Women Show Pity for Casey Anthony with Cash

Women Show Pity for Casey Anthony with Cash

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Why would anyone in their right mind give money to an accused child-killer?

Casey Anthony has hit rock bottom. The 22-year-old currently sits in a tiny cell in the Orange County Jail in Florida accused of murder. Many are already convinced Anthony is guilty of fatally chloroforming her three-year-old daughter Caylee, stashing the body in the trunk of her car and then callously partying at a local bar. Things don't look good.

Yet there are a few people, mostly women, who've taken pity on Anthony and are sending her money, to be deposited directly into her jail Inmate Money Account. The account can only be used at the jail commissary -- essentially a canteen for items not supplied by the prison.

So far a total of four women have been moved by Anthony's story enough to contribute. For the most part, the connection between Anthony and the women remain a mystery and is likely to remain so. "We do not seek out the relationship between the contributor and the inmate," Orange County Corrections Public Information Officer Allen Moore told momlogic. Moore isn't surprised, however, that Casey is receiving donations. "Obviously if there had not been the intense media coverage for this case, strangers wouldn't have sent money."

One of these so-called strangers is Michelle St. Claire of Spring Valley, California. She sent the accused mom murderer a donation of $75.00. In an exclusive interview with momlogic, the 39-year-old St. Claire defended her decision to come to the aid of the incarcerated mother.

"I'm a firm believer that you're innocent until you've been proven guilty," says St. Claire, a licensed private investigator. "This is a 22-year-old girl whose life is over. If 75 dollars will buy her some freakin' cocoa lotion, then what's the big deal?"

And, for the most part, standard items are all Casey has been buying. Her first purchases in the prison included: shampoo, hair ties, envelopes and stamps, a washcloth, a sports bra and underwear.

Anthony cannot, as CNN correspondent Nancy Grace erroneously reported, use the money to buy, "lingerie, high-end luxury items, like shrimp cocktails." Unless you count ear plugs or Spam in a Pouch as "splurges," the commissary's offerings consist of only the essentials.

Caylee and Casey Anthony Gallery

Given the small amount of money St. Claire donated, she is baffled the way the media has been reacting to what she feels is an act of "compassion."

But psychoanalyst Dr. Bethany Marshall is suspect of anyone reaching out to Anthony. "They've identified with her in some way," says Dr. Marshall. "Either they've been abused by a mother, they've abused their own children, maybe they're drug addicts and neglected their own children, they know what it's like to be put in jail."

St. Claire, a childless woman, who has never been incarcerated, thinks Marshall's explanation is laughable.

"I don't necessarily think she's innocent," she says. "I think she was stupid. But I try to be a forgiving person. You never know when you're going to need to be forgiven for something. She's already been tried and convicted. I think educated, healthy people sometimes do reckless things in desperation. She wanted to get a break and something tragic happened."

In the end, St. Claire wonders why people are so judgmental of such a small gesture. "It's not like I sent Casey defense money."

Discuss the latest Casey Anthony news in the momlogic community.

Click on an image below to see Michelle St. Claire's money order to Casey Anthony, as well as money orders from other contributors, Casey's commissary purchases and the items available to buy at the Orange County Jail.


Donation Check #1	Donation Check #2	Donation Check #3	Donation Check #4

Casey's Commissary Order	Prison Commissary Items (page 1)	Prison Commissary Items (page 2)

245 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

I was wondering about that, Ginger. Why are her parents not putting money into her account? I haven’t heard anything about that. (I’ve been away, I guess.)

- rachelemybelle

Posted 11/05/08 02:40 PM

Right on, Ginger! And while they are at it, there are a lot of other “innocent” people in jail who might need donations, too, particularly ones who don’t have parents standing by proclaiming their child’s innocence. I wonder if George and Cindy think she is innocent of all the fraud charges, too, even though the pictures show an entirely different picture.

- Sandi

Posted 11/05/08 02:41 PM

Hey Michelle…………since you’re in the giving mood…….how’s about 100.00 for myself? It could really HELP me buy my daughter some diapers, wipes and formula. Maybe even a little play doll.

