Mitigating Factor: Casey's Parents

[strawberry]

It dawned on me while reading this thread that May is just a few months away. The trial has been a long time in coming and I'm a bit breathless thinking it's actually, finally, so close.

I know! I saw KaRN's ticker the other day and WOW! Look at it today...less then four months!!:great:

 

[LambChop]

I'd be curious to know if cremation was the norm within the Pleasea and Anthony families, i.e. was cremating Caylee a departure for them? I'm guessing it was. I ask this because I can easily say that cremation has been used in my family for nearly 40 years, with only a few exceptions.

IIRC Casey initially handed over legal custody of Caylee's remains to Baez. Surely as a Lawyer he could have ensured Caylee be buried as opposed to being quietly cremated.

I've always believed that funerals are as much for the living as they are for the deceased. It's effectively a ritual, a demonstration of how the living want to portray the person who has died. The Anthonys imo would have held quite a different kind of funeral/service IF Casey wasn't being accused of killing Caylee. JMO

Unless you have certain religious beliefs cremating remains in today's world makes more sense. My husband wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered which we were able to do. We also combined the wake with a memorial service. It's just a personal preference and by-the-way you can bury cremated remains, nothing stopping you from buying a gravesite. I think in this instance given the fact the family was selling their granddaughter's pictures to the highest bidder to pay some of their expenses they did not have the money to bury her and cremation is less expensive in the long run. And you also can't have the remains exhumed if by chance some new "junk science" were made available to prove that the suspect did/or didn't actually commit the crime. jmo

 

[ZsaZsa]

I doubt very much their impact will affect the outcome. Since the COD cannot be told, I do believe, when this prisoner is found guilty of the crime of capital murder against her own child, I foresee a LWOP sentence, not a DP one, for that reason alone. Unless those fine State Prosecutors can give a theory on the how's of Caylee's demise, which we caught a glimpse of...she may just face the same fate as Caylee, only this prisoners death would be much more humane than Caylee's death was..JMHO

Justice for Caylee

I don't think it's essential to know the cause of death- Lacy Peterson's was never known.
Theory of death- think duct tape. JA has already expressed that with much vehemence.

 

[ZsaZsa]

I'd be curious to know if cremation was the norm within the Pleasea and Anthony families, i.e. was cremating Caylee a departure for them? I'm guessing it was. I ask this because I can easily say that cremation has been used in my family for nearly 40 years, with only a few exceptions.

IIRC Casey initially handed over legal custody of Caylee's remains to Baez. Surely as a Lawyer he could have ensured Caylee be buried as opposed to being quietly cremated.

I've always believed that funerals are as much for the living as they are for the deceased. It's effectively a ritual, a demonstration of how the living want to portray the person who has died. The Anthonys imo would have held quite a different kind of funeral/service IF Casey wasn't being accused of killing Caylee. JMO

I suspect their decision was twofold:- to prevent exhumation at a later date.
To prevent anyone else knowing where she is - gawkers or even her own Mother.

 

[krisskross]

Unless you have certain religious beliefs cremating remains in today's world makes more sense. My husband wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered which we were able to do. We also combined the wake with a memorial service. It's just a personal preference and by-the-way you can bury cremated remains, nothing stopping you from buying a gravesite. I think in this instance given the fact the family was selling their granddaughter's pictures to the highest bidder to pay some of their expenses they did not have the money to bury her and cremation is less expensive in the long run. And you also can't have the remains exhumed if by chance some new "junk science" were made available to prove that the suspect did/or didn't actually commit the crime. jmo

I don't think money was a consideration here. I'm sure they would have been inundated with offers from funeral homes. I just feel given Cindy's faith, that Cindy would have preferred to have had a gravesite or a marker to memorialise Caylee. As it turned out, it would seem they have turned their livingroom into some sort of shrine, where Caylee's death certificate is given (for want of a better phrase) some pride of place. The very emotive vision of a small white casket was never imo going to feature in Caylee's funeral.

 

[LolaMoon08]

I suspect their decision was twofold:- to prevent exhumation at a later date.
To prevent anyone else knowing where she is - gawkers or even her own Mother.

Let's say that Cindy did cremate Caylee in spite of Casey's wishes... which I still don't believe because I believe if they went back on any of Casey's wishes, I believe that JB would have filed an injunction... Cindy will not admit to it on the stand during the penalty phase.

It's not that I don't think that Cindy is capable of doing something like this, because she is 100% capable of being this spiteful and, in a way, she had every right to be since Casey murdered Caylee, but I still don't see Casey allowing it to happen. There is no way that Casey would have conceded that easily. To allow Cindy to have Caylee all to herself? To have the last say? I just don't see it?

