listen to a prospective juror say "I would think it would be horrible to spend the rest of your life in a 6 by 9 cell - I couldn't do it".

I believe it is up to Judge Perry to have the final say on weather or not Casey lives or dies. (i'm hoping he will go with DP).

The jury can only recommend the sentence of Life in prison or death row.

in response to Casey being afraid: :boohoo:

 

[iluvmua]

Most will disagree, but anyway, this is the part where Cindy and George are held to task for dropping the ball both in parenting with KC and then with leaving Caylee with a sociopath. This does not mean I believe she was sexually abused. They have to use something and they are going to use this (they also said a scapegoat - so I am not sure about that - could mean they are going to say George did it or something else).

I know this is not a popular view, but if she had been raised correctly or a lot better than she was and if her sociopathic traits had been addressed, we would not be here right now.

It is just very sad. I don't think they will give the death penalty - although 27 out of 30 wins for the death penalty is daunting. KC looks very serious now. No more laughing and rubbing your hands together as she did when CM joined the team - no more laughing with the paralegals who look about 12. Now it is serious.

Now the realities of life are being shown to KC - something they were not before. KC has been allowed to do whatever she wanted basically. And the fact that Cindy let her go on lying about being pregnant is unconscionable imo. Cindy wanted another baby and she knew that KC was preganant and also knew WAY TO IMMATURE to be a mother.

And the person who suffered from all of this is Caylee. The whole thing is really sad. KC looks exhausted and at times very much afraid. It is hard to listen to a prospective juror say "I would think it would be horrible to spend the rest of your life in a 6 by 9 cell - I couldn't do it".

Casey adapts quite well to living in a cell,

I think it would be even horrible to be two year old Caylee with duct tape over your mouth and nose, crying for mommy who does not give a rat's butt about you. THAT is what's horrible.

I could care less about poor wittle Casey having to spend the rest of her life in a 6 by 9 cell. Casey gets NO tears from me.

 

[GolferChick]

I apologize if anyone else has already posted this article...interesting given yesterday's revelations during jury selection...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-...urder-defense-bombshells-/?cid=hp:mainpromo9#

 

[lowens1975]

I believe it is up to Judge Perry to have the final say on weather or not Casey lives or dies. (i'm hoping he will go with DP).

The jury can only recommend the sentence of Life in prison or death row.

in response to Casey being afraid: :boohoo:

I would say she ought to be afraid, about as afraid as Caylee probably was.

 

[kaRN]

This info about KC being emotionally, verbally and sexually abused - used as a scapegoat - not protected by parents came from where? From KC and for exactly that reason I do not believe it.

Can the defense team present these things that KC told them in court without verifying that any of this actually happened? Can KC tell them GA put cigarettes out in her eyes and they use it without finding if it is fact or another of KC's lies?

I don't know but I hope the State can use it in their opening statement like "The Defense may try and explain this cold blooded murder away as an accident........." It would take the impact away from the DT and set the stage for the state to explain all the evidence that disproves any notion she deserves mercy.

 

[goldleaf]

While listening to the "mitigating factors" statement yesterday I wondered if somehow the "biological father" of Caylee has something to do with the reported sex abuse. I've always been curious as to why this person has never been named, or never paid support for Caylee. I would think the way the Anthony's are they would have demanded support from him. The sexual abuse, although she referred to it with LA and GA, maybe has to do with someone other than just a family member. If this has been brought up before let me know. I don't say that this is any excuse for hurting a little girl, I just wonder if this may be the sexual abuse she is talking about.

I think ICA had a one night stand or slept around so much she does not know who the father is.

 

[GennyMac]

Check out this thread to see where some of the ideas for the Mitigating Factors may have come from initially.

I still say that the Grandfather will be blamed for dropping her as a baby since he was the sole babysitter originally when Cindy went back to work.

Not that I believe a shred of this as truth, but if they can sell it to the jury................

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135955"]Rosalie Bolin - What is her role? - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]

 

[Silkprint]

I almost think the past few years in jail have been okay for ICA . She hasn't had to work , or pretend to anyway . She is kept from the other prisoners . She hasn't had to [ until now ] explain to anyone about those 31 days . I think what I am saying is she has been left alobe to watch tv and read with noone bugging her and I bet thats okay for her . Now , she is facing PRISON which is alot different than the jail she has been calling home . Now matter if she gets LWOP or the DP she is going to prison . No special treatment . I hope she's scared

 

[crucibelle]

Casey adapts quite well to living in a cell,

I think it would be even horrible to be two year old Caylee with duct tape over your mouth and nose, crying for mommy who does not give a rat's butt about you. THAT is what's horrible.

I could care less about poor wittle Casey having to spend the rest of her life in a 6 by 9 cell. Casey gets NO tears from me.

Amen!! Exactly why I want ICA to get the DEATH PENALTY.

