This Just In

Jury's verdict: Casey Anthony not guilty of murder

Editor's note: For more on the jury's finding that Casey Anthony is not guilty in daughter Caylee's death read our full story here.

[Updated at 8:20 p.m.] From the moment word came that Casey Anthony was acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, online networking sites were flooded with a cascade of amateur commentary. A few big names, including Kim Kardashian, joined the fray. Most condemned the verdict "no justice for Caylee" was a common comment which comes after years of the case serving as fodder for cable news, tabloids and the like.

[Updated at 7:55 p.m.] Mourners of Caylee Anthony want you to turn your porch lights on tonight in honor of the slain 2-year-old.

The Facebook event, "Porch lights on for Caylee Marie Anthony," urges people "all over the world" to start participating at "9 pm in your own time zone."

Already, 546,610 have said they're attending, and some say their lights are already on.

ALTERNATE JUROR SPEAKS

[Updated at 7:20 p.m.] Alternate juror Russell Huekler said he agrees with the jury's verdict "wholeheartedly" and surmised that Caylee Anthony's death was a "horrific accident" gone awry.

"The prosecution did not prove their case," said Huekler, who sat through the entire case but did not get to deliberate the charges.

Prosecutors failed to answer the question of how Caylee died, he said.

From the testimony, Huekler said he drew the conclusion that "it was probably a horrific accident" that Anthony and her father, George Anthony, covered up.

"Unfortunately it did snowball and got away from them," Huekler said. "It was such a horrific accident that they didn't know how to deal with it. The family appeared to be very dysufintional and instead of admitting there was an accident, they chose to hide it, for whatever reason."

CASEY ANTHONY'S FAMILY

[Updated at 5:08 p.m.] Attorney Mark Lippman issued a statement on behalf of Lee, George and Cindy Anthony:

While the family may never know what has happened to Caylee Marie Anthony, they now have closure for this chapter of their life. They will now begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.

Despite the baseless defense chosen by Casey Anthony, the family believes that the Jury made a fair decision based on the evidence presented, the testimony presented, the scientific information presented and the rules that were given to them by the Honorable Judge Perry to guide them.

The family hopes that they will be given the time by the media to reflect on this verdict and decide the best way to move forward privately.

The family also wanted the public to know that if anyone wanted to honor Caylee by leaving stuffed animals or other toys at any area near their home, that they would prefer those items be donated in Caylee’ s name to families in need, religious centers, or any other entity where the toys would be appreciated.

ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

[Updated at 4:10 p.m.] Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings issues a plea for restraint after Casey Anthony is acquitted of murder.

"As the verdict has been rendered we ask our community to respect the decision the jury and court have made today. We ask for your continued peaceful acknowledgement of that verdict.

THE PROSECUTION SPEAKS

[Updated at 3:47 p.m.] The delay in recovering Caylee Anthony's remains worked to the "considerable disadvantage" to the prosecution's efforts to prove Casey Anthony's guilt, Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Lawson Lamar said.

With no "smoking gun" and a victim who was "reduced by time and the elements to skeletal remains," made the case all the more the more difficult to prove, he said. Nonetheless, he said, police and prosecutors did their job - and so did the jury.

"I never, ever criticize a jury; theirs is a task of deciding what to believe," he said. "We're disappointed with the verdict today and surprised because we know the facts and we put in absolutely every single piece of evidence that existed."

He said his staff would return to the task of addressing the 101,00 cases that come to his office each year, including a handful of open child murder cases.

"Child murders, regrettably and terribly, are not rare in America today and those deaths are no less horrible," he said. "The only difference is the news has not highlighted their murders."

He also praised his staff for not talking about the case outside of the courtroom, saying the rush to convict Casey Anthony in the news "led to the great expense" of having to seek a jury "outside the media market."

"So much of the angst and taxpayer expense could've been avoided if others had not succumbed to the temptation provided by quick notoriety," Lawson said.

"For us the case has never been about the defendant in particular. It has always been about seeking justice for Caylee and speaking on her behalf."

THE JURY

[Updated at 3:14 p.m.] Members of the jury in the Casey Anthony case have said they are not interested in speaking with members about the case or the verdict, a court spokeswoman said.

[Updated at 3:10 p.m.] We are waiting on an expected news conference from the jurors in the Casey Anthony trial.

A room has been set up for them to address the media, but none are required to actually say anything if they do not want to.

