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Casey Anthony Jurors' Names Made Public
Because of outrage over the not guilty verdict in Casey Anthony's murder trial in July, Judge Belvin Perry feared for jurors' safety and delayed releasing their names until today.
Early Tuesday morning, the Pinellas County Clerk's Office released the names of the jurors in one of the country's most highly-publicized cases, the Casey Anthony murder trial. The case was so well known that jurors had to be picked in Pinellas County, more than 100 miles away from the trial in Orlando.
In a bombshell verdict July 5, the Pinellas County jury acquitted Anthony in the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. The six-week trial was televised and followed by people across the country, many of whom were angered when the verdict was announced.
Fearing for the jurors' safety, Orange-Osceola County Judge Belvin Perry ordered a three-month cooling-off period before allowing the courts to release the jurors' names, which are usually public record in Florida. In his order, Perry said some jurors had received threats after the verdict was announced. NBC News reported that one juror was so fearful, she quit her job and moved out of state. Here in Pinellas County, one restaurant put a sign on its window saying, "Pinellas County Jurors NOT Welcome!!!"
The three-month cooling-off period ended today, and Judge Perry's strategy appears to have worked.
Sgt. Tom Nestor of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office told Palm Harbor Patch that the jurors have not contacted the sheriff's office with concerns about their safety. "None of the jurors that we're aware of have received any threats at all," he said. Nestor says that if jurors were threatened, it most likely happened in Orlando.
Until today, we've had descriptions of the jurors but have not known their names. Palm Harbor Patch has received the list of jurors from the Pinellas County Clerk's Office, and we're in the process of contacting the jury members to see if they would like to tell their stories. Of course, we'll share their stories with you.
One juror has already spoken to the media anonymously, and three others have released their names, including Palm Harbor's Dean Eckstadt, who served as an alternate juror. "We are upset that people think we're incompetent," Eckstadt said on the Today show. "We made the decision on the law. You can't have emotion in the situation, and I think that came down to the final decision."
Alternate juror Russell Huekler of St. Petersburg was the first to speak about the case, telling ABC he thought the Anthony family was dysfunctional. He said if Caylee's death was a horrific accident, they didn't know how to deal with it and chose to hide it for some reason.
Juror No. 3, Jennifer Ford, a nursing student at St. Petersburg College, also spoke to the media about her experience. "I'm not convinced that she didn't do it, but I also couldn't exclude the possibility that it was an accident," she said.
Juror No. 2 spoke to the St. Petersburg Times anonymously, saying he wanted to keep his family safe from scrutiny. The juror is a 46-year-old married father of two and is one of two black people on the jury. He said the verdict was not an easy decision to make and he wished the jury had more evidence to put Anthony away, but the evidence wasn't there.
Anthony was convicted of four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to law enforcement and was released from the Orange County Jail on July 17 with credit for time she had already served. The Pinellas County jury found Anthony not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter or aggravated child abuse.
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Anne Onomous
8:12 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
It's a hypocritical world we live in. There's HIPAA type laws all over the place - you might have a close relative in the hospital you'd like to get information on and you can't - and yet you have a case like this where complete strangers have threatened the lives of anyone remotely associated with the trial - and they release the names of the jurors? I mean WTF! (and I don't mean "Well, That's Fantastic"!) ..... that's just plain nuts.
vrozas
11:30 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Well....the trials in most instances are open to the public. Therefore when you serve on a jury you will be seen and in many cases your name will come out in the end.
