Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony (16 page)

One of the infamous “party pictures” taken during the nights when Casey was out at the club Fusian following Caylee’s disappearance. As a prosecutor, as a parent, as a person, it just didn’t make sense to me that any mother could act the way Casey did after the accidental death of her child.

During the thirty-one days that Caylee was missing, Casey got a tattoo that read “
Bella Vita
,” or “beautiful life” in Italian, which the sheriff’s office documented upon court order.
Courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office

A photo of Casey taken by investigators after their interview, but before her arrest. They told her they were going to use it on a missing persons poster. Both before and after her arrest, there was little in her attitude that suggested she was grieving for her daughter.
Courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office

This overhead map of the Universal Studios office complex, which we introduced as evidence during the trial, shows the route that she took investigators on once she was through the security gate. It was a bizarre episode that left the police mystified, but perhaps the strangest thing was how much confidence she had in the lie—up until the very end.
Courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office

The hallway at Universal Studios where Casey finally turned around and admitted she didn’t work there. This idea of her reaching the end of the hall became hugely symbolic for our prosecution team. Whenever we saw Casey run out of room on one lie and quickly latch on to a new one, we’d say, “She reached the end of the hall.”
Courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office

The room at Universal where Detective Melich, Detective Appie Wells, and Sergeant Allen questioned Casey. After catching her in the Universal Studios lie, they thought they’d be able to get her to admit to the other lies that she told them. Unfortunately for everyone, Casey would not fold so easily.
Courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office

The Anthony home on Hopespring Drive. When everything began, their house was prettier than any other on the block, with meticulous landscaping and a front yard with nary a weed. It wasn’t long before their pristine front lawn was taken over by news trucks and angry protesters, many of whom grew increasingly irate as the truth about Casey’s deceptions came out.
Courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office

The playhouse that George Anthony assembled for Caylee. Once the defense made it clear that they planned on implicating him, this playhouse became an important symbol for our team. He’d built this house for his granddaughter, right down to the little mailbox in front of it.
Courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office

A view of the Anthony patio with the bamboo on the right for which Casey claimed she needed a shovel. In the background is the Anthony’s pool with the ladder clipped over the side.
Courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office

Inside the Anthonys’ living room, looking toward Caylee’s bedroom.
Courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office