What’s Next For Casey Anthony: Legal Expenses, Defamation Suits and Interviews

As the televised trial of Casey Anthony drew to a close, 5.2 million tuned in on cable news channel HLN for the biggest total audience in its history. The 25-year-old famously labeled “tot mom” by Nancy Grace was found not guilty of murdering her two-year-old daughter Caylee, whose remains were found in woods near her Florida home. Anthony was found guilty of four counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer and not guilty of aggravated child abuse or aggravated manslaughter of a child. With credit for time served awaiting trial and good behavior while in jail, she spent less than two weeks more behind bars after her sentencing and was released on July 17.

Now, in the aftermath of a trial that gripped that nation, Americans are trying to move forward. Legislation referred to as “Caylee’s Law” is being drafted to tighten requirements on missing person reports. The law would make it a felony offense for the parent or legal guardian not to notify authorities within 24 hours of a child’s death. Almost two dozen states are considering similar legislation in response to the Anthony case. Anthony’s mother, Cindy, called the police to report her granddaughter missing a month after she vanished.

Legal proceedings are far from over for Anthony: her defense team has billed the state $147,018 so far, for a range of services including expert witnesses, mental-health evaluations and court-reporting services. Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, the woman who shares the name of the made-up nanny Anthony originally said kidnapped her child, is suing Anthony for defamation. Gonzalez will have to wait several months to question Anthony, since the defamation deposition was rescheduled for October.

Although Florida taxpayers will receive the bill for Anthony’s legal expenses, some television stations are clamoring to pay her handsomely. Television producer Al Taylor says he scored the first television interview with Anthony for $1 million after meeting her in a Palm Springs hotel. Taylor isn’t the only person to say he’s arranging Anthony’s first interview since her acquittal. Ohio-based Schalmo Productions has offered Anthony $5 million, a spokesman told Orlando’s Fox 35. Regardless of what she chooses, the national spotlight on Anthony seems far from over.

No related posts.