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.

 Post by:
Filed under: Casey Anthony • Crime • Weather
soundoff (1,086 Responses)
  1. Name*bob

    while casey's daughter is rejoicing in heaven along with angels,there is a special place in hell that awaits for casey.
    Jesus christ is the only hope.

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

      jesus doesn't inspire hope when he can't save a 2 year old girl from being killed by her mother.

      July 7, 2011 at 9:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • marty

      This is the same jesus that allowed this to happen ? You need to find yourself a better role model.

      July 7, 2011 at 9:23 pm | Report abuse |
    • HumanFaith

      All of these occurrences serve Gods plan. How dare you judge. You don't decide who goes to hell and who is in the good graces of Jesus. Shame on you, sinner.

      July 7, 2011 at 9:26 pm | Report abuse |
    • I'm a child of God too

      Sorry Bob, but I'm tired of you Christians acting like tragedy happens, so Jesus can come save someone's soul. Jesus didn't swoop down to save this girl, so I have doubts that he is the trump card here on earth. My bets are still on God being the top authority. Maybe Caylee was stoned for being unruly? Casey is of course spared from stoning as she is a bar who re.

      July 7, 2011 at 9:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • I'm a child of God too

      Yes God's plan involves cute little girls being duct taped, buried and ignored by her family for 31 days. This was all planned. I'm convinced some of you wackos are here merely to make our creator look like a doochbag.

      July 7, 2011 at 9:36 pm | Report abuse |
    • Math Whiz

      Sooo the two earthquakes that hit Christchurch New Zealand were not signs you should quit your nonsense, but lightning hitting this tree is a sign Casey needs Jesus? Lol wow.

      July 7, 2011 at 10:16 pm | Report abuse |
  2. bluebird

    The crap that media is selling these days like "oh poor George Anthony...." he wanted to kill himself so he could be with his granddaughter. How freaking ridiculous is that? Never mind his wife for life or his own children, no Caylee is who he wants to be with. And the lynch mob crowd they bought that stupidity. Like the people who can't get past 31 days, she's guilty. Do they not know that the media is what has inticed them? And brain washed them into believing the stupidity of the prosecution's case? These idiots just lapped it all up and couln't even see straigt. I am utterly digusted with the media and lynch mob. It's like they want to burn someone at the cross like in the 17 century.

    July 7, 2011 at 9:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jack

      You can't make this sh!t up, oh wait, yes you can. Just ask Nancy Grace

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

      Bluebird... it does not take a mental giant to see that Casey is guilty. If we only had lynch mobbing like the 17th century, perhaps self absorbed little rats like Casey and all our other sick twisted perves may not attempt to pull off the crap they do for fear of being mobbed and lynched. It is a sad day for us American's when teens get locked up for calling names and pushing, people get locked up for smoking pot (note I'm not a pot smoker, I just feel it is a lesser crime) and murders run loose on our streets attacking other children and their own children. Yes, I am distigusted too...

      July 7, 2011 at 9:19 pm | Report abuse |
    • womaninak

      I totally agree. We watch TV as if it is our lifeline forgetting that this is drama TV not real news. I am so very upset with most all of the media....they want us to respect and listen to what they have to say. We listen to their cheering of the justice system only for them to crucify it now because it did what it was suppose to do. 12 folks/peers found her not guilty. Enough said..the system worked, get over it....they are sounding like ignorant/less learned folks an adolescent that hasn't gotten his way. The falseness of the media is why this is a surprise. If you were really a person that just listened to what was being presented, there was no other result that could have happened. The JURY has spoken, get over it.

      July 7, 2011 at 9:23 pm | Report abuse |
    • bluebird

      cj
      There was no murder. Don't you get that? There was not. There was no chloroform, there was no duct tape around the skull, there was no body int he trunk. It was a story the prosecution made up. And you would know that if you watch that trial. I bet you didn't and relyed on this sick CNN reporting and HLN that never told you any truth.

      July 7, 2011 at 9:32 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Macie Sue

    @ bluebird, so true! CNN has become as ridiculous as FOX News in terms of trying to pass off propoganda as news. Besides most of the stories reported here in general are completely pointless. I think I'll stick to MSNBC and/or PBS.

    July 7, 2011 at 9:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • bluebird

      PBS or radio like NPR. Is this new social networking society that we've created? The lynch mob?

      July 7, 2011 at 9:13 pm | Report abuse |
  4. whatever

    if that was the work of god, than why wouldn't god strike the person guilty of murdering caylee. Poor girl 😦

    July 7, 2011 at 9:12 pm | Report abuse |
  5. muffin

    It might be an alien invasion. They should be looking for Tom Cruise.

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

    I agree with all of all the coments this is not news worthy. It's just Nancy Grace or someother reporter trying to make a story. If you want a story why don't you find a family that has lost a loved one defending one of these middle eastern countries we don't belong in... Semper Fi..

    July 7, 2011 at 9:14 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Frank Elias

    News of the world us replaced by CNN

    July 7, 2011 at 9:14 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Redneck Bear

    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 9:14 pm | Report abuse |
  9. NickL

    They've been forecasting storms for a week in that part of Florida. It wasn't angels, it was the phenomena known as weather.

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

    CNN, don't be senationalistic. It's a sign that atmospheric conditions were ripe for a lightning strike at that moment. Nothing more, nothing less. The stupid things people believe, I'll never understand.

    July 7, 2011 at 9:15 pm | Report abuse |
  11. drew

    This is ridiculous! That just because there was no guilty verdict that people have to come up with nonsense to try and disprove what the jurors themselves made them sick to do! The prosecution failed to do their job end of story! I thought that justice was innocent until proven guilty and that's just what happened she was NOT GUILTY! So people have to make up silly stories about god to make their lives feel better or get their five mins of fame is disgusting. I think this is the last thing the family should really be hearing in all this I'm sure that george and cindy don't wanna turn on the tv and see headlines that god has spoken and is not happy with the verdict! This is clearly some sick bible thumpers enjoyment to get on tv and have some word about what they think! Its completle immoral not only on the justice system but for all christians alike and I condemn it! I think it was completely wrong for CNN to even allow this story to be broadcasted in the first place for the rest of the comments on here made by idiots grow up!

    July 7, 2011 at 9:16 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Mark

    "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 2, 2008."

    Need to correct the story as WESH reported all afternoon that 2 deputies witnessed the lightning strike this afternoon.

    July 7, 2011 at 9:16 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Sadera Silverson

    Caylee was a angle,the girl on the moon,a princess,a little dreamer,she could have been what ever she wanted to be but her life was cut short.No one can ever bring back the little girl who said good-night to the stars before bed,the girl who loved her vegs.Life is cold,life is hard but we will rememeber Caylee Anothony R.I.P

    July 7, 2011 at 9:17 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Ellen

    Wonder if the Anthony's got the message?

    July 7, 2011 at 9:17 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Emi in Montreal

    The lightning should have struck Casey on the head .. That's the American justice for you.. In the end poor Caylee gets no justice done...

    July 7, 2011 at 9:18 pm | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41
« Back to main