America’s Fascination with a Murder

The trial of the attractive Casey Anthony, accused of murdering her pretty 2-year-old daughter in cold blood, was followed by millions of Americans with baited breath.

The controversial decision has refused to leave the front page of the newspapers and Hollywood is already looking for a movie cast.

Did the slim, long haired 20-something drown her 2-year-old to have more time to party? Did she really, as the prosecution claimed, drive around with the child’s body in the trunk before she dumped it later? Why were forensic experts unable to ascertain the cause of death? Why did she lie to law enforcement? Will she be put to death or sentenced to life?

These were only some of the questions swirling around the media for over seven weeks.

The Most Popular Crime

Courtroom updates pushed news about Barack Obama, the growing debt, or Libya to the proverbial back burner.

Casey’s trial moved millions of Americans. Gallup polls show that the news of the exoneration was followed by 310 million Americans. Live feeds from the trial were shown day after day in bars and pizzerias, and those without access to television could watch it on their iPhones.

According to most experts, there has not been a more high profile case since the O.J. Simpson trial in 1995. The Anthony trial, which took place in Orlando, attracted thousands of tourists. They came not only from other states, but from Germany, Holland, or Great Britain. Instead of watching dolphins or enjoying Disneyworld, they chose to watch a famous trial unfold.

Getting into the courtroom was much harder than buying an amusement park ticket, however. To get one of the 50 seats reserved for the public, some had to camp out in front of the courtroom. Because there were more people than tickets, scuffles were common and fights even erupted.

A Shakespearean Murder

“America is a country hungry for stories. We like stories and mysteries that can keep us guessing as to the truth. That is one of the reasons why we have so many crime shows. This trial gave the public a chance to be incarnated into the role of a CSI analyst, and be able to solve a crime. This case was so complicated and convoluted that one could feel as if this was a Shakespearean drama,” says Frank Farley, a professor of psychology at Temple University, and former president of the American Psychological Association.

“Besides the complexity of the case, there were many other reasons why people were drawn to this case. A previously unknown, attractive young woman, living with her parents in an average American home, is accused of murdering her beautiful young daughter. Oh my God! How could she do it?” Farley adds, and vigorously asserts that, as with most other people in the world, Americans look down on filicide.

Millions of Americans were captivated by the troubled family life of the Anthony’s. They were also captivated by the web of lies. Casey said, among other things, that her daughter was with her nanny, that she herself was employed by Universal Studios and that she received a phone call from her missing daughter.

“Mankind has always been fascinated with evil, violence and horror. We understand normal behavior. But why does one kill another person with premeditation? Is a mother really capable of killing a child only so she could party?” observes Professor Farley. He also stresses that for Americans, struggling with the economy and unemployment, this fascinating trial was a good break from everyday life. “Thanks to the trial, many people were able to forget that they were unemployed and struggling. A murder case is interesting in any country.”

American television has been broadcasting interesting court cases since the fifties.

Condemned by the Media, Exonerated by the Court

The public and the media demanded blood, or at least a long prison sentence. Casey Anthony was exonerated from the murder charge and convicted only of lying to law enforcement.

She received $4,000 in bail and four years in jail, three of which she already served. The final year was commuted for good behavior. She is expected to leave jail on July 17. “She’ll leave jail, but I don’t know, to what degree she will be free. I doubt that there is any place in this country where she could freely walk down the street,” said Cheney Mason after the trial.

According to a poll done by USA Today and Gallup, 64 percent of Americans think that Casey Anthony was definitely or probably guilty of murder. Enraged activists have already proposed legislation to make it easier to sentence mothers like Casey.

“I actually thought that the jury made the right decision, because I don’t think that guilt could be established. One expert said one thing, and another said another. I am certain that Hollywood will make this into a movie,” comments Frank Farley.

Millions are Waiting

According to experts, the 25-year-old can make a fortune on a book deal or with Hollywood agents. According to tabloids, Casey might be played by Kristen Stewart. “Why can’t she make money off her story?” asked Drew Findling, a defense lawyer, on CNN. “You’ve seen so many cases where witnesses for the prosecution have profited from the case. Look at the O.J. Simpson case and how the prosecutor, who lost the case, wrote books and made money afterward. So why can’t Casey do it?”

“If she is as horrible a monster as everyone says … we’ll hear from her soon,” says Dr. Drew Pinsky, an American celebrity doctor, who hosts shows on television and radio.