- Beth

Posted 11/05/08 02:41 PM

Not one of us KNOW that she “killed” her child. I agree she has been heartless, cold and seemingly uncaring about her own blood, but that does NOT mean she murdered her child… intentionally anyway. She is like so many of you out there that are damning her. Just because you haven’t done the exact same thing doesn’t make you righteous. I’m sure there is someone you have hurt very much. Every time you point a finger at her you have 3 pointing back at yourself. Each of us are doing wrong things every day to others (Not one of us are without fault) and we don’t have any room at all to condemn her prior to a fair trial…let alone condemning these women who gave to her. I fully believe Casey has given her all to cover up whatever did happen and I’m sure she is responsible in some way for whatever happened to Caylee and all 3 of these women probably realize this. They would have been much wiser to have given the money to Tim Miller from the search team. However, their decision to have given to Casey doesn’t make them one bit of what any of you have said and it does not give me (or you) a right to play judge and jury. Those who desire mercy should give mercy. Your day will come when you will need it…

- R U God?

Posted 11/05/08 02:43 PM

Calling Dr. Freud. Michelle St. Claire is either deeply disturbed… or just plain stupid. Hey Michelle: What are you missing in this case, exactly? You feel SORRY for Casey whose life is “over?” No, Caylee’s life is over. And that chick you feel sorry for, the one in jail? She KILLED Caylee, THEN went on a boozing and whoring and stealing and partying spree immediately afterward. What about Casey Anthony could you possibly connect with? More disturbing than the act of sending money for Casey in jail is the way that St. Claire views what Casey has done, utterly minimizing the evil by pretending that Casey just, oh, needed a little “me” time and can’t we all relate to that, ladies? I think I might understand her actions MORE if she thought Casey was innocent. Byt here’s what I’m thinking: We should check the woods near Michelle St. Claire’s home to make sure that there are no human remains buried there. Who knows? Maybe “childless” Michelle had a little problem and, whoops, did something “stupid” herself for which she’d like to be forgiven. And compassion? If Michelle St. Claire wants to be compassionate, here are 10 TRULY compassionate ways to spend her $75: Donate to a Foundation to Find Missing Kids Donate to a Foundation to Stop Child Abuse Donate to a Foundation for Kids with Cancer Donate to A Foundation for Anyone with Cancer Donating to Equusearch Donating to her local hospital Donating to a soup kitchen Donating to SaveDarfur.org Donating to Habitat for Humanity Donating to Doctors Without Borders Michelle St. Claire: examine your soul. There is something wrong.

- Show Compassion for Caylee Instead

Posted 11/05/08 02:48 PM

I am not defending Casey by any means, but at most prisons, you cannot “bring” anything in, as Em suggested. Inmates much purchase items from the commissary.

- k

Posted 11/05/08 02:48 PM

Should we really feel pity towards Casey Anthony? The definition of “pity” is kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress or misfortune of another person, often leading one to give relief or aid… There is no misfortune here…only ACTIONS, and they are all the disturbing actions of Casey Anthony. The only ones who deserve pity are Caylee, God rest her soul, and her grandparents George and Cindy. Suffereing, distress, misfortune???? These are all the things that Casey has CAUSED and is not the victim OF.

- Wendy

Posted 11/05/08 02:53 PM

I don’t have children; I can’t. (My husband and I do have an awfully amazing English bulldog and a real sweetheart of a cat, though.) Anyway, if Casey Anthony really did want to get rid of her child, she sure could have given that beautiful little girl to me. I would have been thrilled to take that little doll off her hands. I’d have done it in a second.

- rachelemybelle

Posted 11/05/08 03:12 PM

i can’t believe there are actually people in here defending these actions and saying (especially R U GOD) r u god, she is like so many of us out there?….we hurt people everyday????? we don’t MURDER people you idiot!

- Beth

Posted 11/05/08 03:15 PM

Yes, not one of us knows that Casey Anthony “killed” her child, but the courts obviously are concerned enough about her guilt to have thrown her in jail. That speaks volumes and it isn’t about judgment, it is about justice being served. Yes, she is innocent until proven guilty, but clearly there is enough to implicate guilt or she would still be sitting in her lawyers office 6 hours a day, and returning to her parents house each night. In regard to her fraud charges, Casey has plead “not guilty” even though surveilance cameras show her making the purchases. Casey’s only defense would be to say that her friend had told her to do that while she was away. Yes, how many of us can say that our friends leave us their cars and check books and tell us to empty their bank accounts while they are on vacation? I believe Casey was jealous that she could not go on the trip as she had hoped, and since she had to stay home, felt she deserved to have special treats for herself because she had to miss out on such fun. Not having a babysitter for Caylee was the reason she missed out on the fun in the first place. So, are we judging Casey? No we are sharing opinions, which we are entitled to do. Unfortunately, most of the world considers Casey to be guilty of murdering her child, including the courts, or she wouldn’t be sitting in a jail cell right now.

