George Anthony, Caylee Anthony's grandfather and Casey's father, is in custody today after being found early this morning in the midst of a suicide attempt. He was reported missing by his family last night, and was reportedly sending them text messages indicating his intention to end his own life. Police found the still-alive George Anthony, suicide note included, at a Daytona Beach motel. It's unclear whether he got as far as physically harming himself. A George Anthony suicide, I think, would have added such a tragic element to the trial as to make it an early contender for "Trial of the Century." But the attempt is bad enough!
You may remember that it was only the night before Caylee Anthony's remains were found a quarter mile from George's home that he and his wife Cindy appeared on Larry King Live, still holding out hope for Caylee's safety and his daughter Casey's innocence.
You may be wondering if any crime as been blamed on George Anthony. Suicide attempts are enough to allow Florida, under its Mental Health Act of 1971, to detain a person involuntarily until they complete a psychiatric evaluation.
My question to you is, do you agree with this law? Philosophically, do you agree that a government has the right to detain someone if the person is deemed a danger to himself? How far do you take the notion of a right to personal freedom over ones own body?
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Comments: 37
On another note, I do not agree with the Baker law- I'm Canadian & we have much the same here. We can be held for 72 hrs. It's wrong- we will find a way if we really want to do it.
I do agree with the Baker Act. My husband works for the Sheriff's Office and he sees so much craziness. Sometimes people should be held so that they can get the proper help they need. People who are depressed, suicidal, or just crazy can be a danger not only to themselves but others as well. It's only 48 hours and it allows people to be given an evaluation to determine the state of mind they are in.
George did not expect to go through with the suiside at all or he would not have texted anyone. He subconsiously (probabaly) wanted to be stopped. A person who truly wants to die will just do it.
I agree with the law.
This poor man has to endure the murder of his grandchild, at the hands of his own daughter. How sad and tragic is that?
He needs our prayers.
This is true. This makes me wonder if he isn't in some way connected to the murder.
Yes, very much so.
All I know is just ONCE I'd like to be able to get 700 page views on one article!
Good article.
He not only lost his granddaughter but a daughter and maybe a wife when all is said and done.
I feel for him.
On the question: "Philosophically, do you agree that a government has the right to detain someone if the person is deemed a danger to himself?"
Yes, I say. Remember one could be beginning stage Alzheimer's, not diagnosed yet.
I think I had the feeling Mr. Anthony knew from the beginning something wasn't right. You never saw him, here on TV, or he didn't say much. The whole thing is awful, and this family needs prayers if anything.
Sorry to be so negative on this, but it's been going on here since July.
As for the people who wish he had succeeded, they are guilty of the worst kind of malice in their thoughts and in their hearts. What a horrible way to live. It seems that they are in need of charity, I pray they develope some.
Come on people, Caylee's mother was using ether to put her daughter to sleep so she could go out partying and something went wrong. Why else did the police find ether there.
How would you react if you had so little privacy you could not walk out your door without a microphone and camera stuck in your face? Or verbal, vile abuse hurled your way while your heart was breaking into?
How do you know for sure the mother is guilty?
We don't know. We feed off the news media's frenzy and thirst for thier sensationalism.
I recall once when a mother was accused of killing her child.........Jon Benet Ramsey
This lady died still accused by vicious people unwilling to believe someone could have crept into their home at night without their knowledge. Do you recall the kidnap of a young girl from her bedroom in California as she and other young girls were alone?
We don't know until all the evidence is presented. I am going to reserve my judgment until the facts are proven in a court of law.
Please do not rush to judement based on a single group whose sole purpose is to fill thier air ways with news.
First having been a homicide cop in the past I am sure that training had
him approaching the situation in cop think. So he may well have come to
some conclusions he would not share with his wife, hoping against hope
that since he did not have all the facts that Caylee would come home
and all would be well again.
The other level that no doubt put trememndous pressure on him was due to
the traditional role of the male in society. A man must protect his family, wife,
children, and grandchild. He had to be experiencing tremendous sense of failure
on all levels. On top of the tragedy and horror you had neighbors and onlookers
accosting and making ugly accusations on a daily basis. To add insult to injury
you have media ratings hounds like Nancy Grace sensationalising every minor
detail and feeding the rumor mill frantically. I realize some people like Nancy
Grace but truth be told she is NO journalist. She and CNN are being sued by
the family of Melinda Duckett who killed herself just after a rather brutal interview
with NG. And we can not forget in the Elizabeth Smart case NG villified the man who died in prison who turned out to be innocent of the charges. But NG had convicted him on
her show and showed no mercy to the guys wife.
I have heard discussed all kinds of ugly rumors with no basis in fact that has got to be
terribly hurtful. I always wish some news reporter would ask those people who stood
outside the Anthony home with signs calling them Angel Killers how their vicious
accusations lend anything reasonable to this investigation. People seem to be
angry that they supported their daughter. What parent would be able to beleive
that their child could kill her own child. Besides do we stop loving our children
because they do something wrong. Love for a child is unconditional it is the
essence of parenting. I hope and pray the family finds the support they desperately
need and I hope NG with her grating, self righteous rants develops a heart.
each other to get George's suicide note. I sure hope that is not released.
What was an outpouring of raw emotion meant for the eyes of his family
to be made a public spectacle is terrible. In the same way that their jailhouse
conversations with their daughter were splashed all over TV and internet.
I decided long ago not to read that which I beleive has a right to privacy. In
that way I am not a party to the wreck & ruin.
The masses who want to villify this family should see in the transcripts of conversations
that all they were ever doing was to try and determine who had Caylee. They have
done nothing in regard to the criminal charges. Is sad that this mob mentality has
witch hunted these people to add to such terrible pain.
I keep hoping they catch a break.