One of the first child abuse homicides I handled as a young prosecutor taught me a lesson that I carry to this day. The lesson is that we instinctively shy away from the thought that a parent who brought a child into the world could possibly kill that child.
Four-year-old Kristie Bruen would be thirty two today had she not been murdered by her mother and her mother's boyfriend. On the night before Halloween, October 30, 1980, when other children were trying on their costumes for the next night, Kristie's battered body was brought to the Peekskill Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival of a massive brain clot. In fact, she was beaten and battered to death.
As Chief of the Domestic Violence Unit, I responded to the crime scene and handled the felony hearing. Such a hearing is to establish that a murder occurred and that probable cause existed to believe the child's mother and boyfriend committed it. To my shock, the judge ruled that it couldn't be murder; after all, a parent would never intentionally kill her own child. The judge held it was more appropriate to hold the defendants for a non-intentional homicide (manslaughter).
Fast-forward 28 years -- three-year-old Caylee Anthony is missing. Many want to believe she is alive but all the evidence points to the contrary. It did some time ago. To seasoned prosecutors, like myself, who have seen this scenario more than we want to recall, this is a replay of a child abuse homicide.
We all wanted to believe that maybe someone DID kidnap Caylee -- that maybe Casey was indeed the good mother that she appeared to be in all those pictures. That this mother could never commit the unthinkable. Yet the handwriting was on the wall back in July.
Fact: How does a mother not report that her child is missing? Yet we were duped into wanting to believe she maintained her silence so her child wouldn't be harmed. After all, any good mother would keep silent -- even go to jail to protect her child, right? Then out came the pictures of mama Casey not sitting by the phone waiting for the call to take the money, the drugs, the whatever, to a designated place -- but rather mama dancing, partying, bumping and grinding at the Fusion nightclub at a time we know she doesn't have Caylee.
Ok, so maybe a babysitter did have Caylee so mama could party. But there's no Zaneida Gonzalez living at the address mama gave. And the Zaneida Gonzalez who is located has never met Casey and has never taken care of Caylee.
So let's backtrack for a moment. How has Casey's life changed since she was last seen with her daughter on June 15, 2008. Well she has a new boyfriend, Tony, who according to friends is not too keen on the baby, but with whom she is increasingly spending time- to the point where she is there every night.
But wait, she loves this baby just look at the pictures! Yet now we know she wanted to give Caylee up for adoption before she was born.
Fact: We also know on July 18th Casey borrowed a shovel from a neighbor and backed her car into her family's garage -- something neighbors had never seen her do. So add to that a flurry of calls that pinged from her phone in a wooded area several times with repeated calls to her parents on July 17th, some only a minute apart. Add the fact that gas cans reportedly stolen by her father from his garage are in her trunk, which trunk she tried to prevent him from opening.
Fact: when Casey is arrested for child neglect and lying to investigators, she sits in jail, not at all worried with sunken eyes and a look of desperation, but instead bemoaning the fact that everyone is so "focused on Caylee!" She just wants her boyfriend Tony's number.
Wait! Grandma and Grandpa Anthony (former nurse and former cop) tell us Caylee will be home on her 3rd birthday, August 9th! Yet, that birthday comes and goes while grandma and grandpa are not out on daily searches looking for Caylee. Wouldn't a former cop start by going to the apartment where this phantom babysitter lived? Instead, these grandparents spend their days fighting and spinning the press.
Now why would they do this? Why are they not searching, pleading, begging for information? Maybe because grandma, who called 911 complaining of the smell of a decaying body, in the trunk of her daughter's car (which Casey conveniently abandons as inoperable -- but which to her detriment is found by police and literally driven with no problem to the impound lot) knows the truth. She knows her daughter is a pathological liar. She knows her daughter didn't want Caylee and she knows Casey is responsible. Grandpa, a former sheriff's deputy knows Caylee isn't coming back. He knew when he found gas cans he reported stolen in his daughter's trunk and when cadaver dogs pointed at that same trunk. He knew when police confirmed that virtually everything Casey told them was a lie!
Could it be that these so-called loving grandparents have circled the wagons around their daughter Casey, because they know Caylee is never coming home.
Fact: Enter the University of Tennessee's body farm that conducted tests on the car's air samples from the trunk and conclude that a human corpse had been decomposing there. Grandma says someone else could have put a body in the trunk after it "was abandoned." Instead she tells media, "Casey is telling us Caylee's life is in danger." All the while DNA test prove conclusively Caylee's hair is in the trunk.
Fact: Chloroform was found in "significant levels" in the same trunk where scientists detected vapors of a decomposing body and the hairs of Caylee Anthony. It is a solvent often used as an anesthetic by inhaling the vapors that cause the central nervous system to depress resulting in possible loss of consciousness, and is often fatal.
It is not one fact, but each fact weaved together as a connected whole that leads us to the inescapable conclusion that Caylee is dead.
I remember that judge in the felony hearing telling me -- a mother would never intentionally kill her own child. I know now, what I knew then -- "Evil comes in all shapes and sizes" even pretty young girls with sparkling blue eyes.
