Casey Anthony Turns Away Jailhouse Visit By Mom
More than 30,000 people have "liked" the "I Hate Casey Anthony" Facebook page.
July 8, 2011— -- Casey Anthony rejected a jailhouse visit from her mother today in what appears to have been the first step by Anthony's parents to speak to her since she was acquitted of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.
Despite being found not guilty of murder, Casey Anthony must spend another nine days in jail because she was found guilty of lying to law enforcement officials.
Her mother, Cindy Anthony, tried to visit her daughter at the Orange County jail, but was turned away by Casey Anthony, according to sources familiar with the visit. Cindy Anthony went to jail for the visit without her husband, George Anthony.
It was the latest sign of how badly estranged Casey Anthony is from her parents. Cindy Anthony gave tearful testimony about the disappearance of her granddaughter Caylee during the murder trial after being called as a prosecution witness.
Her most damning comment was made in a 911 call that her granddaughter was missing and the car trunk smelled like someone had died there. Cindy Anthony later tried to retract that statement.
Cindy Anthony also tried to take responsibility during the trial for numerous searches on the family computer for chloroform. Prosecutors claimed Casey Anthony killed Caylee with a combination of chloroform and duct tape over her nose and mouth. Prosecutors brought in additional witnesses who testified that Cindy Anthony was at work, not at home, when the chloroform searches were made.
The most telling moment of the animosity between Casey Anthony and her parents came when Cindy Anthony left the witness stand and mouthed the words "I love you" to her daughter. Casey Anthony rolled her eyes and looked away.
Family tensions were escalated by the fact that a central part of Casey Anthony's defense was that Caylee actually drowned in the family pool and her father, George, helped dispose of the body. She lied about the death, her lawyer claimed, because she had been "trained to lie" through years of sexual abuse by her father. George Anthony has denied those accusations.
George and Cindy Anthony have also received death threats since the trial ended, forcing them to leave their home, police said.
Casey Anthony is scheduled to be released from jail on Sunday, July 17 amid concerns about her safety. Her not guilty verdict has sparked outrage across the country and outside the Orlando, Fla., courtroom where she was tried.
Jose Baez, Anthony's lead defense attorney, told ABC News' Barbara Walters that he fears for his client's safety upon release, and indicated that she will be shielded with security when she makes her big exit.
"I'm afraid for her. We're in the process of trying to take that next step for her and assist her in that regard," Baez said.
Corrections officials in Orlando have said that the "intense, emotional interest" in Anthony's case means they'll take special measures to make sure she's safe.
Security has been boosted at the Orlando County courthouse as death threats have been leveled against not only Anthony but the judge and jurors.
Casey Anthony: From Arrest to Sentencing
But most of the venom has been aimed at Casey Anthony. More than 30,000 people "liked" the "I hate Casey Anthony" page on Facebook as of early today. The page included comments wishing her the same fate that befell Caylee.
Angry protesters outside the courthouse carried signs that read, "Dancing on Caylee's grave," "Why Does Casey Get to Have a Life?" and "Another O.J." One man outside the courthouse yelled he would "kill Casey" if he had the chance.