With the violence in the world it could be frightening and that moves along into the category of witnesses. More than one witness has been killed and more than one has been put in the witness protection plan. Personally I thought part of the jurors may have been intimidated by some of the "stronger jury members" but bottom line is the jury members are responsible for the outcome of the verdict and the public can have an opinion, Namaste
Laguna Beach Lady
12:07 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Anne Onomous ~ I agree with Vrozas. This Jury trial was "open to the public" and the public has a right to know who the Jurors are. Jury membes are responsible for the outcome of the verdict and the public has a right to our opinion. I don't condone anyone harming or threatening a Juror. But I also don't support withholding public information from the public.
aHazMatHoney
10:13 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
This is just WRONG. The jurors did their duty, albeit poorly, and now the System has "done" them. Casey Anthony was saved from the death penalty and freed from any responsibility for her daughter's death; yet, these jurors have now been left to fend for themselves, in the face of death threats, from people who now know where they live and work. Yep! Sign me up!
christine
7:44 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Thats the pleasure of our wonderful Floridian Court System.....its so screwed up it may never be able to be fixed. This State is definitely leaned towards criminals so no matter what you do as a Jury it just may not be good enough or right or whatever....and yes as a juror you ARE a public servant and YES the names should have been public all along.....no exceptions Judge Perry was very nice to do this for them.....think about it..........
hughb
10:55 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The jurors did their job. PERIOD. Leave them alone. The prosecution had no evidence. Case closed. Move on.
Barry Black
10:56 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The HIPAA comment is especially interesting.
Craig
11:02 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Karma
Dawn
4:45 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
thats worth repeating........Karma!!!!!
Deborah Council
11:18 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Why shouldn't their names be made public. She's nobody special and trials are a matter of public records once they're over so the names should be published. When you're selected for a jury trial, you take your chances and when the outcome is unfavorable,,you just have to deal with whatever comes your way. DEAL WITH IT!!! and keep it moving. Things will die down eventually.
vrozas
11:33 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Exactly and if you don't want to be on a jury it is not difficult to get out. One time I was called for an arson case. During questioning I was asked and what does your husband do..fireman uh let go. In another high profile case for a public official that I was called for I was asked. Have you heard anything on the news? answer yes, have you formed an opinion...I answered do you mean as to wether I think he did it or not. Yes...Oh no not exactly I "think" he did much more. Namaste
tamarya
1:53 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
This is to vrozas, I just tell them I am mentally screwed up in a more formal way. Works everytime. Here in PA they do a little more research to see though if you are attempting to weasel your way out or not. If you do not serve on the panel and just not show up, you get arrested. So to me if they want to subject people to violence because the public is not satisfied with the outcome, then they should hire and pay people to be jurors, not select randomly when the jurors do not want to be there to begin with. Just still do not understand our country, there was so much love when amanda knox was found not guilty when the trail and statements show her more guilty than not. But because casey murdered her own offspring that it was her decision to give the child life or not, she is a monster. Guess the outrage goes on the age of victims and thats all, even though more adults are subjected to more horrifying crimes than her daughter was.
tamarya
1:55 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
And you should take that own advice with the whole trial. She was found not guilty, give it a rest.
JM
11:21 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Seriously that is bull, if someone else was convicted on such little evidence there would be a huge uproar, but hey why not give her a chance for a new trial that would be dandy more money wasted. The state was not prepared for the trial and they failed not the jurors.I would hate to let so many people go to jail based on such little evidence. I know she is guilty but when you have nothing but theories, you have nothing to stand on. Those of you who are being a bit ridiculous, I would hate to ever be arrested and put on trial who knows maybe they will convicted you on the same amount of evidence they had on her.Wouldn't that be nice.
vrozas
11:35 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Seems like you can get away with murder bottom line, some can some can't ...roll the dice if you want to kill.
richard blume
11:46 am on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
tattoo,partying,smell of death in trunk,1000 lies, no babysitter, sick family especially cindy, non cooperation with police, dishonest lawyer, only person with a motive, blaming so many other people with the murder accidental or not. Years and years of lies and stealing and getting away with it. A very cold dishonest person. Finally i agree jurors should not put anyone in prison if they are innocent but they should seek every possible piece of evidence if you are seeking the verdict. unforunately this jury failed to get justice and it set our court system back just as much as convicting a innocent person and finding years later that he or she is innocent, If casey anthony tomorow admitted that she did kill her baby she would still be free. that is not justice....
tomB
12:26 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I think the jurors thought too much. They seemed to have tried to build a better mouse trap, when all they had to do is use some common sense. No one with a brain thinks she is not guilty. No one without an agenda thinks she's innocent. But we don't have a justice system in this country. We only have a legal system. And it's terribly broken. How about professional jurors?
