What happened to this family is a Greek tragedy - a beloved child murdered and a beloved daughter accused of the act. I of course feel empathy for the parents. I cannot imagine having to handle such a situation. I'd go crazy, I think.
However, this is, IMO a highly toxic and dysfunctional family. They thus did not react the way most healthy people around the world would, when faced with a tragedy of such epic proportions. They simply did not have the tools to react normally at all, whatever normal is in such a situation. And I think it makes sense that highly dysfunctional families and environments create people like casey anthony or scott peterson, who is also from a crazy family IMO.
The problem is that their dysfunction and toxicity make them so odd and outrageous, that most people simply cannot relate at all. Most people see nothing in the anthonys that resembles themselves in any way, and that makes it almost impossible to empathize.
The opposite is also true. I think many people can relate to the type of family they have, having experienced a family just as bizarre and having suffered as a result. These people can relate but have no sympathy because they are still trying to heal after living in such an unhealthy environment. They cannot empathize because despite relating, they worked hard and succeeded in not becoming like the anthonys, even while being raised with people much like them.
So, you have two groups of people who account for a lot of anger and disbelief when it comes to the anthonys reactions. This makes it very hard to empathize.
I defended these people for a long, long time. I understood, somewhat, how nutty people could react so oddly when faced with something so tragic. I felt sick about what they went through (except perhaps for LA. I don't think he feels much, at all).
But their behavior went from bizarre to enraging. It was the depos that did me in. Now it is hard to feel a sense of pain for them, even though I know I should. And, I am one of the most sympathetic people I know besides my dear mama!
So, bottom line, their strange behavior tended to turn people off and separate the anthonys from many of the rest of society, making it very hard for us to understand them and that they indeed are suffering. I know they are human but I dislike their behavior. It makes me cringe and gets my blood boiling. It's hard to feel for them when I feel that way!
