Casey Anthony is the New O.J.

Casey Anthony is the New O.J.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Is an addiction to the Casey Anthony case unhealthy?

It happened with the O.J. Simpson trial back in 1995. To some extent it's happening again with Casey Anthony, the mother accused of murdering her own child. People are fixated on getting all the latest information on the case. The black glove has become the pizza. And for anyone so inclined, there's plenty of information to be had. CNN's Nancy Grace talks about it in excruciating detail every night, there are virtually millions of articles on the topic available on the web and various message boards where you can share your theories with others 24/7. Yes the sad story of the fate of little Caylee has the public firmly in its grasp.

"There are people out there who are literally addicted to Caylee," says William Murtaugh, a man who uses an old TV news truck to feed breaking Casey Anthony news to his website. "The commercial media cannot provide everything we want. We want more. We're addicted to it," Murtaugh said.

For women particularly, especially those with children, the story has a particular draw. "Any time there's ever a case where a mother has done something to her child, there is going to be interest for women," says momlogic's licensed marriage and family therapist Shannon Fox. "It's seems impossible for most mothers to compute, it goes against every maternal instinct we have to protect our children."

The ease of getting information on the case is another factor that feeds the obsession. Florida's public record policy makes every document, video, text message, even Casey's prison dinner menus available to the masses.

"What people fail to realize," says Fox, "is that Casey Anthony is not an episode of 'C.S.I.' It's real. All the exposure to information makes people numb to a heinous crime."

But the public's interest in the tragic story might transcend the typical true crime enthusiast. "The need to know about the case also might be linked to the recession," remarks Fox. "A lot of times, when the economy is bad, people turn to these kind of stories to give them a distraction."

However, there are some red flags that immersing yourself in the case might not be good for your mental health, warns Fox. "Any time an obsession takes you away from living your own life -- for example, you can't stop thinking about it, you talk to you friends about it -- it might be something worth examining," she says.

One poster on a Casey Anthony message board could be interpreted as a cry for help:

"I'm going to LIVE blog Nancy Grace tonight since I've been forced by my obsession to waste this hour every night."

Another indicator it might be time to lay off the Casey coverage, says Fox, is if any time you justify your bad actions by saying to yourself, "Well, at least I'm not as bad as Casey Anthony."

For the most part, those who have an interest in all things Casey are simply satisfying a craving for excitement they lack in their real lives. New York Times bestselling crime writer Gregg Olsen believes people interested in true crime are for the most part intelligent, good people who are "possibly a little bit lonely."

What disturbs Olsen is when the speculation becomes a game. "Everyone's trying to one up each other on who's the most astute on the case," he says. "They're forgetting there is a real legal process in place."

For some, the Casey Anthony story strikes a personal chord. Blogger Ylla Palenque, 35, of Orlando, Florida had her first child at 19 and another a year later. She remembers the struggles of being a young mother and has been following the Casey Anthony saga from the very beginning. "I think my obsession with the case stems for the fact that at one point in early motherhood I felt very close to being out of control, inches away from running away," she says. "With Casey, it is so different because I wonder why she didn't just leave?"

On the extreme end of the Casey Anthony obsession are those that are so involved in the case they've become of part of it -- showing up at the Anthony house demanding justice. Some attend the Sunday vigils held by the Anthonys to show their support. Still others have wielded death threats against the Anthonys' defense team and the Anthonys themselves.

Often, the people who become personally involved have a private vendetta, have been abandoned as a child or suffered abuse. "The story," explains Fox, "triggers the feeling of abandonment or neglect. If they were abused as a child, now they can stand up for Caylee and in the name of seeking retribution, they can seek justice for themselves."

The trial of Casey Anthony hasn't even begun, but when it does, will it match the fervor of the 150 million people who watched the O.J. Simpson verdict? Stay tuned.

Are you addicted to the Casey Anthony case?


Caylee Sighting?	Caylee and Casey Anthony Photos

35 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

Even without a body’s remains, there is enough cicumstantial evidence to find Casey Anthony guilty of murder. There’s something “fishy” going on here. I’m not sure I trust the Orlando police; remember, George Anthony was once affiliated with a Florida police force. Cindy Anthony should have already been legally accused of evidence tampering and obstruction of justice. I bet this child killer, Casey, will walk away free.

- Kai Ferano

Posted 12/19/08 10:43 AM

This case concerns me in that nobody including the Mother knows who the biological father of Caylee was…or does she? Possibly this child was fathered by a family member. Why else would the brother, Lee be so concerned with submitting to DNA Testing. Possibly Caylee is a combination name, Casey and Lee = Caylee, possibly her reasoning for hurting this child, we may never know or understand what really happened to this baby.

