The State had what they knew. They had the evidence that was provided to them. They had information from LE that did the investigation into Caylee's disappearance. Then in December of 2008 the State had even more, they had Caylee's remains. Based on what the State had against KC the State decided that there was enough to go for the death penalty. I, personally, agree with them.
KC had ample time to claim an accident had happened. KC was asked repeatedly during her talks with LE if an accident had happened. KC repeatedly said no, the nanny had kidnapped Caylee. KC even went so far as to claim that she had spoken to Caylee on the phone for a brief period, knowing that it was a lie because Caylee was already dead.
Fast forward 3 years. During those 3 years KC, her DT, her parents had tried to place the blame on anyone and everyone that they could think of. The nanny did it, but the nanny does not exist. The nanny is code for Jesse G, but that too was not true. KC's "friends" had something to do with what happened to Caylee, but they were more concerned about Caylee than her own mother was when they learned that Caylee had not been seen for 31 days. Then Roy K had the misfortune of finding Caylee, well he is shady so he must have done something to her. During those 3 years KC still claimed that Caylee was taken by the nanny. In fact she changed the nanny "kidnapping" story three times. But KC stuck with the nanny taking Caylee. Then we begin the trial. During the opening statement of KC's DT we then hear that Caylee died by accidental drowning. Now why, after 3 years and ample opportunity to admit this before, does KC wait til the first day of her 1st degree murder trial to say this? Is it because it is the truth? Or is it because all of the other people that KC, her DT, her parents tried to blame did not pan out?
KC and her DT then take it one step further. Let's claim that George molested KC when she was younger. KC is messed up in the head because of this. KC did not report the "accident" because she was afraid of her mother. KC did not know how to show emotions because of her father's actions towards her. KC was taught at a young age to lie and cover for her parents so she then learns that she is to behave the same way. KC did nothing with Caylee after she died, George handled that part. Somehow Roy K came into the picture and he played hide and seek with her body for awhile before deciding he wanted money and fame and then reported where Caylee was. Now, during all of this "confession" that KC's DT is telling the jury not once does KC take any of the blame for anything. Nothing is KC's fault. By definition, that is not a confession.
KC sits in court day after day and plays a part for the jury. We see her flirting with her DT, we see her laughing with them, we see her come into the courtroom and put her chair as low as it can possibly go. The jury of course sees none of this. They do however see KC "tear up" at some certain things, they do see her DT "comfort" her, they do see KC shake her head no at testimony that she does not agree with or that goes against what her claims are. Again, a part, an act, for the jury. Not the real KC. Not the KC that the jury hears in the jailhouse phone calls to home, or the KC that the jury sees in the jailhouse visits with her family and friend.
All of this is my way of saying that the State did their job. They went for the death penalty for a "mother" that they knew, based on the evidence, had killed her child. The DT went for cheap tricks. The DT went for things that they knew were false and promised to prove very serious accusations and then failed to follow through. The DT went over the line, that line that makes people think bad things about defense lawyers. But it worked. The jury bought it. The jury believed the DT about the lies. The jury bought the easy way out. Now, not only does the jury have to live with their decision, so do the rest of us. Those of us who feel that KC got away with murder, that feel that Caylee did not receive the justice she so deserved. Those of us who may one day come across KC and have to worry about what she may do in the future. I feel more than just sadness for all of us, I feel shame. Shame that a little innocent girl was forgotten or overlooked alll in the name of "justice".
MOO