Casey Anthony's Parents Disagree on How Caylee Died

They reveal separate theories to Investigation Discovery
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 12, 2017 1:48 PM CDT
Casey Anthony's Parents Disagree on How Caylee Died
George and Cindy Anthony in 2011.   (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

A jury in 2011 acquitted Casey Anthony of murdering her 2-year-old daughter after her defense attorney made the case for an accidental drowning. Her father, George Anthony, says that story is "a bunch of crap." It's one of several revelations he made in the final episode of Investigation Discovery's three-part documentary series on the case, which concluded Tuesday. Things to know about Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery:

  • Anthony suggested his daughter drugged Caylee Anthony on June 16, 2008, possibly with Xanax she got through friends. He also suggested it wasn't the first time Casey may have done this, noting Caylee often slept for up to 13 hours at a time, per USA Today. "I believe that Casey gave [Caylee] something," George Anthony said. "Caylee didn't wake up."
  • When asked what the street name of Xanax is, George replied, "Zanny." Some sites are reading into the remark.

  • His wife, Cindy, tells Investigation Discovery she believes Caylee's death was indeed an accidental drowning and that Casey simply panicked. She says she's since forgiven Casey and still speaks to her occasionally, reports the Orlando Sentinel. George, however, said he'll likely never speak to his daughter again, and adds, "Justice would be to have my daughter behind bars and have her suffer the way Caylee suffered."
  • How does the couple stay together with such diverging opinions? "I don't think I could find anybody else that would understand my day-to-day ups and downs and what we go through other than him," says Cindy, per USA Today.
  • Deadline suggests the series has been a big win for Investigation Discovery, the network owned by Discovery Communications. Sunday’s premiere pulled in 2.9 million live, same-day viewers, making it the network's biggest series debut.
  • The format in general is turning out to be a success. The Washington Post notes JonBenet: An American Murder Mystery took Investigation Discovery's top slot among its 2016 event series.
  • What do the critics think? Hal Boedeker was mostly favorable in the Sentinel, writing, "I’m usually no fan of re-enactments, but the program used them effectively, photographing stand-ins from a distance and never showing faces." There was a real "you are there" feeling to it.
(Casey Anthony has pointed the finger at her father.)

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