 

[kaRN]

If the jury seated knows as little about the case, as they all claim, then CA and GA will not be effective as mitigation for their demon seed IMO.
The jury will not be watching media clips of GA and CA over the span of 3 years, they'll be watching taped depos and jail visits to base their opinions on and IMO they appear loving, concerned and supportive. No signs of verbal abuse coming from the parents there. Plenty of verbal abuse coming from the inmate however. Abuse and profanity that won't be bleeped out for the jurys benefit.
If I were in CAs place and my child called from jail and started in on me like ICA does in that first call, the word sweetheart wouldn't even be in my vocabulary. I'm not even sure I'd have accepted the call until my lying spawn told the truth. But that's just me.
IMO there isn't a thing the A's have done, that's admissible in court that can't be explained on the stand. "Yes I know my daughter has severe issues but she refused to go to counseling the many times when I offered it and I can't force her into treatment. We are in treatment as a family however." CA's RN co-workers should provide precious insight into the trauma CA was going through at home at the hand of her daughter. Believable insight to all the RN's and nursing students seated on the jury so far.
ICA isn't in treatment. Other than the convenient visits from psychologists to prepare the mitigation scheme, who is treating this very damaged young woman? Who on her DT cared enough to ensure her profound mental health concerns were addressed over the past 3 years seeing as she's innocent and all? NOBODY
ICA provides mitigation for her parents however IMO. I'm not sure I wouldn't have morphed into a CA if I was dealing with a daughter capable of stealing from her Grandfather in palliative care at the time...to pay her cell phone bill. At this point, even knowing all the horrible lies the A's have told, the horrible things they've said etc., I can still find it in my heart to empathize with their pain and the horrible situation they find themselves in. KC on the other hand inspires no empathy from me. I don't believe a word that comes from her mouth and my guess is, the jury won't either.

Scrolling through the DT's other list of excuses for their client-

Age as a mitigating factor? ICA wasn't 12 when she committed murder. She was 22 and an adult in every corner of the world. In some countries, she was middle age at the time of her crimes. Caylee was 2. Aggravator outweighs mitigator on the age excuse.
Her age could also be approached from the angle that if you're capable of such deception and murder at the age of 22....and you're shown mercy in the absence of a single sign of remorse, what will you be capable of at the age of 40? I'm more inclined to give mercy to a 40yo single Mother who steals to pay rent or buy food for her toddler and then kills her in desperation to spare her a life of poverty and despair. What's ICA's excuse?? A freaking cell phone, lingerie and beer???
Lack of maturity? Is contradicted by the DT claim her conduct was good at school. Apparently the school thought her maturity level was age appropriate. Did she regress after she left? I hope no juror has a child or loved one serving in Iraq. 18yo's making the ultimate sacrifice so that the ICAs of the world can wallow in their lack of maturity rent free with cars provided by their so called abusers. Party on in your flag toga :woohoo:.
Lack of impulse control? That resulted in pre-meditated murder. Thank you AF. Is there a convicted murderer with good self control? Self control would suggest the ability to suppress the impulse to kill or the impulse to Google methods of killing. It's good of the DT to remind us what a danger their client poses if ever released though or the threat she might pose to other inmates if allowed in general pop.

History of sexual abuse? Ok. Were there any Google searches for PTSD? Sexual assault? Counseling services? Womens shelters? NOPE just ones for neck breaking and chloroform. Only male outcry witnesses on these allegations which is very telling. Rape crisis centres across the continent are almost always staffed by women. I live in a large urban area and we do have men on call to help male victims but a male would not be assigned to a female victim. ICA didn't confide sexual abuse to any of her female BFF's, she confided multiple miscarriages to them. She confided the abuse to male lovers so that they would protect her in some sick fantasy, maybe marry her and carry her off on a white steed.
I'm inclined to believe ICA hasn't completely formulated her abuse story yet but she's working on it.

Insomnia and Nightmares? After 8 weeks on this case the jurors will have insomnia and nightmares. At the very least, I'd hope a grieving mother would have insomnia and nightmares. I'd expect it from a person standing accused of first degree murder facing the DP. It's a sign of maturity actually but contradicted by ICA's claims in a video jail visit with her parents in which she claims to sleep and read her bible all day.

I'm too tired to go through the entire shopping list of mitigating factors. She survived her childhood at the hands of CA and GA, her child did not survive her parenting however.

 

[mitzi]

However I feel about this tactic, I'm not going to pretend I'm not going to get some level of sick enjoyment out of watching ALL their dirty laundry being aired in public by the defense.

No wonder Casey hasn't wanted to see them, respond to their letters or look their way in court.

Yup! I think we can all see now that it isn't just a bus, revving it's motor and heading in CA/GA direction....it's a dang CONVOY of 18-wheelers rollin' down Suburban Drive!