Joe Ryan
12:32 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The jurors did not use common sense in this case. They relied on their personal experience of watching too much TV. One hour shows where a crime is comitted,investigated and arrest made is not reality. They put TOO MUCH into DNA and confessions. I couldn't believe the things the alternate juror said in his many interviews. Not only did he not have hair under his cap, there was something else mnissing as well. The jurors in this case are the only ones in the world that afelt Anthony was innocent.
Dave
12:42 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Perry, who paid you off for this information and how much???? We all know that our country has gone to hell in a handbag and all you're doing is making it worse. By naming the jour's all you're doing is giving the wackos ammunition to create more crime. I'd love to introduce my foot to your butt..
J.J.
12:56 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Seems to me, I'd take my chances skipping out on jury service if you lose the right to privacy. These people did their job. Prosecuter didn't. Leave them alone
richard blume
1:02 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
having said all that i always thought circumstancial evidence can convict . there was e nough circumstancial to convict easily it seemed. the only thing missing was a pic of casey putting her daughter in her trunk and then throwing her like trash in the woods, I bet if a person robbed a 7-11 store wearing a ski mask and two weeks later they are arrested for the crime because they have suddenly stuck it rich would that be enough to convict? in most cases they are found guilty. Maybe a liar like casey could even get away with robbing a 7-11 also.
Mike Briock
1:17 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The truth will never come out. But the jury wasn't the brightest when you can't connect duct tape around the mouth and nose of a skull. Or Chloroform which is used specifically to knock someone out, stating We just couldn't figure out what the choloform would be used for? Or the heavy dead body smell in Casey's car (which she refused access to). Or the fact that the body was found right down the block from the house. You don't have duct tape, chloroform, heavy dead body smell in Casey's car, or hid body if an accident occurs. The cop who ignored the original call of possible remains in that field 6 months before they were found should be tar and feathered. And the jury biggest failure y far is that they rushed through deliberations because one juror had to be on a cruise within 2 days and complained non-stop (and just made it), and another was a soccer mom complaining repeatedly that she had a tournament to get to. All those serious multiple charges they had to go over, discuss, debate, and decide, yet they spent less than 15 minutes deliberating each charge in a major capital murder case. So Dean Eckstadt can go on TV and complain about the public feeling the jury was incompetent... because they were. You don't rush through deliberations, spending only 10-15 minutes on each charge in a major capital murder case if you were competent. You cannot explain, discuss, debate, decide all those major charges that quick and claim you did your best! Claim it was the only conclusion!
christine
7:50 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Miek Thank you for putting it so eloquently. She ONLY got off, not because she was innocent but because there were so many screw ups and it seems she knew what to do as far as wiating for the body to decompose etc. The Jury was no prize maybe they really did not know what they were supposed to do......could they read english???
In life Karma will always get you, remember John Lennon's song---"Instant Karma's going get you...gonna get you right in the face..." ahhh words to live by..................
gail
2:34 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
disgraceful, no wonder people don't want to serve on juries.
shame on that judge but frankly he was an imbecile from day one
Tammi Starten
3:44 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Actually chloroform is a chemical commonly found in carpeting, which is why it was disgarded, they tested multiple cars in the same impound lot and found several of them got the same result. They "chloroform" internet search was traced back to a picture of one of Miss Anthony's friends myspace page who had a graphic which stated "trying to win her over? Use Chloroform,,"..every time Miss Anthony loaded her friends webpage it loaded that picture under the name "chloroform." and this was addressed in the trial and also caused the internet search to be disgarded as evidence. The amount of rotting garbage caused the "trunk" evidence to be contaminated and once again, caused the evidence to be disgarded..also in the trunk was rotted cheese from a pizza box, which contains some of the same fatty acids as decomposing human flesh and will cause a "hit" in testing, a technicality that also caused evidence to be disgarded. you can see where I'm going here, the Prosecution, in their rush, took the chance on faulty evidence and lost...it doesn't matter what anyone "thinks" and what anyones "opinion" is, it matters what the facts are, if the evidence is not there, and prosecution has already presented as muchfaulty, disgarded evidence as that team did, what choice doeas a jury have? Convict to appease the public and let her conviction be overturned on appeal later due to the amount of faulty evidence? Or just get it done and aquit her then and there?