The opinions expressed in Jeanine's Journal belong solely to Jeanine Pirro, and do not reflect the opinions or beliefs of the series' producers, AND Syndicated Productions, Inc., its parents and successors, employees, officers, agents, directors, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates and assigns. Producers are not responsible for the accuracy of any information provided by Ms. Pirro. It is recommended that you consult with an attorney in your area.
who knew
sucks
yep
Hello there, Happy few days-after-Halowen! Today the real scares come when all you one night standers find out you just got a nasty case of herpes. :D!
thats not rigth to do that to some one u carry for nine months
oh my god. hehe
Every single mother with a newborn to toddlers age I knew never ever considered killing their child. I did see that the single mothers I knew wanted to go out and dance,date or hang out with girlfriends that were childless or single or going with a steady. They found a way to get a break from having a 24/7 child needs without feeling strapped down. They got a trusted babysitter with phone numbers to reach or other family members to reach in case of emergency. Casey had no excuse of this kind where she felt strapped down. There was other serious issues that psychologist can better explain why Casey did what she done to her child. I know myself part of it is parenting & feelings of Casey wants & responsibilities for herself,not Caylee & Cindy Anthony should have known this & did something about it. Full custody should have been in Cindy's mind.
what mother could do such thing to a beautiful little girl thats just not right she should go to hell for all i care. that little girl could be here making something out of her life i wouldnt never want to be in that situaion.
I have been following the case. I don't understand how one would kill their child or anyone for that matter.
I do feel she did kill her daughter or someone else helped her. I am not certain about that.
I think the grandmother knows it in her heart. Perhaps dad not so much. May be wanting to believe it isn't true.
I wonder if we will ever know. There is a lot of pressure on the family. Something may crack.
stay tuned it isn't over.
God knows and sees all casey will get her just reward poor caylee i hope her soul is at rest
The terrible sad news is that little Callee is most likely dead. For that blame the "mother". BUT to a certain degree blame the grandparents also. Both granparents knew their daughters past behavior. Yet, they CHOSE NOT to do anything--like try to obtain custody of this precious child.
If that is not bad enough, it looks like they are covering something up on the behalf of this monster they call a "daughter"
If the law in Florida allows, I really think they (grandparents-ESPECIALLY the grandmother) should be charged with something also--like niglecting the protect this little girl, or something stiff.
This whole case makes me sick.
Are we ever gonna find out what happened to little Callee?
Terribly, I think not.
Outstanding journal entry, Jeanine. I have never believed Casey Anthony from the day the story broke in the news.
When you left public service we lost one of the greatest public servants ever to serve the people of Westchester County. Best of luck with your new show and much continued success!
An earlier poster states that we shouldn't question why a parent kills a child, but rather, why anyone kills another human being.
I disagree with this. Since time began, people have killed others whether in an act of vengeance, theft, rape, insanity, the list goes on.
BUT.. when a parent kills a child, its a totally different crime. Especially a small child. Children are brought into the world to be protected and guided. Each parent has their own way of showing these skills. As a parent, we would stand in front of our child to prevent harm coming to them. This is the inbred instincts of a parent, especially a Mother.
A 3 year old child is totally dependent on that mother for her life's sustenance and wellbeing.
It seems that this beautiful child was used as a pawn between her mother and grandparents. Apparently, the grandparents were the caregivers and the actual mother was allowed to drag that little girl around wherever and whenever she so decided.
So, now it seems that she has killed her own child and no remorse is evident. Of course, anyone with a brain realizes this woman is a social misfit and should never have given birth. So, as much as I sympathize with the Grandparents' loss of this child, I also hold them responsible for her fate. They have seen their daughter's life unravel for a long time. They knew her weaknesses and that she didn't even want to keep the baby when she was born. So, in talking her into keeping the child, they assumed the responsibility for the safety of that little girl.
But, as we witness, the grandparents are supporting the circus that has arisen from day one of this case. Why are they harboring this woman in their home? Why have they helped her with bail and PR, etc? Why can't they separate their feelings for their daughter from the knowledge of this heinous crime she has committed? Why make things easy for this murderer to sit back and enjoy her notoriety while she refuses to tell anyone where that lovely little girl's body has been dumped?
They loved this grandaughter, there is no doubt of that. She loved and trusted THEM. They owe it that child to stop supporting her killer and to help bring her home to a decent burial, which is owed to all humans. Especially the Innocents.
Yes, evil comes in all shapes and sizes, but when it comes in the guise of a "loving" parent, that is the most Evil of All.
For those that state "One is innocent until proven guilty", need only recall that it took 31 days for this mother to involve law enforcement in the "disappearance" of her child.
I too Jeanine, believe this case portrays Evil "evil personified" in the form of Casey Anthony. As such, I also believe evil must be "vanquished" not tolerated, rehabilitated, medicated, etc... Nothing short of the death penalty would suffice for this ultimate betrayal of a mother upon her child. If the legal system will not order it, in time, God's hand will mandate it.
