July 7th, 2011
08:17 PM ET

Lightning strikes tree near Caylee Anthony memorial site

Hours after Casey Anthony learned on Thursday that she will leave jail next week, lightning apparently struck a tree next to a makeshift memorial in honor of her slain daughter,  Caylee.

No one saw lightning strike the pine tree on Suburban Drive in Orange County, Florida, where teddy bears and flowers mark the spot where 2-year-old Caylee's remains were found on December 11, 2008.

But long, diagonal strips of exposed wood scarred the tall pine tree, WESH reported, and bits of bark lay scattered across the road.

"It could be a sign from the angels that they aren't happy with what's happened," a visitor to the site told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. "The rain, the lightning, the storm - it's the heavens indicating they aren't happy."

There are more lightning strikes in Florida per square mile than in any other state, according to weather.com.

A Pinellas County jury acquitted Anthony, 24, of murder and manslaughter charges Tuesday in the death of her daughter. The same jury convicted her of four charges of obstruction of justice for lying to police during the search for Caylee.

Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Anthony to four years in jail - one year for each of her four convictions - but with credit for nearly three years already served and good behavior, her release date was set for Wednesday, July 13, a court spokeswoman said.

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Filed under: Casey Anthony • Crime • Weather
soundoff (1,086 Responses)
  1. Cynna

    CNN you are silly!

    July 7, 2011 at 9:02 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Casey

    Innocent..................until proven guilty! Nuff said!

    July 7, 2011 at 9:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • France

      Trouble with a capital T anyway you look at it. The Anthonys are TROUBLE!

      July 7, 2011 at 9:08 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Bemis29

    I wonder why God did not strike the actual memorial and burn an image of the cross or Jesus.into it. Why does he always have to communicate with us in some half ass way by just hitting a neighboring tree. Better yet why not strike the acutal perpetrator of the crime Casey. Christians help me out on this one...I just don't get it??

    July 7, 2011 at 9:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mike, Cleveland OH

      It's tricky to get static electricity to do that reliably. Jesus prefers to appear on waffles and other baked goods for the benefit of eBay anyway.

      July 7, 2011 at 9:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Justice for All

      Jesus is NOT capable of committing evil! The prince of this world:the devil, he influences people to do evil/nasty things to each other. The Lord allows it though because He is a just God and he gives us all free will. To either submit to Him or to the devil. The choice is ours. Read the bible or find a good Bible teaching christian church near you to learn more. Jesus loves you.

      July 7, 2011 at 9:17 pm | Report abuse |
    • mike

      god will not show his face because he hasn't got a face. God would rather us just simply love him/her/it instead of us fearing his power. Fear is of the devil. Love and forgivness is the only way. Its a shame casey couldn't see this. I think people should really study jesus christ and see past the lies of the bible and see past the works of the many popes. Jesus was awesome. Jesus would not want us to worship him, but to let the love of god into our hearts. Its a much more satifying feeling than anything the devil has to offer. I feel sympathy for those who reject god. I would keep going on this subject but I don't want to push it on people. But as someone who feels the love of god, I do wish that everyone could feel as loved as I do. Keep in mind those who are angry at heart are easier to control by the devil who would only use you to do his dirty work

      July 7, 2011 at 10:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • pastafarian

      the ignorance and stupidity is overwhelming. I can't believe you people can even operate a computer and still believe this bullsh!t.

      July 8, 2011 at 1:45 am | Report abuse |
    • pastafarian

      Mike: There is no god. And that's ok, because there's no devil either. These are man-made tales to control you through fear and guilt. Move on. Enjoy this life. It's the only one you will get. Promise.

      July 8, 2011 at 1:47 am | Report abuse |
  4. bluebird

    CNN you have lost all dignity and have no social responsiblity in reporting and further sensationalizing this story. Your false reporting, your scam legal analysts who knew nothing of what they were talking about, your sister network who has helped demoralize society and caused lynch mobs to form around an accused–totally irresponsible. What has happened to you? How can you air such idiots like Nancy Grace, the other stupid stupid woman, Drew who? etc. Then you have these people offer an "objective" analysis on 360, etc. Good grief.

    July 7, 2011 at 9:04 pm | Report abuse |
  5. MAJED

    That was God's fireworks, and a message from Caylee, who is now in heaven, that she is happy her mom is now free from the claws of torment.

    July 7, 2011 at 9:04 pm | Report abuse |
    • Victor

      Majed, There's likely no god and no heaven. If I wanted to create naive arguments such as you theists do, I'd say that what happened to Caylee is all the proof you need that there's no one watching out for us. But I won't.

      July 7, 2011 at 9:12 pm | Report abuse |
  6. sm

    the duct tape ,really trips me. and casey knows the truth -she ll not hide !!

    July 7, 2011 at 9:05 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Debra

    To Casey Anthony:

    A child is dead. You have lied-many, many times–to law officials, your parents and friends. What good mother would lie about the whereabouts of a missing child except an uncaring mother who doesn't want the location of that child known. Why??

    Casey, you never deserved this child. She was too beautiful and too full of life–obviously more life than you wanted to be responsible for.

    Please don't ever have another child–you don't deserve this joy that other mom's fully appreciate and embrace. You should feel nothing but shame for the way you discounted her life and her needs–her need to simply be loved and her need to be kept safe from harm. Harm that was, unfortunately, bestowed on her by her own self-centered, uncaring mother.

    You should feel shame for being less than the mother you should have been to this child. You should feel shame for wasting an opportunity to love a child–a child that many would love to have but can't for various reasons. YOU, CASEY ANTHONY–SHOULD FEEL VERY ASHAMED!!!

    July 7, 2011 at 9:05 pm | Report abuse |
  8. rev jj stevens

    It's not over til the LORD says it's over, life will not be easy for casey anthony, you cannot do wrong and get by,the LORD is the avenger of little chidren like Caylee Anthony and he will get revenge.Mark it down and watch what happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    July 7, 2011 at 9:05 pm | Report abuse |
  9. FanofElijah

    As stated in the story it may be a sign that the Angels in Heaven aren't happy, but it may also be sign from God that Caylee is resting comfortably in Heaven.

    July 7, 2011 at 9:06 pm | Report abuse |
    • Victor

      Or it may just be a random lightning strike. By the way, where was your god and your angels when Caylee was at death's door?

      July 7, 2011 at 9:13 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Priori

    OMG. So, if lightning struck close to the studio where Nancy Grace does her thing, would that be reported too?

    July 7, 2011 at 9:08 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Frankie Bigbottoms

    hmmm. or maybe, just maybe, they put the memorial there after the fact, choosing a tree that got struck by lighting.

    July 7, 2011 at 9:08 pm | Report abuse |
  12. BHS

    Turn the other cheek...The Lord Our God will judge all at the time we enter His gate.

    July 7, 2011 at 9:09 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Rahsheem

    This is Gods way of saying "all you muthaf#@&ers better quit judging and leave it to me, this time I hit a tree..next time I WONT MISS"!!!

    July 7, 2011 at 9:09 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Cas

    Mark loved the poem and is so true

    July 7, 2011 at 9:10 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Redneck Bear

    Congrats Erin,

    You are a excellent example of a Christian in my book and I'm a follower of the ancient Kemetic beliefs.
    Your post said it pretty much like it is and I admire you for your efforts.
    I hope your post enlightens other Christians to stop all of their stupid reactions, which at times is all emotion.
    I think they should look closer into their souls before passing judgements.

    July 7, 2011 at 9:10 pm | Report abuse |
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