Either way, I don't believe this "event" in the Anthony saga will have any effect on whether Casey is given life of death.

Now, I will be the first person to admit that the Anthony's drive me bat-dung-crazy and I personally would never want to be in the same building with them, let alone live with them for any amount of time, but Casey had every opportunity to get her life together and make a decent life for just her and Caylee. If she really didn't want Cindy to have any control over Caylee, as Caylee's mother, she had the right to decide whether Cindy could see Caylee or not. There are many Grants in the State of Florida that help young, single mothers. Education. Reduced rent. Day care. It was right there at Casey's fingertips. She could have worked, went to school, and gotten her and Caylee their own little place if she wanted to. Young, single mothers do it all the time. Casey was just too lazy. SHE allowed Caylee to stay in that detrimental environment that was the Anthony home. It all comes down to Casey having choices. Choices that adults have to make. Choices adults with children have to make. She made the most selfish choice by deciding to take Caylee's life in order to escape the grip Cindy had on her. It was the wrong choice and one that she is going to pay dearly for.

Knowing what I know about the Anthony's, if I were Mallory and I was seriously considering marrying Lee and having a child, I would make sure that there are CLEAR LINES drawn about Cindy's involvement with that child. ETA: I might even suggest Mallory get it in writing and notorized!

 

[Aedrys]

I suspect their decision was twofold:- to prevent exhumation at a later date.
To prevent anyone else knowing where she is - gawkers or even her own Mother.

I think it was more than that. They didn't want to share Caylee with anyone. Can you imagine the shrine her grave would have been? By cremating her and then wearing her ashes, it was their way of saying Caylee would only be theirs and no one elses. It's shameful how they've tried to keep Caylee and theirs and theirs alone. It's almost like they're saying she started with us, and now she ends with us. They just don't know how wrong they are.

Also, they wanted the focus on Casey. If there was a grave to go to everyday, that would keep Caylee in the forefront of their minds. It would also make another media circus bigger than Casey. There would be vigils, and piles of stuffed animals, and constant attention on Caylee. Plus, Casey had to think that their full attention is on her. Can't do that when the baby she killed has a nice grave turned shrine. That would definitely have Casey thinking they weren't on her side anymore, and they can't afford that, especially Cindy. Better to have her ashes, that they can take off or ignore when they want to so they can downplay Caylee's importance to better support Casey. They don't even wear that jewelry anymore. I guess she means nothing to them now. I bet when Casey dies, she gets a grave shrine from them. But not Caylee, never Caylee.

And mitigation wise, saying her parents loved Caylee will backfire. See, we just cremated Caylee, we didn't give her a fancy grave or anything because Casey is more important! It's been so important all along that both A's have the image of being fully supportive of Casey, and I suspect that they have done that so Casey can't throw them under the bus to save herself. Or at the very least her attempt will come off sounding more like intense jealousy of a two year old, and that is not a valid reason to kill her or not get the DP.

 

[gamom]

BBM

AND YET . . . . they keep trying. What will make this case any different?

I think that when/if it comes to the penalty phase, there will be a whole lot of "grasping at straws."

The defense is ALREADY grasping at straws. Give it up, already and try to save KC's life with LWOP. :truce:

 

[Reagan]

Aedrys, I agree with you except for one thing. When KC dies I don't think they will give her a grave shine either. Can you imagine how many people would ravage/destroy her grave site? Heck, I might even be tempted to see it just so I could spit on her grave, but in life or death, she really isn't worth my time and energy. I say bag her up and toss her in the woods.

Anyway, I think KC will be cremated too.

 

[logicalgirl]

The one thing that really concerns me about her final sentence, beyond the trial and penalty phase is that ICA killed her own child. And I'm gritting my teeth as I write that for some reason people and the courts do not see this as quite as terrible as killing someone else's child.:furious:

If it is even possible to consider, I think killing your own child should have higher penalties.

The only saving grace is that HHJP has the final decision - however I believe in the end she may only get LWOP.

 

[LambChop]

The one thing that really concerns me about her final sentence, beyond the trial and penalty phase is that ICA killed her own child. And I'm gritting my teeth as I write that for some reason people and the courts do not see this as quite as terrible as killing someone else's child.:furious:

If it is even possible to consider, I think killing your own child should have higher penalties.

The only saving grace is that HHJP has the final decision - however I believe in the end she may only get LWOP.

You know I would say that too with the exception of JA's description in court of what Caylee saw when she "looked into the eyes of her killer" speech. Very powerful. I think we saw that tip of the iceberg with his ability to grab the attention of the jury.