- Cindy from Seattle

Posted 12/20/08 04:09 AM

The death of a 2yr old daughter brought on by the mother is not so shocking to me in this country of ours. There will be a lesson learned from this when it is over & that is gonna be another episode to this murder.This is a power struggle between a grandma & daughter over a grand child/daughter’s upbringing. Living in the same house came a conflict building up since Casey was pregnant & just about being the only child minus a brother whom could have had a not so brotherly love for a only sister. Cindy has a guilt way inside of her. People may say it’s denial,George has different hidden views on Casey,there a father side & police side.He is torn between Cindy’s mind set & his own. It showed so bad on Larry King,George could not look King in the eyes when answering questions,he looked upon his wife as he gave the answers & actually wanted Cindy to do all the talking.How to you handle the situation? There is more verbal & physical fighting that had been going on for quite some time with the Anthony’s concern over Casey’s behavior way before the death of Caylee. To be continued.

- Emory Demech

Posted 12/20/08 05:11 AM

Casey may have put on a good motherly act around people for this is a person who wanted to fit in wherever & whoever she was with at the time. She was friendless to a point. She had missed out on some of her high schooling because of her pregnancy. She was 17 yrs old. She went from a kid to a mother almost overnight.The end result of this lead to Caylee’s death. Cindy has alot of influence into this tragic event wheather she knows it or not. The biggest reason for this death was a ongoing power struggle between 2 mothers on whats best for the baby. When babies are 2-4 years old there are big mommie duties,poddy breaking,baby bottle,changing diapers,etc. Casey felt cheated out of having a social life. Grandma provides for Caylee while Casey stands on the sidelines with no say-so about any of it.Casey is the mother ,but Cindy is also.When grandma Cindy gets home from work Casey wants Grandma to take over the duties,social life enters in upto a certain point til Casey takes more advantage of it & Cindy argues with Casey about being a mother. Casey was a 22 yr old going on 18 looking for a escape more & more from being told how to act as a mother.They both needed to seek a counselor. Doesn’t work if both parties don’t go.No doubt in my mind Casey is responsible for this death & Cindy played an unknowing part of it.This death could have been avoided and people will have a lot more to learn out of this death case then a guilty verdict.What went on in the Anthony household during this period of raising Caylee is where the the answers are of why Caylee died. To be continued.

- Emory Demech

Posted 12/20/08 03:07 PM

I think Casey Anthony deserves to die, not be in a jail cell the rest of her life. DIE DIE DIE. HOW I HATE HER. Poor little Caylee. I cry everyday for Caylee.

- lisa

Posted 12/21/08 07:44 AM

Saw a weeping woman with her 2 year old on camera a few moments ago. She got where she weanted to be- on camera. And channel Defarges got a boost in their ratings. Caylee Anthony was murdered by her mother who is in prison awaiting trial. Let us hope that channel Defarges won’t show us the execution druing our dinner hour.

- madame defarges

Posted 12/21/08 04:46 PM

I think the Mother Casey killed her own daughter; (that makes me sick and furious) but I think the grandparents are warp’d. I feel so bad!! poor little Caylee sweet baby… Only GOD can judge but GOD DOES NOT let anyone harm his little ones…there will be a price on Casey Anthony’s head; especially when she meets HER MAKER!

- Unknown

Posted 12/22/08 04:33 AM

CASEY IS THE NARCISSISTIC SOCIOPATHIC MURDERER…A PRODUCT OF A VERY STRANGE FAMILY. IN MOST OF THE LIVES OF DECENT, REALITY BASED, PEOPLE,SOMEONE WHO IS A LIAR AND A THIEF, IS AN ABBERATION. THIS IS SOMEONE TO BE AVOIDED AS AN ACQUAINTANCE. OR SOMEONE TO GET THERAPY FOR DEALING WITH AS A PARENT. PEOPLE WITH THIS KIND OF PERSONALITY DISORDER GENERALLY CANNOT BE CURED. MAYBE WITH A STRICTER UPBRINGING, SOME OF IT COULD HAVE BEEN REDIRECTED INTO A CHOICE FOR BETTER BEHAVIOR WHEN CASEY WAS YOUNGER. THE FAMILY IS SUFFERING FOR MANY REASONS. NOBODY WOULD WANT TO BE THEM. CASEY HAS HURT MANY PEOPLE BY THIS SELFISH, UNTHINKABLE ACT AND HAS NO VALUE TO SOCIETY. POOR BABY CAYLEE. HOW MANY OF THE USA’S COUPLES WOULD THEY THEMSELVES ADOPTED A PRECIOUS GIRL SUCH AS SHE, IF AVAILABLE, IF GIVEN THE CHANCE. CASEY DESERVES LIFE IN PRISON W/O PAROLE SO SHE CAN THINK OF HER ACT EVERY DAY. CERTAINLY NOT SOLITARY, EITHER. LET THE JAILED TOUGH FEMALE CONS W/HER HAVE AT CASEY! MAY SHE BE DEPRIVED OF HER YOUNG LIFE OF PARTIES AND BOYFRIENDS TO ADMIRE HER YOUNG LOOKS (FORGET SUBSTANCE, ALL YOU SEE IS PROMISCUITY)MAY CAYLEE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AFTERLIFE IN HEAVEN AS A CHILD OF GOD. BURN IN HELL LATER, CASEY!

