Casey Anthony: Did you hear WFTV’s theory about George?
George and Cindy Anthony, Casey's parents, attend a hearing earlier this month. Photo credit: Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel
New witnesses in the Casey Anthony case suggest the defense might be changing its strategy, WFTV-Channel 9 speculated tonight.
“The defense may try to show that [Casey's father] George was abusive — abusive to Casey and that she is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder,” WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said. “This could mean that they’re going to attempt to pin the murder on George.”
Does this sound way out?
Casey Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.
The starting point for the segment was Kathi Belich’s report about several witnesses who crop on the defense list: Two are women who watched George Anthony push one of them during a 2008 protest outside the family home. Another witness specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder.
Then Belich, with Sheaffer’s expertise, tried to explain what it all might mean. Does it sound like a theory ripped from a prime-time drama?
Belich noted that Casey can’t use abuse as a defense but might cite it as an explanation for her lack of emotion when her father testified earlier this month. Sheaffer pointed to evidence that would support the George-as-suspect approach: He had access to Casey’s car and other materials in the home, such as the duct tape and the laundry bag found with the toddler’s remains.
“Sheaffer says George could even go along with this, even going so far as to take the Fifth if he’s directly asked whether he killed Caylee,” Belich said in ending the segment. “Sheaffer says Casey could also testify that she was abused and traumatized and that she lied to protect George.”
Belich didn’t cite any comment from the defense team, so we have no confirmation this theory has any connection to reality.
What did you make of this report? I usually admire Sheaffer’s analyses, but tonight’s theory was outlandish to me.
What’s the next theory? Martians came and took Caylee?