If the police drove the car to the impound lot as you say, why did they not smell the decomposition? Have the officers who picked the car up been identified and questioned?
Lee said in his interview with the police that the stench was so bad he could not bear to be near it.
The grandparents recognised the smell before they even opened the car.
Why did nobody notice this before?
It's not THEIR child if you are talking about one person. It's Could a Parent Kill HER (or his) Child. Yikes, I can't get past the title - makes my skin crawl. Is there no editor around?
I agree that it's difficult to imagine a parent killing a child, but that's because we're "normal" people. I think it's frightening for us to realize and accept that there are human beings among us (parents or not) who are capable of committing horendous "inhuman" acts...period. I, too, believe it's become obvious that Casey is at best an extremely self-absorbed and troubled young woman, and at worst simply evil!! Even as a mother/grandmother, I can't begin to imagine the pain, suffering and guilt George and Cindy Anthony must be experiencing right now...they did, after all, raise this daughter who (most likely) killed their precious granddaughter--they need all our prayers!
I dont know why? She ever became a mother in the first place. I think see should rut in a cell forever
I think it's sad when a mother,Father or anyone for that matter can kill a Child. especially their own. We as a society at whole dont want to think that someone can do this type of thing to their own but it's been going on for years it's just now being openly discuss. what about in the early 1900's when people been killing their baby when abortion wasn't legal. It saddens me to know that a person can kill their flesh and blood God little Angels, as a parent we are to protect are kids from harms way but when the parent is the coperate how can that child feel safe at all., Shame on the grandparents in that casefor not turning in their daughter for killing their granddaughter. I feel that if my daughter has done anything to hurt my granddaughters in anyway , I swear the Authority don't have to worry about finding out because if I feel it in my heart I'm no psyic but I get this gut feelings that tell me I'm right about something I feel wrong , I'll would bring her in myself after kicking her A**. I don't have much but I gave my children before I gave myself with no regrets. Do they understand that these children are a blessing from GOD . I also think that some not all the young generation dont take time out to think that these kids didn't ask to come in this mess up place we call a World and that we have a choice in the matter if you don't feel that you're up to raising a child then abort or give the child up for adoption , first there was susan smith, I forgot the females name that was broadcast in the news , not Casey. If a man tells you that he don't want kids then you should walk away and say he's not for me and the same for a singel father if a women dont want children that your involve in then she's not good enough for you to be in your life or your child. Never , Never put a man before your Kids and the same again for single fathers never put a women before your kids like my mother used to tell me as a child. There are too many fish in the sea if that fish you catch as a defeact then throw it back and fish for a new fish but dont bring that bad fish home if you think it's going to cause sickness and anything bad for your health or you child health . something to think about . Young parents today have children because they think it's going to keep the other person in the relationship and when that dont work they neglect the child because they feel they're stuck with a child alone, or they didn't get the going out with their friends out of their systems not thinking that being a parent is a job you have to work hard to be the best parent you can.
i thank the mother should stay in jail till they find caylee i thank she nows more than she is telling anybody i feel she loss her temper and killed her baby and she is not saying it the mother should should have the same thing done to her
I don't understand why the media,neighbors,courts or society have this personal issue of how mothers should behave concerning their children? Of course, a mother can kill her children and so can a father. And children can murder their parents! The issue should be why do people(general)kill? It shouldn't matter what the relationship is considered to be or perceived to be in a society. If and when she is found guilty of the crime, then deal her accordingly to the law of that state and move on. CASE CLOSED!!!!!!!!!
i strongly agree evil comes in all shapes and sizes my three out of four daughters was sexually attacked by their own father it was over 21 years ago i feel the pain each day but i never regret putting their worthless father edward jerome mcmillan in prison for it the only thing i wish is he could of gotten life for what he has done to his own children not 18 months now my children they have nothing to do with him and he is ashamed and can not even see them if only a parent could think about what they do to children what ashame that a child can not trust a parent i thank god every day my parents where the best and never did anything to their 12 children but thses young parents i just do not understand what they think or do anymore
i remember the judge telling me he has a right to see his daughter and i agree but this man was abusive and i askes for supervised visits because when he drinks he acts different and they could've prevented my daughter's abuse and she would've been safe.
i myself know how it feels when someone hurts your child and the person says they don't know
anything.My daughter was molested five years
ago and her biological father who used to abuse me who went to prison for maiming charges came out and says i didn't do it. but to this day my daughter has to undergo counseling for her behavior because she still remembers.
As a young prosecutor, you had the natural instincts that we all do related to a mother child relationship. How could a mother ever harm, let alone kill their own child?
As we grow older and more hardened to the realities of the world in which we live, we rationalize that such atrocities are not only possible, but in many cases probable.
You do a splendid job itemizing the facts in the case.
You were brilliant in your final paragraph noting that:
I remember that judge in the felony hearing telling me -- a mother would never intentionally kill her own child. I know now, what I knew then -- "Evil comes in all shapes and sizes" even pretty young girls with sparkling blue eyes.
Very intriguing Jounal entry, Jeanine.