NOT GUILTY: What's Next?

By now the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial is old news. The liquid bubbly from the defense attorney's rather callous celebration in public is dry; the lead prosecutor is already focused on retirement plans; and it has to be going through Nancy Grace's mind that she is reaching the point where she needs to reduce her amount of coverage in this 3-year-old saga.

I think the next few months will be telling for both the so-called Tot Mom and Nancy Grace.

If Casey gets off without having to serve much time, she could potentially go after Grace and HLN for in some sort of fashion, especially if she is the continued focus of these reports. I say Nancy Grace because originally Nancy broke the story. She held up that spotlight and brought national attention to this case. Who could ever forget her wide assortment of panelists reviewing and picking apart every detail of 30 seconds of looped footage.

Casey could reasonably find an attorney who could take on this case. While it's not likely to happen, that doesn't mean that it's unimaginable, considering everything that we've seen in this case.

Casey could claim that Grace made this personal and had a vendetta against her. It's interesting to note that multiple outlets were carrying stories soley based on Grace's reaction. She totally has become entrenched in this case.

But if such a case were to come up, it could potentially cause news stations to think twice about their coverage and become a little more conservative in their speech.

In the meantime, there is a little girl that deserves justice. Sadly, egos, ratings, and lies are preventing her from getting that.

Let's remember the real victim in Anthony trial

So by now, everyone in America should know who this woman is. (If you're a Nancy Grace fan then you probably call her Tot Mom).

But just so we're all on one page, this is Casey Anthony - the woman who is on trial right now for the death of her daughter, Caylee.

Initially, I avoided this case. I just didn't feel as if this story was something that should be plastered over national news.

But after my mother came up for a visit last month, she watched it nonstop, and it wasn't before long that I became hooked intrigued, too.

This case is filled with so many twists and turns. Lies, betrayals, alleged molestations, alleged incest, lies, mistresses with aliases, brawls outside the courthouse, and lest we forget ... lies.

I got caught up in all the hooplah. Then earlier this week I saw the most honest thing throughout this entire trial and that was the testimony of George Anthony (click here to see testimony). It was riveting, and you could see the pain etched across his face.

This was a man who has gone through hell in the last few years, from the disappearance and eventual discovery of his granddaughter, to the insanity surrounding this trial.

His testimony reminded me and probably many of you about the one true victim here that is almost overlooked - an afterthought to the drama and theatrics of this trial. That's little Caylee.

As I was writing this, I flashed through images of Caylee, a little girl I never met. The raw emotion swept through me and the brutal reality behind all these theatrics and headlines came into full fruition for me.

This little one will never get a chance to get her first kiss from a boy; she'll never get the chance to learn how to ride a bike; or go to the prom. She won't get the chance to have sleepovers, or try for her license.

As a parent who has lost a child, I can tell you that I believe I can somewhat relate to George Anthony after seeing his testimony. It hurts when you lose a child. Your mind is often filled with the question, I wonder what my child would be doing now if he/she were still alive? How would he/she look? The questions tend to run on forever, ending with a long stream of tears.

I would never say that I understand his pain completely, because I haven't walked in this man's shoes. I haven't lived the pain he and his family have lived in the last few years.

This case is about one person - little Caylee and she will be missed. You're an angel now, little Caylee - far removed from the foolishness of this trial and this world.

Troubled family member letter

I admit that I'm not a counselor and everything I say here is my opinion and not the gospel, but this I feel as if some people reading this might need to communicate something to a troubled loved one and might not have the exact words.


Dear _______________

I'll get right to the point, the family is worried about you. Your behavior over the last few months has us deeply concerned.

After seeing you on this path - well it looks like you're headed toward a downward spiral. We want you to get help and turn your life around, but we can't do that for you. And to continue to support you - well we would be enabling you.

So as much as it hurts, we have to take a step back. We don't know why you're making some of the decisions that you're making. We don't know what it is that you're exactly going through, but we do know that its time to step back.

Please know that we'll always love you, but we can't continue on this path.