- TXMOM47

Posted 12/23/08 01:02 AM

Casey Anthony is nothing more than a sociopath; who believes she did nothing wrong. Go back to the original call made by her mother, it smells like death - you don’t just make that kind of a statement. Cindy was most likely told to put a muzzle on her mouth. But look at Mr. Anthony — he knows the truth. To think that Casey will ever tell the truth about what happened is like still believing OJ is looking for the killer. Her “dream team” says you will know what happened; why not speak now and save the taxpayers money. Their defense will be Casey accidentally killed her and then panicked. We have heard this story over and over again.

- Barbara A

Posted 12/23/08 11:22 AM

Yeah, I’m addicted. Small surprise as I come from that sort of background. Like for some others here, the fascination is also fuelled by this family’s patent refusal to come clean, stop lying, tell it like it is. These people are so out of touch with their own truth, they are so sick. I have parents like that myself. They would rather someone in their power, their child, would bear the pain that is rightfully theirs but which they have been able to deny so effectively that they’ve managed to infect yet another generation with it. This story is so close to home. As awful as it sounds I can also identify with the primal capacity for rage that I suspect was behind Casey’s crime. It’s amazing what power abusive parents hold over their frustrated offspring, especially when they seem to glory in neglecting them, ignoring them, and getting more irritated the needier the child gets. And the hope that some day before they die of old age they will actually act like parents towards you, instead of playing cruel games, and continuing their patterns of contempt and derision of your person, that hope so refuses to die! We do grow a bit as we get older, with professional help, and them having a go at my kids now in terms of trying to turn them into their allies, and alienating them from me, no longer stings so badly as it did when the kids were small, and I was about Casey’s age. But I still remember the frightening rage I felt when they played that game then. It seemed to emanate from the center of my being, some boiling well of fury deep within. And guess what? It was directed at my innocent little daughter for allowing herself to be seduced by the very people who had hurt me all my life! I was so immature I couldn’t differentiate, see it for what it was, the sick behavior of two very sick people with a little child as their pawn. We’ve all survived but I have never forgotten that murderous rage I felt on one particular occasion…

- Gloria

Posted 12/24/08 04:07 AM

As most others have indicated, we are fascinated by this “made for tv ” case. Everytime they show the tapes of Casey speaking to her parents thrrough a glass plate in jail, it just makes me sick to know that she is a sickened psychopathic liar portraying the part of a grieving mother who damn well knows she (as well as the grandparents) are being taped. What a show she put on!!!! Think the defense will show these tapes over and over again??? Save it dear Casey,, you will have plenty of time to grieve, primarily for yourself, when you get many many years in prison! That poor baby didnt deserve what Casey did to her. No child deserves this kind of demonic torture. Caylee has become a soft spot in the nations heart. We loved her and didnt even know her. What a waste..

- Lilia Moore

Posted 12/25/08 07:51 AM

i feel it would be much easier if casey would just fess up. this would alleviate all of the mystery and intrigue that has surround this case.

- rex hardin

Posted 12/27/08 04:49 PM

What a sad, but sick case. The sadness is a beautiful and innocent child, who would have been adored by anyone. The sickness is the power struggle between daughter and grandmother. I will never understand why a grandmother would not have adopted this child a long time ago, knowing her daughter had many problems and should not have been in control of this child’s life. I would have tossed Casey out my door a long time ago, and kept Caylee. Cindy knew Casey was at least a sociopath, psychopathic liar, thief, and much more. A child of any age should not be exposed to this type of person. Cindy is a huge liar herself and she knows it. I saw the first bond hearing live on TV. I recall Cindy (on the witness stand) saying she thought Jesse Grund was the father of Caylee; then, a few weeks later the Anthony family was telling the media the father was deceased. The “deceased father” story was what Casey had them believe. Sorry, but this family does not really know who the father is. You can tell from the jail calls etc. that Casey can become angry with her family in seconds. This is only one of the ways Casey got her way and ran their lives. By letting her do this and get away with it……it all led to tragic ending.

- hatcat

Posted 01/05/09 08:18 AM

I FIND ALL OF THIS SO SAD. I JUST BECAME A DOTING GRANDMOTHER IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. I LOVE THIS LITTLE ONE WITH ALL OF MY HEART. AS I SIT AND HEAR THE ANTHONY’S SAY THE VERY SAME THING ABOUT LITTLE CAYLEE. HOW COULD THEY WHEN ALL ALONG EVIDENCE SEEMS TO CLAIM THEY KNEW THE WHOLE STORY THE ENTIRE TIME. PLEASE DEAR LORD LET LITTLE CAYLEE REST IN PEACE AND THE COLD BLOODED KILLERS THAT SHE SO LOVED, PAY THE PRICE BY NEV ER SEEING DAY LIGHT OUT SIDE OF JAIL BARS AGAIN……

- Anonymous

Posted 01/09/09 05:21 PM

Aloha! ctr

- Gundososl

Posted 09/28/09 12:28 AM

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