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.
[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."
[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.
[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.
[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.
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.
[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.
[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.
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Can anybody say where the child was for 31 days or is that going to be blow off too? The grandparents have something to do with this. But does anyone care? Nope! I see a big cover-up happening and 3 nuts got away with it!!!
What does this teach us of human life..we can murder and a jury of our piers who will not take the step and say it will not be tolerated..Welsome to America and injustice
In America you can carry and kill with a gun? The land of the real free and safe without war? Thank god I am Canadian. Only makes Americans look as bad as the whole world sees them. Can you let me know when the Trillions of dollars are paid back from America that has killed millions of people. Please, get a life and leave all other countries alone, BULLIES
Something tells me that Ashton's run for Congress just went into the toilet He sat there looking like he had a nervous disorder. Ipracticed law for a number of years and you don't prosecute on emotion.
The prosecution made the mistake of going for the death penalty. She is clearly guilty of aggravated manslaughter. The lesson for Americans is that if you lie like crazy and cover most of your tracks, you can live the "Dolce Vida" – even if you're caught in most of your lies.
Justice system is a big fat joke!
So sad!!! Someone needs to be responsible for the death of poor Caylee…
DISGUSTING VERDICT
Okay–it is a Very Sad day for America–our justice system just sent a message to all the deranged mothers in America..."Go ahead and murder your child, but make sure you hide the body until it is skeletal so no cause of death can be found–and you will get away with it". whoever said CRIME DOES NOT PAY was WRONG!!!!
America has always been deranged and full of bomb bullies. Hope your fellow americans can afford to eat tonight. Trillions in debt. America is not the land of the free. CANADA is.
WOW – Now she can spend the rest of her life searching every nightclub and tattoo parlor in Florida looking for the real killer... It is indeed a beutiful life. Can we just kick Florida out of the Union? They can't fill out a ballot and can't use common sense. Give the land to Cuba or something... UN-F'in BELIEVABLE!!!
I have been saying it for over a week that she will be found not guilty of murder and guilty of misleading the law. I have also said that if not guilty society will find her guilty and that's what has been happening.
One person says no justice for Caylee. My question to you is are we suppose to pick the very first person we see to blame fore her murder in this case the mother?
Another person claims the Jury was stupid and slow. My question to you is, did you attend ever single second of the trial, do you know about everything factor of what happened?
The people of society are going to find her guilty despite she is innocent. Her life will be ruined by society because society know who she is and will never let her forget this regardless of her innocents. She has been found not guilty of murder and child abuse and for those that refuse to believe she is not guilty please consider the fact that she might be innocent.
Just for possibilities, what if new evidence comes up that Caylee did in fact drown in the pool and this evidence prove 100% that she did in fact drown, would you as a viewer of this case feel different about Casey instead of saying she must die for Caylee to get justice or that the jury is stupid?
I do not care about Casey, In fact i think she is a snot nosed rich brat that needs a itch slap upside the head but she has been found INNOCENT!
Welcome to America where you are Guilty, Guilty Guilty! Thank God I do not live in the USA!
I was shocked by this verdict. The jury must consist of the only people on earth dumber than Casey Anthony. Hopefully Caycee will do lots of time on the other counts. And the other inmates will take care of dealing out some rough justice. Baez, how can you sleep at night when you work to put baby killers out on the street? I hope someone somewhere gets justice for Caylee since the people in Clearwater are too stupid to add 2 and 2. As for all you Caycee fans on this blog, I don't care what you think! So don't bother to reply. You are dumb too.
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She never cried for her daughter. Only cry when her lawyer talk about her.
Unbelievable. This jury are the 12 stupidest, most ignorant people to walk this earth. I don't understand how they can ignore all of the evidence. CASEY ANTHONY KILLED HER DAUGHTER. I'm not necessarily convinced that it was intentional but her actions, one way or the other led to the death of that precious little girl. My only comfort is the knowledge that Casey WILL have to face God one day. And that will be more punishment thatn any jury could ever hand down.
I have lost faith in the justice system. I understand that the prosecution did not prove that she did.. but the defense didnt prove that she did not do it either. I can understand the verdict of not guilty for murder.. but for CHILD NEGLECT?? Are you KIDDING me right now? She reported the baby missing A MONTH after. During that month she had free reign to do anything as she please.. can someone.. anyone.. PLEASE tell me how that is NOT child neglect????? Florida you make me sick.
the defense doesn't need to prove she didn't, they don't need to prove anything
i don't think there was enough evidence to convict, casey may be guilty, but the prosecution didn't do a good job presenting a concrete case. i don't blame the jury.
There was NO concrete case. The Prosecution did all they could with what little they had.