 

[logicalgirl]

You know I would say that too with the exception of JA's description in court of what Caylee saw when she "looked into the eyes of her killer" speech. Very powerful. I think we saw that tip of the iceberg with his ability to grab the attention of the jury.

I hope you are right because LWOP is not what I want but what I "fear".

 

[Snaz]

Aedrys, I agree with you except for one thing. When KC dies I don't think they will give her a grave shine either. Can you imagine how many people would ravage/destroy her grave site? Heck, I might even be tempted to see it just so I could spit on her grave, but in life or death, she really isn't worth my time and energy. I say bag her up and toss her in the woods.

Anyway, I think KC will be cremated too.

A little O/T:

Along these lines, a question for someone who may know the answer.....

Let's assume for a moment that KC is convicted of 1st degree murder and her sentence is death.... let's assume again that her execution is carried out while GA and/or CA is still living....

If one or both of them (or any other living relative?) did not claim KC's remains, would she not then be buried at the expense of the state in a grave marked only with a number?

TIA!

ETA: Following along with said assumptions, any disposal of KC's remains would be a more humane method than the one KC chose for Caylee. Now that I think about it, I agree with Reagan.... bag her up and toss her in the woods!

 

[zoey]

I was watching "teen mom 2" on MTV....there is a girl Jenelle who along with her mom remind me of what could have been going on in that house---all the fighting and bickering over who does what, who doesn't do anything, the "mom" Jenelle going out parting when the baby is sleeping....just the battle over which is the better caregiver...kinda gives me a glimpse into what Caylee went thru...don't know if it was as bad as MTV show---But not pretty picture either way!

 

[OneLostGrl]

A little O/T:

Along these lines, a question for someone who may know the answer.....

Let's assume for a moment that KC is convicted of 1st degree murder and her sentence is death.... let's assume again that her execution is carried out while GA and/or CA is still living....

If one or both of them (or any other living relative?) did not claim KC's remains, would she not then be buried at the expense of the state in a grave marked only with a number?

TIA!

ETA: Following along with said assumptions, any disposal of KC's remains would be a more humane method than the one KC chose for Caylee. Now that I think about it, I agree with Reagan.... bag her up and toss her in the woods!

I think all these people convicted of crimes and sentenced to life in prison or death with possible personality disorders should have their brains donated to science in the interest of learning more and working toward a cure for/better treatment of personality disorders.

 

[Solace]

You know I would say that too with the exception of JA's description in court of what Caylee saw when she "looked into the eyes of her killer" speech. Very powerful. I think we saw that tip of the iceberg with his ability to grab the attention of the jury.

If he can grab the attention and show what Caylee went through in her last minutes of life (which will be hard because she may have been "out" due to chloroform or she may have been thrashing in the trunk of that car" and if he can show that she died a horrible death in that trunk, then I think he could convince the jury.

Otherwise, I think it is LWOP because the defense is going to say she was young and needed help and did not get it. Also, she is tiny and she is a girl and that means quite a bit. If it were Texas, I think she would get death. I do.

If the jury recommends, death, I think Judge Perry will have no problem sentencing her to death.

In his last sentence of a man who killed a woman 45 minutes after abducting her, Perry sentenced him to death and said I cannot imagine what she went through in the trunk of that car and that he had forfeited the right to live.


We will see.

 

[Harmony 2]

Bumping for discussion...

 

[Patriciao]

Anne Finnell gave us insight to the Defense strategy when she stated that Casey's mitigating factors included: parents failed to protect her as a child, she was verbally, emotionally and sexually abused, was used as a decoy or pawn by her parents and as a scapegoat for parental misconduct...
To me by Anne stating this it's pretty much saying my client is guilty but when you get to the penalty phase please consider these circumstances. If Casey was truly innocent why would she need mitigating circumstances such as these?

 

[Solace]

Anne Finnell gave us insight to the Defense strategy when she stated that Casey's mitigating factors included: parents failed to protect her as a child, she was verbally, emotionally and sexually abused, was used as a decoy or pawn by her parents and as a scapegoat for parental misconduct...
To me by Anne stating this it's pretty much saying my client is guilty but when you get to the penalty phase please consider these circumstances. If Casey was truly innocent why would she need mitigating circumstances such as these?

WOW, so nice of you to reply. Just could not get an answer. Guess this tells us what we already knew. George is going to be accused and possibly Lee.

Or maybe just Lee - (if parents failed to protect her).

 

[Turnadot]

I think just Lee will be accused of the sexual abuse, and CA and GA will be accused of ignoring it/dismissing it, which to be honest, I'm inclined to listen to the supposed proof, because this family is so dysfunctional that, imo, I can see a scenario like that happening.

However, I'm not the type who would spare KC the death penalty because of past trauma.