THE DEFENSE SPEAKS

[Updated at 2:50 p.m.] Defense Attorney Jose Baez said he had mixed emotions about the case and that he had to work hard against media bias that existed during the search for Caylee and the case against Casey Anthony.

"You cannot convict someone until they have their day in court," he said.

Baez said he was happy for Casey Anthony and the decision made by the jury. Now he hopes Casey Anthony can move on.

"I want her to grieve and to grow and somehow get her life back together," he said.

Baez said the case was a true example of a jury doing what they are supposed to - finding their verdict based on evidence and not emotion.

"We have the greatest constitution in the world and if the media and other members of the public don’t respect it, it will become meaningless," he said. "And today and yesterday on the Fourth of July,  there was a breath of life."

Baez said he is thrilled that when he goes home today and his daughter asks what he did today he can say - "I saved a life."

"I think this case is a perfect example for why the death penalty does not work... " Baez added. "Murder is not right no matter who does it."

[Updated at 2:45 p.m.] Dorothy Clay Sims speaking first for the defense team addressed the media.

"I am thankful for today's verdict on behalf of Casey Anthony," she said.


Defense Attorney Cheney Mason also addressed the media, angrily scolding them for their coverage of the case.

"I hope that this is a lesson to those who have indulged in media assassination for three years," he said.

Defense Attorney Jose Baez added that "while we're happy for Casey there are no winners in this case."

"Caylee has passed on far, far too soon, and what my driving force has been for the past three years is to make sure there has been justice for Caylee and Casey," he said. "Casey did not murder Caylee, it's that simple. And today our system of justice has not dishonored her memory by a false conviction."

[Updated at 2:34 p.m.] A room is being prepared for the jury to take questions from the media about their verdict.

THE REACTION

iReport: What's your reaction to the verdict

[Updated at 2:31 p.m.] For the first time a wide smile came across Casey Anthony's face. She began to smile and laugh as her team surrounded her and congratulated her on being found not guilty of murdering her daughter.

[Updated at 2:29 p.m.] Casey Anthony took tissues from a court bailiff and wiped her face at the back of the courtroom.

[Updated at 2:26 p.m.] Casey Anthony embraced her attorney Jose Baez and the rest of her legal team before sobbing.

Anthony wiped tears from her eyes as her team of lawyers hugged each other.

[Updated at 2:24 p.m.] Casey Anthony wiped tears from her eyes and clutched her attorneys' hands as the judge addressed the courtroom.

[Updated at 2:23 p.m.] Casey Anthony returned to the courtroom after briefly leaving with a slight smile on her face.

The judge set sentencing for Thursday at 9 a.m.

[Updated at 2:22 p.m.] Casey Anthony has left the courtroom. Her parents also quickly left the courtroom after the verdict was read.


[Updated at 2:22 p.m.] Judge Belvin Perry confirms the jury's verdict.

[Updated at 2:20 p.m.] Casey Anthony cried as she hugged her defense attorney Jose Baez before she approached a podium to be addressed by the judge.

THE VERDICT

[Updated at 2:20 p.m.] A poll of the jurors showed they all agreed on the verdict for every count.

[Updated at 2:20 p.m.] Casey Anthony has been found guilty of four counts of providing false information to law enforcement in the case of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, who was slain in 2008.

[Updated at 2:19 p.m.] Casey Anthony is sobbing in court as the verdict is being read.

[Updated at 2:17 p.m.]  Casey Anthony has been found not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. She was also found not guilty of aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter.

[Updated at 2:16 p.m.] Judge Belvin Perry is reading over the verdict form filled out by the jury.

[Updated at 2:15 p.m.] The jury has entered the courtroom.

[Updated at 2:15 p.m.] Members inside the courtroom have stood up as Judge Belvin Perry prepares to bring in the jury.

[Updated at 2:11 p.m.] George Anthony is sitting with his eyes closed and his hands clasped next to his wife Cindy inside the courtroom as they await to hear their daughter's fate.

[Updated at 2:04 p.m.] Casey Anthony, flanked by her lawyers, is sitting silently, biting her lip and taking deep breaths as she awaits the jury's verdict.

[Updated at 2:02 p.m.] Casey Anthony has just entered the courtroom and was met by two of her lawyers. She is wearing a pink ruffled shirt, her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was biting her nails.

