CJ370: A Comprehensive Analysis of Evidence in Casey Anthony Trial

This case study provides a detailed analysis of the evidence presented during the 2011 criminal trial of Casey Anthony for the murder of her daughter, Caylee Anthony. It lists and analyzes ten key pieces of physical, testimonial, and forensic evidence utilized in the investigation, including biological evidence, misleading statements by the defendant, neighbor's testimony, conflicting statements, DNA evidence, telecommunication records, defense arguments, physical evidence like duct tape, circumstantial evidence, and tape-recorded evidence. The analysis also discusses unused evidence, such as digital records of computer searches and witness testimonies that were deemed inadmissible. References to various news sources and legal journals are provided to support the analysis. Desklib provides this case study as part of its collection of solved assignments and past papers, offering students valuable resources for their academic studies.

The 2011 criminal trial of Casey Anthony for the murder of Caylee Anthony
List and Analysis of Evidence

Ten items (Physical evidence) Utilized in investigation
1. Biological evidence introduced by the prosecution established the fact that Caylee’s
skeletal remains were near location within the house. The admission of this decomposed
evidence was enhanced by the decomposing smell. This was introduced as the selection
of the jury began setting the case against Casey (Crime Museum, 2018). It includes
fingerprints, paint from the building and other materials.
2. Misleading statements made by the defendant gave wrongful information about the
disappearance of Casey’s daughter. Although the daughter’s disappearance was a reality,
the evidence ended up being used against her by the jury and the investigating team who
questioned Casey’s character leading to four counts of misinformation (CNN Edition,
2017).
3. Neighbor’s testimony that there was a smell of a decomposing body testifies to the fact
that the deceased lost her life from her neighborhood. This convinces the judges to allow
other witnesses to testify. This testimonial evidence supported other personal evidence
statements by witnesses, which the jury used against Casey. However, the jury ruled out
further testimony that the trash bag found in the same car was the source of the
decomposing smell.
4. Conflicting statements made by the defendant gave varied statements thereby misleading
investigations and the jury. She was charged for obstruction of criminal investigation
(Michel’s & Watts, 2008).
5. Forensic or scientific evidence of the deceased DNA from hairpieces introduced by the
prosecutor proved that the investigating team found evidence of the dead body having
been in a car trunk. The acceptance of this evidence at the trial by the jury proved that the

body was transported in Casey’s car. Further entomological evidence by forensic
botanists also shows insects in the decomposing body of the deceased and plant evidence
having been in the location of the dead body for six months. Prosecution unveiled
Casey’s premeditated plan through the evidence of the chloroform in the car.
6. Telecommunication evidence of the emergency calls from Caylee’s grandmother
confirmed the fact that she was missing. This became evidence against Casey who was
accused by prosecution of child negligence. This stood against Carey’s testimonies of
being a good mother.
7. The defense team attorney presented information that the victim drowned in a pool
outside their home. The lack of clear evidence was fact that this was untrue hence; the
jury dismissed it as counter evidence.
8. The prosecutor provided the duct tape found around Casey’s body showing the fact that
the criminal suffocated the deceased to death before transferring her dead body
elsewhere. This physical evidence is admissible against her by the jury.
9. Circumstantial evidence by witnesses including her dad revealed that Casey moved on
with her life too soon and she became a reveler one month into her daughter’s
disappearance. The Jury used this to point out Caseys relationship with her daughter. It
was later evident that she was more focused on having an affair with her boyfriend then
being a mother
10. Tape-recorded evidence of Casey fictional life tabled by the prosecutor raised questions
about the fake nanny that the defense referred to. This elaborated on her lies contributing
to the four counts of giving wrong information (Battaglia, 2012).

Unused Evidence
Digital evidence of computer searches revealed Case’s premeditated murder plans. This was
unused because media attempts to bring it up were unsuccessful. (ABC News, 2011). The jury
viewed this as media news. Witness testimony by Casey’s father George Anthony and Casey’s
boyfriend Lazaro’s testimony about missing gas cans found in the trunk gave evidence that
Casey was trying to cover up information. This could have revealed her hidden agenda but the
prosecution considered it inadmissible because it was inconsistent. Defense attorney Baez Jose
pointed out that Casey was a trained liar who had a dark past but this was not admitted as
evidence (ABC News, 2011). The false information given presents contradicting information
questioning whether the child died in the pool or by suffocation with tape (Sean, 2017). Crime
news links on this also failed to count as evidence too because this was hearsay (Howell &
Cecilia, 2012).

References
ABC News. (2011). Casey AnthonyTrial: Timeline of key events in the murder of the Florida
mother. ABC News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/US/casey-anthony-trial-
timeline-key-events/story?id=13990853
Battaglia, N. A. (2012). The casey Anthony trial and wrongful exonerations: "How trial by
media" cases diminish public confidence in the criminal justice system. Albany Law
Review, 1579.
CNN Edition. (2017). Casey Anthony Trial Fast Facts. CNN. Retrieved from
https://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/04/us/casey-anthony-trial-fast-facts/index.html
Crime Museum. (2018). Forensic Analysis of Casey Anthony Trial. Crime Museum. Retrieved
from https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/forensic-investigation/forensic-
analysis-of-the-casey-anthony-trial/
Howell, C., & Cecilia, M. (2012). Court of public Opinion; How the convicted percieve mass
media have affected their criminal trials and personal lives. Mass communications-
Dissertations Paper 90. Retrieved from https://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1089&context=com_etd
Michels, S., & Watts, S. (2008). Mom charged with murder in Caylee Anthony case. ABC News.
Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=6032237&page=1
Sean, R. (2017). Things to know about the casey Anthony Casey Years Later. USA Today.
Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/07/things-
know-casey-anthony-case-6-years-later/98847440/