COMMENTARY | Casey Anthony walked free today. The Florida woman was acquitted of murder in her 2-year-old daughter Caylee's 2008 death. She was released with about $500 in cash and under heavy security. Guilty or innocent, who is paying for that extra security to keep her safe?
I think we knew who's footing the bill. Accompanying Casey's release, were armed guards dressed in bulletproof vests wielding assault rifles, police escorts on horseback, barricades and a ride out of town in a cushy SUV. Anthony has lied about having a job. She hasn't even got enough to pay one month's rent. If the interview, book and movie deals go through, she'll be a wealthy woman.
In the meantime, taxpayers are shouldering the cost of this high-profile trial and will likely continue to, even if she gets her media contracts. Presumably, we'll pay the bulk of the cost for her appeals, too. Casey is appealing the four slap-on-the-wrist misdemeanor charges of lying to police, too. If she wins, Anthony could very well sue the state of Florida for damages.
It's interesting that Casey's safety and security were of so high a priority. Orlando laid on a parade for Anthony's release, complete with cavalry and 21-gun salute. That's a lot of expensive security, given that no known threats were received at the jail, according to Allen Moore, Orange County Jail spokesperson. Moore also said that efforts were made not to give Anthony special treatment. Do they then give every inmate an armed escort, courtesy of the state, upon release?
The threats consisted mainly of "I hate Casey Anthony" Facebook pages. Associated Press writers Matt Sedensky and Mike Schneider called the social networking messages "vitriol." Vitriol-throwing is a voguish, melodramatic buzzword used to describe Internet chat fights. It's extreme and reactionary, too.
Many were angry, arguably with justification, that Anthony was found not guilty. Some made poisonous comments. Most expressed frustration that there would be no justice for Caylee. If that's what AP calls vitriol, and what Orange County considers a threat, I guess I'll need that tinfoil hat after all.
Only about 100 protestors gathered around midnight Saturday to witness Anthony's release. All they did was to wave a few signs and stand in the rain. Maybe some comments were made. Facing semi-automatic rifles, I doubt protestors did much more than stand there and get wet. Last time I checked the right to assembly and petition are guaranteed by our Constitution.
Westboro Baptist Church terrorizes innocent people at funerals every day. They consistently shout vulgarities and slander people. At one point, WBC issued a diatribe calling Arizona shooter Jared Loughner a hero and nine-year-old shooting victim Christina Greene, evil. Yet WBC is completely free, under the constitution, to chant, rant and harass. If anyone is guilty of verbal vitriol-throwing, it's WBC, and they are sanctioned by the Supreme Court. I can't see the threat posed by a few dissenters who believe that Anthony was unfairly acquitted.
Anthony is being advised to hole up in a safe place for awhile. I hope none of the protestors is foolish enough to make an attempt on her life. You can't fight fire with fire and it would only end up hurting families. Not that money is what matters; it's justice for Caylee. But that ship has unfortunately left the harbor and won't be back. For all this pain and suffering, taxpayers continue to pick up the tab.
Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes from 22 years parenting four children and 25 years teaching.
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