[Updated at 1:57 p.m.] Jose Baez, one of Casey Anthony's lawyers, has just arrived at the courthouse in Orlando, Florida, In Session reports.

THE DELIBERATION

[Updated at 1:52 p.m.] The jury deliberated for 10 hours, 40 minutes and 33 seconds before reaching a verdict in the Casey Anthony trial, which included 33 days of testimony and two days of closing arguments, according to CNN sister network HLN.

[Updated at 1:45 p.m.] The jury has reached a verdict in the Casey Anthony capital murder trial, according to staff at the Orange County, Florida, courthouse.

The verdict, reached by the seven-woman, five-man jury, will cap a trial that stretched to more than six weeks and featured allegations of sexual abuse, questions regarding Casey Anthony's competence and various theories on what happened to 2-year-old Caylee.

The verdict is scheduled to be read at 2:15 p.m ET.

Casey Anthony, 25, was charged with seven counts - first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and four counts of providing false information to a law-enforcement officer in Caylee's 2008 disappearance and death.

Read what each charge means

Watch Nancy Grace Monday through Sunday starting at 8 p.m. ET on HLN. For the latest from Nancy Grace click here.

soundoff (7,331 Responses)
  1. Shan

    To Nancy Grace – I seriously think there will be a special place in hell for you, dear. I hope you wake up and see what a mean, horrible person you are so you can make amends before you're sent there. And please, one of these times you start a witch hunt, admit you were wrong when your prey is found innocent? That might actually work on your favor. Instead of making a mockery of our legal system with your hubris.

    I am not sure why anyone is still listening to Nancy Grace. Seriously. She is exactly like the National Enquirer. She is a joke. She is sensationalist journalism to a degree that should be criminal. She ruins people's lives, and just pray all you NG followers, that you are never on the other end of her agenda.

    July 5, 2011 at 5:30 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • The Bear

      Amen to that. Listening to her show, it was an open and shut case. Watching the trial we learned that many of the things she presented as facts were nothing more than lies and speculation. I call that fraud and believe that she should be held accountable. What she did was a disservice to everyone including the prosecution, horribly disrepectfull to Caley. (Calling Casey 'Tot mom' is the same as calling Caley 'Tot'.) and in the end was only done to further advance her career. I hope you get what you deserve, Nancy

      July 5, 2011 at 6:18 pm | Report abuse |
  2. CLB

    Well I certainly hope that the state IS NOT responsible to protect her when she is released!!!!! Let her walk out the front door into a life where she will always have to watch her back!!!!! This jury was in a hurry to send one of them on a cruise to London on Thursday...of course they wanted out of there and this was the easiest and fasted way to do that. Shame on them for not serving justice for little Caylee! May they sleep all sleep well tonight!

    July 5, 2011 at 5:30 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • Nisroc

      You are probably more dangerous to society than Casey is. She was found innocent, and you are threatening her life. Think about it, think outside the box, is it possible there is a theory that has not been tested nor displayed in court that proves Casey is 100% innocent?

      You just threatened her life why should society treat you any different than they are Casey right now? I do not see a reason at all.

      July 5, 2011 at 5:34 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jynx0854

      Very sad day. I will boycott anything that pays Casey, or her defense team or jury, books, interviews etc!! Caylee I'm sorry our system failed you. I can't believe these people who allow her to not call the police for 31 days and not be with all the evidence found not guilty!

      July 5, 2011 at 5:36 pm | Report abuse |
    • CLB

      @NOSRIC – I'm not threatening anyone – how dare you .....everyone knows she did this... do you really believe she won't be harrassed? This entire family has been hounded for 3 years! I believe the jury did not take the necessary time in this important matter.

      July 5, 2011 at 5:40 pm | Report abuse |
    • CLB

      I'm not threatening anyone ..... do you really believe she won't be harrassed? This entire family has been hounded for 3 years! I believe the jury did not take the necessary time in this important matter.

      July 5, 2011 at 5:43 pm | Report abuse |
    • Dana

      Jose was quick to ask many people if they were making money from testifying in this case. This was a high profile case before he took it and I believe that he wanted to cash in himself. He fancies himself the new Johnny Cochran. If they truly believe her to be innocent, I hope that the future will show Jose and Cheney that they got sucked in by the devil named Casey. I also hope that the public will not contribute to anything that provides income to Casey Anthony. Anyone who would throw their child out like garbage does not deserve to profit from it. Even the family pets got better treatment in death. At least the pets were buried. I hope Casey moves in with Jose or Cheney and destroys their families just like she did her own and steals from them just like she did from her grandparents, parents and friends. This verdict is a travesty and the jury just couldn't be bothered to look at the facts presented to them. They were ready to go on vacation. I hope they too at some point in the future see their mistake. The system needs to do something to better define "reasonable doubt." Judge Perry, please follow through on the promise to place sanctions on Jose for his conduct during this trial.

