Casey Anthony's Home State Prepared to Enforce...

Casey Anthony probably just can't wait to get out of the state of Florida, especially since her daughter's name is being kicked up into the headlines prominently this week. The state passed the legislature, and it is now on its way to the governor's desk where it will either be signed into law or notÂ—which is unlikely since the governor hasn't expressed any lack of support for the proposed law.

Since "Caylee's Law" passed unanimously, it's likely that Governor Rick Scott will sign it into action, which will make it a third degree felony to interfere with a missing child case by reporting false information. Some may feel that this law is done as an overreaction to the acquittal of Casey Anthony regarding the murder of her daughter in 2008, but it is also a helpful measure. There is no doubt that Anthony lied to detectives about her daughter's whereabouts and what happened to herÂ—as she was even convicted of lying during her trial. Had this law been in effect before her trial, Casey Anthony would be serving up to 20 years in prison and paying one hefty fine.

Chelsea Hoffman is a prolific crime writer and fiction author with several works published. Her writing has been recognized by such entities as NBC Dateline and several others. Contact her directly by visiting ChelseaHoffman.Com.Or follower her on Twitter @TheRealChelseaH

Comments: 18

Heather - child of God, C. Mar 9, 2012, 12:44am UTC

I think it's a good law. People will think twice maybe before they try to do what Casey did.

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Jeff G. Mar 9, 2012, 1:13am UTC

Casey Anthony wouldn't hezitate to do this again. I guarantee it.

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Scott Flicker Mar 9, 2012, 2:18am UTC

More laws to be abused. 20 years seems excessive for lying.

Amanda Ludden Mar 9, 2012, 10:52am UTC

when the lies send the detectives and law inforcement on wild goose chases that the taxpayers are paying for and hinder the investigation, than 20 years seems to be just enough.

Heather - child of God, C. Mar 9, 2012, 12:15pm UTC

I agree Amanda. It should be a parents instinct to tell the truth and aid the police in finding the child. When one considers how much time money and effort was taken looking for a Caylee and then finding out Casey knew she "drowned" as per her attorneys statements in court... it makes one sick. These efforts could have been made for someone else who had gone missing, for real.

I think it's not 20 years for lying... it's 20 years for lying in regard to the disappearance and welfare of a child. You can't just not call 911 to help you child, then hide the body then lie to cover it up.... and walk away. Whether a child dies in an accident ... a parent has a responsibility to call 911 and get help. When they don't, it is hard to believe it wasn't covered up to hide a murder.

Amanda Ludden Mar 9, 2012, 4:12pm UTC

agreed. Im not sure what her thinking process was while she wrapped her child's body up in duct tape in a trash bag, but it seemed to me that she was aware enough to press on a heart sticker to Caylees mouth over the duct tape, she knew exactly what she was doing and to not have any remorse of it, to not even apologize to her daughter, to not even make a public statement saying she should have reported to the police right away doesnt show a very sane Casey Anthony, at the very least she needs to be locked up in a ward, not free to do what she pleases, but repaying EVERY cent she wasted on a full on force effort to find HER child.

Scott Flicker Mar 9, 2012, 9:06pm UTC

We already have laws that punish for lying to police and sending them on a wild goose chase. This is what she was convicted of but it ended up being time served. Why do we need more laws that punish for special cases that existing laws already cover. Laws that come out of special cases usually don't help much in my opinion. Take the Megan's law sure it is well intentioned but studys have soon it really doesn't help reduce sexual offenses. In the Casey Anthony case I would like to see some law cover hiding/burying a body since existing laws don't seem to cover this other tot mom would still be in prison.

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Ashley {CLOSETSAMPLES.COM} Mar 9, 2012, 8:07am UTC

I'm glad someone is doing something about this..

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Craig M. Mar 9, 2012, 11:00am UTC

Didn't her father (a former cop) also mislead investigators? I mean both her parents knew that child was gone for months, I would have liked to see the prosecutors go after one of them.

Heather - child of God, C. Mar 9, 2012, 12:08pm UTC

Her mother was the one who contacted police. Casey lied to them for 30 days after disappearing. Even her brother was out looking for her... when Casey would not bring Caylee to see them, her mother called the police. Casey and Caylee lived with her parents so they were very upset she disappeared. They knew something was wrong when the car, owned by Cindy, the mother had been abandoned and towed and they were contacted to go get the car. The father when he and the tow truck driver opened the trunk was worried he would find Casey and Caylee in the trunk.... so no, her parents were worried and looking for them.

Heather - child of God, C. Mar 9, 2012, 12:09pm UTC

Casey was allowed to use that car, a Pontiac Sunbird.

Craig M. Mar 9, 2012, 12:56pm UTC

I'm not saying her parents weren't genuinely emotional about their granddaughters death or their daughters possible imprisonment but I do find it exceptionally odd for family members to be so oblivious. Perhaps they're not faking idiocy or maybe they are just a family of sociopaths, either way unless we can read their minds we have no way of knowing whether they lied or not.

Amanda Ludden Mar 9, 2012, 8:21pm UTC

Yea thats a tad rediculous, especially since they were living at her parents house.

Craig M. Mar 10, 2012, 12:39am UTC

I think it's a natural instinct for the parents to want to protect their child from prosecution even if they knew she was guilty of the crime, the proposed law in the story would make penalties a lot stiffer for misleading investigators which seems to be the case here. I think Casey's mother just caved emotionally even though she tried to keep it silent and as I mentioned earlier her dad was a career cop so if he didn't suspect her that speaks very poorly of the intelligence of Florida police; but then if you want to cover up a crime... there's nothing better than having a cop to guide you.

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Sue W. Mar 9, 2012, 5:16pm UTC

This is something that should have been done while Casey was on trial . Maybe there could have been a way for them to charge her in a different way. Sure they say it was circumstantial evidence that could not convict her, but we all know the truth. I don't even know how this woman can look at herself in the mirror each and every day. That little girl, poor little girl. If she didnt want to be a parent, I am sure there would have been someone out there whom would have been happy to have Caley in their home. Why couldn't she have just admitted that to herself one day earlier. We will never know!!

Craig M. Mar 10, 2012, 1:10am UTC

Double jeopardy prohibits anyone from being tried twice for the same crime, there was a great movie called "Double Jeopardy" with Ashley Judd that depicts a woman acquitted of murdering her husband (synopsis would be a spoiler). So Casey is free forever, if you want someone to be mad at it should be the Florida police for pulling a case basically out of their asses.

Again it bears mentioning that her father was a former police officer so maybe; just perhaps... they brought the weakest case to ensure her freedom. The brotherhood of policemen and women is almost religious in nature, I wouldn't be too terribly surprised to hear the father called in some favors. Corruption runs deep in Florida...

Scott Flicker Mar 10, 2012, 8:01am UTC

Just remember the Rodney King case. The police where tired and found innocent in CA courts. But then tried for in federal courts and found guilty. Not sure if there would be any federal case against Casey or not.

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Casey Anthony's Home State Prepared to Enforce 'Caylee's Law'

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