Moms Talk: The Casey Anthony Verdict

The verdict is in.

Like millions of other Americans, my mouth hung open with shock today—Tuesday, July 5—as the jury's decision of not guilty in the Casey Anthony trial permeated my television screen.

Anthony was found not guilty this afternoon of murdering her daughter, 2-year-old Caylee Anthony. Anthony was also found not guilty in the aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse of Caylee. 

She was found guilty, however, of multiple counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer. 

I've been glued to the television throughout the entire trial. The past few weeks of this case have been nothing but horrifying, with testimony from both sides proving both disturbing and appalling.

But today, after the trial concluded Anthony was not responsible for her daughter's death, I want to know how the verdict is settling with Collingswood Patch readers—especially mothers.

As a mother of a 2-and-a-half-year-old—Caylee's age, at the time of her death—I feel stunned and shocked by the jury's not guilty ruling.

So many believed this would be an open-and-shut case, concluding with a guilty verdict. What went wrong?

This is where I am reaching out to our Patch readers.

• What was your reaction to today's verdict?

• Do you believe justice was served in the Casey Anthony trial?

• What do you think will happen now? Do you believe Caylee's murderer could still be walking free? What should Casey Anthony do with her life, post-trial?

• On this afternoon's segment of the Nancy Grace show, Grace explained that some states have developed their own versions of Son of Sam Laws, which prohibit a defendant from making money off of their respective trials. In Anthony's case, a not guilty ruling gives her the freedom to profit off the case by writing a book, selling movie rights, among other options. Do you think Anthony is the type to bank on such a tragic situation?

• Do you believe they will ever find the killer of Caylee Anthony, or are you convinced otherwise?

• The jury chose not t appear for questioning after the verdict was read. If given the opportunity to ask the jury one question, what would your question be?

Share your thoughts by commenting on this post, in the box below.