Casey Anthony’s release from jail
A massive lightning and thunder storm rolled through Orlando on the eve of Casey Anthony’s release, but it didn’t deter protestors from staking out the Orange County Jail.
“We’re going to stay out here. We don’t care if it’s raining, where the thunder is, we’re out here” – said Lori Richards.
Around 9pm, the crowd numbered about 20 people. By the time midnight rolled around, a couple hundred lined both sides of John Young Parkway, the road outside the jail.
The majority think Anthony murdered her child, Caylee, despite the verdict.
Susan Hoch-Caplan drove from Pinellas County to protest Anthony’s release, saying she’s embarrassed by the decision made by a jury from her hometown.
“This killer is getting out. She had a jury trial that was a bunch of jokes. A six-year-old would’ve made a more conscious decision that what they actually did” – Hoch-Caplan said.
Not everyone agrees.
David Antolic stood among the ‘Justice for Caylee’ signs with his own sign that read: “She’s not guilty, get over it.”
“People need to respect the judicial system and respect due process and just let her and her family live their lives” – Antolic said.
- Casey Anthony.
Casey Anthony, the Florida mother who was acquitted of charges that she murdered her daughter Caylee, was released just after midnight today from an Orange County jail, according to her attorney and jail officials.
She was escorted out of the jail by two sheriff’s deputies armed with semi-automatic rifles and was driven away by her attorney, Jose Baez, without speaking to anyone in the mob of reporters and demonstrators.
“This release had an unusual amount of security so, therefore, in that sense, it would not be a normal release” – Orange County Jail spokesman Allen Moore said. “We have made every effort to not provide any special treatment for her. She’s been treated like every other inmate.”
Her release comes 12 days after she was convicted of four counts of lying to police and a day after she filed an appeal of those convictions.
Anthony, 25, was sentenced to four years for lying to investigators about Caylee’s death, but she had already served three years and was credited for good behavior. Aside the jail time Anthony was fined $4,000.
Hundreds of protestors, carrying signs reading ‘Travesty of Justice,’ ‘Justice for Caylee … Bella Vita’ – a reference to the tattoo Anthony got after Caylee went missing – and ‘Don’t Be a Part of Blood Money,’ had gathered outside the jail for much of the day.
People in the crowd lined up on both sides of the highway outside the jail chanted ‘Caylee, Caylee,’ and cars driving by honked their horns in response a sign saying ‘Honk for Caylee.’
But along with those angy about Anthony’s release, were a few supporters of the young woman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muzamIaRGHw
Anthony got into an SUV outside the Orlando jail early Sunday morning, leaving in the company of her attorney, Jose Baez, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.
Anthony (25) was acquitted July 5 of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter in her daughter’s death. But, she was found guilty on four counts of providing false information to law enforcement, and was sentenced to a total of four years in jail on the four counts, as well as a fine of $4,000, plus court costs.
Anthony told detectives several lies (including that Caylee had been kidnapped by a nonexistent nanny).
Caylee’s remains were found December 2008 in woods near the home Casey Anthony shared with her parents. Her attorneys say that Caylee drowned in the family pool.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Anthony to a total of four years in jail on four counts of providing false information to law enforcement, as well as a fine of $4,000, plus court costs. However, due to credit for time served and good behavior, Anthony’s release was scheduled for Sunday, July 17.
Orange County Jail officials had planned to release Anthony sometime Sunday under circumstances they refused to disclose. Experts had said she would be released in the dead of night, and her defense team did their best to keep her away from the glare of the media spotlight.
Despite the unknown official release time, more than a dozen television trucks already were outside the jail by noon Saturday, though the facility was otherwise quiet. Scores of reporters and cameramen surrounded the outside later on in the day, along with a few scattered protesters.