then there's this pesky thing called justified anger
which to me is not about drama at all but real life

Thank you for your (self) esteemed opinion.
 

To whom, exactly, does this refer?

Why is it that people have to come in and try and parent other adults?

That's not really offering healthy discourse. It's silencing.


I saw very little drama and rage and plenty of thoughtful discussion.

The drama I saw was someone (you) coming in and starting off a lecturing post with "with all due respect" and then accusing the rest of us (I assume that's what you meant by ya'll) of being dramatic and full of rage.

What's also strange is that you directed it at a member who is neither dramatic or full of rage, so it looks like you're just annoyed in general and may have been looking for an opportunity to get it off your mind.

I'm sure you can consider your opinion noted. :)

Casey's actions after the fact can't be ignored. Someone dumped her body like trash. Someone drove around with her dead body in Casey's car. Someone put duct tape on her mouth. If it was truly an accident, she wouldn't have been out partying like nothing was wrong.

If your kid goes missing for 30 minutes and you don't report it you're a bad parent. 30 days and you go partying and never report it, you most likely killed her - sometimes written law sucks and common sense must take over.

a bumper sticker thought

If you're not outraged you're not paying attention.

I do agree that our legal system- like all of our social institutions and culture- is racist. I have no doubt in mind that the way this case was discussed in the media would have been far different if the mother was a woman of color. The outcome of the case could have very well been different as well.

I do feel the jury was in a tough spot. The standard of Reasonable Doubt does need to be high to protect the innocent. People of color are also the most likely to be falsely accused of crimes.

I remember watching the O.J. Simpson case. I followed it quite closely. I was absolutely convinced he killed his former wife. To this day I don't understand how anyone could kill the mother of his children. However I also remember thinking to myself if I had been on that jury I don't know if I could have voted to convict him even though I was absolutely convinced he did kill her. There were too many holes in the case, too much evidence not handled properly, etc. It sounds like in this case there may have been too much reasonable doubt to convict her of first degree murder, but I also agree there should have been other charges other than first degree murder that she could have been charged with. I don't know what caused this. Several factors no doubt. I don't understand why she wasn't convicted of child abuse or manslaughter.

The Standard of Reasonable Doubt does get abused. On the murder trial I was on the man accused of murder had a rich father and he had two very talented attorneys. Weeks were spent going over this man's whole life story and how bad it had been for him. I think there should be limits to how much of a person's life story gets brought into play. We all have to be responsible adults, especially if we are the parent or guardian of a child.

Much of what goes on in a courtroom is actually quite theatrical. The cases don't come to trial for many months or many years. It's not hard for a talented attorney to cast doubt on what someone says on the witness stand. There's lots of back and forth between the attorneys which the jury is instructed to ignore. You can be in the courtroom for ten minutes and then told to leave and have that same thing happen several times in one day. It's all very choppy. Things are thrown out that you are supposed to pretend you didn't hear. Members of the jury are "courted" through eye contact, friendly smiles, etc. As a juror who is trying to do your job you just want to get down to the relevant facts. It can be quite frustrating.

I do think our legal system is quite flawed, but I have served on a jury and would do so again if called. I also vote. I do what I can. There are people in this world who do not have the legal and political rights that we have in the United States. As a white person I certainly do have rights and privileges that people of color do not have. I am not sure what can be done about our legal system. I do agree it is quite flawed, but part me still does believe in a jury system of some kind.

I do mourn for the loss of this child and for all children who are killed, harmed or neglected in any way. I support those who are expressing your outrage and grief. I do understand.

....even if it was an accident, and this body was dumped somewhere to maybe hide the fact that you are a negligent parent ....

Remember - Casey lied about having a job - she took it further to claim that this imaginary job gave her a promotion that would require her to work nights - just so she could go out and party. Cindy (her mother) expressed that she was getting a little tired of being used as a constant babysitter ... Casey didn't want to own up to her responsibility as a parent .... Casey had some decisions to make.

It doesn't take rocket science to do simple math. She may have been found not guilty, and for all intents and purposes, the jury says she is not a murderer. Why is it that most people in this country (and around the world) feel otherwise?

Yes, there are judgments, heated emotions, anger and disappointment in the way this case played out. Normally, I myself try not to let certain things get to me - and I don't consider myself a drama mama - but when it comes to baby and animal abuse - I go insane with anger - and admittingly, sometimes rage. But you know what? Expressing it is normal. Venting is normal. Sharing it is normal. What is unhealthy is not letting it out if it affects you in such a way. If you aren't affected by anything in the same manner as someone else, that's totally fine but I don't believe it necessary to tell someone to tone it down unless they are totally out of control and intentionally hurting someone else because of misdirected emotion. And I certainly don't think it's ok to tell someone how and what they should think, or how they should feel about it.

Rage alert !
 

It's part of human nature to try and make sense of irrational actions. The bottom line truly is that a beautiful little girl is dead and her death is shrouded in mystery and foul play. As a mother, whether it was an accident or not, there is responsibility as a parent. I'm not saying that George may or may not have had anything to do with this .... that in itself is it's own ugly web of lies. But lying to the police, IMO, was not enough for Casey. Covering up an accidental death is also a crime.

Unfortunately, everything is and always has been speculation, and all I can say is Casey dodged a bullet - she showed more emotion when she was found not guilty than she did when she was accused of killing her daughter or during the whole time her daughter was "missing". Her attorney - just got lucky.

You are correct. I should have been more precise and said the jury acquitted her of murder.

Ain't no thing ;) I should have been more precise - I am sure there are jurors who do think she was guilty, but had to make their decision based on evidence (or rather, lack thereof).

.... agreed.

I thought it was strange too. I think it is because there is no proof as to who actually transported and buried her out there.


Melissa

I think so too. Something or someone led to her death. But the who and the how were never proven. It could have been a premeditated murder or an accident and then a panicked response from the mother or grandparents, even. Someone did something and there are one or more guilty people, but no evidence to say who.

It seems the whole family had an issue with the truth, not just Casey. It was all very muddy. I watched some of the CNN coverage and most of the defense closing and all I could think was, God, I would not want to be on that jury because I could not see any other verdict but not guilty. And its not because she is not guilty, its because no evidence was found. She's a liar, she's messed up, and she seems to be disconnected from reality. she's probably responsible for the death of her child, but its all about the probably. And there are plenty of lying, messed up, disconnected from reality mothers who don't kill their children or even physically abuse them.

Melissa