- Justina

Posted 11/05/08 03:19 PM

Casey Anthony is a monster and I cannot believe anybody is sending her donations! Screw that.. she doesn’t deserve ANYTHING. She murdered her own precious child. Even if she didn’t do it, (which I 110% believe she DID) she’s sick for going a whole month without reporting her kid missing, there’s so much evidence against her, she doesn’t even act concerned or sad AT ALL. Just sick. People like this makes me sick to my stomache.

- Rae

Posted 11/05/08 03:27 PM

It amazes me how people can sit safely in their chairs, in fromt of their pc’s and judge people based on half truths and well-timed drops of documents. There is so much we don’t know, so how can anyone make accusations/assumptions/judgements without all the facts? Unless of course, ya all are super psychic.

- Liz

Posted 11/05/08 03:38 PM

Actually, Tina, a parent’s job is not necissarilly to protect our children from the evils of life but to teach them to take care of themselves. Yes, we are suppose to protect them on their journey but at the same time we have to teach our children to take care of themselves. Why is there a ‘boomerang’ generation? Because parents have failed at their most important job, teach the child how to become an adult! We can’t always protect our children, and if you think that she is guilty JUST because she failed to protect her child then you MUST damn the Ramsey’s or the Smart parents….how about the parents of the victims of Jeffery Dahmer? Are they to blame for not protecting their children? I’m not saying the woman is innocent but I’m not her judge to call her guilty either and neither are any of you. These people sending Casey money know they are not her judge…they aren’t sending her money because they think she is innocent…but what if you are all wrong and you guys have been damning this poor woman who has lost her child for absolutely no reason…is it better to be wrong and apologize later? Oh you guys don’t actually KNOW her so you don’t have to do that, it doesn’t matter to you at all how all of this effects her.

- vix

Posted 11/05/08 03:42 PM

I’m with you, Liz.

- rachelemybelle

Posted 11/05/08 03:43 PM

Poor Casey? What about poor Caylee? No one knows where the child is, alive or dead. For anyone who has money to spare, why not send it to Equasearch? That is an honorable thing to do, not supporting someone who is in prison because they may have committed a despicable crime.

- Breanna

Posted 11/05/08 03:43 PM

Liz-Well the courts had all the facts, the ones that will be used in her upcoming trial, and they decided that Casey Anthony belonged in jail. That was their judgment, and I doubt any of them could claim to be psychics.

- Sandra

Posted 11/05/08 03:47 PM

“All the facts.” What? No, they don’t have “all the facts”—if they did, this little girl would have been found. We don’t have “all the facts.”

- rachelemybelle

Posted 11/05/08 03:52 PM

If we had “all the facts,” there would be no need for a trial. What is there is evidence, not “all the facts.”

- rachelemybelle

Posted 11/05/08 03:54 PM

Michelle, why not put your money out there to help families that are loosing jobs and struggling to feed their children and trying to save their homes. One year around Thanksgiving this little girl ask me what I was going to cook & I told her then I ask what she was going to have and she told me nothing because her daddy got hurt and couldn’t work, so as soon as my husband got home I told him the story and we went right then and bought their turkey & everything else to have them a really nice dinner, that family cried because we did that for them. So now every year I help families that are in need by buying bags at the gro. stores & at Christmas I buy gifts for the child that is on the trees at the local restraunts. I’m a giver not a taker, if I can’t help you I’m sure not gonna hurt cha, and I’m sorry but I really don’t feel that Casey should get the things she wants or needs. She sure didn’t worry about her baby and what she needed, God Love Caylee all that baby needed that day was just someone to keep her away from that MONSTER she called Mommy. If children can’t trust their parents to Love & Protect them from harm then that is sooo sad. Why couldn’t she have just give the baby to the fire dept. or someone that would take her and love her. I know she us upset with Cindy but you don’t do away with your child to get even. Another thing I can’t understand is why Cindy is taking up for her and making every kind of excuse for her now. I know that is her child but you know what is right & wrong and poor lil’ Caylee had to be the one to pay the price for the problems between Cindy & Casey. GOD BLESS YOU LIL’ CAYLEE.

- Sharon

Posted 11/05/08 04:00 PM

It seems to me people would do more good by donating their money to Texas Equisearch or some other organization who is trying to find little Caylee.

- G.Jessop

Posted 11/05/08 04:00 PM