      July 5, 2011 at 10:11 pm | Report abuse |
  3. jester & jackal

    Well from what I heard of the case, since I found it quite stupid that the media gave it so much attention, there was no body or murder weapon. Just speculation based on what was found. I don't care if she did it or not but to have the media sink its teeth in like it did not only is a disservice to its viewer/readers, it distract us from the real issues we should be concerned about. As to those saying she did it, do you have proof that you failed to handover to the police or are you just part of the mob mentality. And why should she get death for a two year old while pedophiles who do so much more damage just get to sit in a cell and wait til they finish their sentence. This whole story should have been a sidenote in the media. Or maybe we just like to see people burn while sitting on the sidelines. Remember even if she did it how does it affect your life? How does it hurt you? Did you lose a job because of it? Did your retirement vanish because of it? But perhaps the most important question is, with all the pain, suffering, violence, death and lies around the world, why do you care for this and not those other things?

    July 5, 2011 at 5:31 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  4. Pheiress

    OJ Anthony?

    July 5, 2011 at 5:32 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  5. ace

    Guilty or NOT This girls got some major mental problems. Any ones child is missing does not go out partying all the time. If nothing else lock her up in a mental hospital.

    July 5, 2011 at 5:32 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  6. Rainbeaux

    I hope the future jury for the person out there cleaning their gun and waiting for Casey Anthony to leave the house is as sympathetic as her jury was today...

    July 5, 2011 at 5:32 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  7. pat

    Casey got away with murder . . . on earth. But when Casey's true judgement day comes, little Caylee will be holding God's hand as they watch Casey finally face the truth . . . where her lies no longer matter. Enjoy the party in hell, Casey Marie Anthony . . .

    July 5, 2011 at 5:32 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  8. SICKTOMYSTOMACH

    They just taught everyone how to kill their child and get away with it! hust make sure you leave her where there is no evidence of cause of death, then dump them in the woods and blame everyone else! including your own parents! this is disgusting! Caylee is the only one that paid for this, and paid with her short little sweet life. my heart aches. Casey will get hers, one way or the other. someone give her a gun and hopefully she uses it on herself

    July 5, 2011 at 5:35 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  9. jay

    The prosecution and the Judge's written instructions were complicated and put too much pressure on the jury! Jury had too much pressure and they decided on Not Guility. Pressure got to the Jury!

    July 5, 2011 at 5:35 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  10. silkphoenix

    How could this family find any closure when the killer of Caylee was not found? Are they living in a dream world! So is their granddaughter life any less than their daughter's? They know their daughter killed their granddaughter, and in turn, she also accused the father of molestation. And how could this family find any closure, you tell me!

    July 5, 2011 at 5:36 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  11. Myrtle Bennett

    Her parents and brother had better sleep with one eye open and on her she is "SCARY" she has no sole to do her own child like that and justify it in her mind is truly SCARY.

    July 5, 2011 at 5:37 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  12. larry

    disgusting

    July 5, 2011 at 5:37 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  13. Luke

    I believe that the jury made the right decision

    July 5, 2011 at 5:37 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  14. larry

    this outcome is very disgusting

    July 5, 2011 at 5:38 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  15. januaRee

    WHAT PLANET DID THE 12 JURORS COME FROM. SO IT'S OKAY NOT TO REPORT YOUR CHILD MISSING FOR 30+ DAYS, IT'S OKAY TO BURY YOUR MURDERED CHILD IN THE FOREST AS IF SHE WERE SOME ANIMAL, IT'S OKAY TO KILL YOUR CHILD. CASEY AT THE THE LEAST SHOULD HAVE HAD BEEN GUILTY OF CHILD ABUSE, CHILD NEGLECT, ENDANGERING THE LIFE OF A CHILD, OH NO, SHE'LL BE FREE AS A A BIRD TO ENJOY HER 'BEAUTIFUL LIFE!!!'

    July 5, 2011 at 5:39 pm | Report abuse | Reply
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