Pru
5:19 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Were we watching the same trial? What cheese ......I think you are massaging the evidence presented at trial. My recollection was some empty food cartons with at best an assertion that there might have been some residue of processed Velveta cheese in its discarded carton. Absolutely nothing noted from the EMPTY pizza box. From the few jurors who have publicly spoken I have never heard one of them address the stench from the car or the entomological evidence. So, you asserting these jurors actually deliberated on the evidence from the trunk is just not substantiated. You cannot claim one way or another what evidence these particular jurors chose to embrace or reject. eg positive cadaver dog alert versus voc's present in some alledged organic matter. We have no idea how they reconciled the several witnesses lay and expert who claimed to have first hand knowledge of the stench of human decomp. We have no idea what they thought about the alledged hair with decomp root banding. We just dont know.
DONNA
9:41 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tammi must be related to Cindy Anthony........
Texas NDN
3:54 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
This is wrong. The jury had to go by what the prosecution presented which was nothing. No matter that they knew in their heart that CA was guilty, they are not allowed to go on their emotions. They have to use EVIDENCE. There was none.
Pru
4:21 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I have no idea what strange dynamic was at work with the Pinellas Jury and do feel they had more than enough evidence to hold Casey Anthony accountable for Caylee's death. Absolutley no evidence this child drowned but certainly damning proof that this child had duct tape placed over her lower face prior to decomposition and from the stinking trunk, that she was transported to those woods by her mother and no other. In addition I felt the jury were given more than enough evidence that Casey Anthony's eventual defense and accusations about her father had developed over time. The Nanny stories (plural) and those jailhouse tapes imo told their own very chillling story about this woman's psyche. Aggrevated manslaughter of a child imo was clearly established. That said I see no point in releasing these juror's names. The verdict cannot be changed and enough lives have been tainted by the lies and deeds of one Miss Casey Anthony. The poor baby did not receive justice but subjecting these 12 people to potential harrassment will not alter that sad fact. Ideally Casey Anthony will continue to be shunned by society and not be allowed to profit from her crime and noteriety.
Texas NDN
4:29 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
You're so right about that little angel not having justice. We can only hope the poor excuse for a mother has her karma nail her good.
Littleone
4:34 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I feel they should not have been made public because this will discourage anyone wanting to serve on a jury. I think many of the jury’s would have had a different decision , if they had been able to see all the evidence. Now that they have been able to see and read most of the damning evidence, I am sure their verdict would have been guilty. No use crying over this, in time CASEY ANTHONY will pay for the murder of her child.
Sheryl Peterson
5:37 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Mike Briock, very well said! I think the names of the jury should be released so we can all know who these stupid people really are. I'm ashamed to be living in Pinellas County amongst these people! Bluntly stating "there was not enough evidence" or "the prosecution didn't prove its case" is no excuse for not at least convicting on manslaughter! They ignored the evidence presented and had absolutely NO COMMON SENSE. If it is true that they were in a hurry to get out of there, that is unforgivable and I hope they're haunted for their selfishness for the rest of their lives.
christine
8:31 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Thank you Mike B and Sheryl P as you both said what a lot of us feel. Again thank you That poor little angel is in heaven now and hopefully very happy......
Billy Lee
5:43 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
That Jury, and their comments, makes me sick to death!..if anyone beleives what they say today, or any other day, is corrupted, and as sick as them, and they need to be invesigated as well. We have a sick child murderering animal walking our streets because of them, and as far as I am concerned, all of them that sat on that Jury deserves what they get!.. from "Whom Ever" gives it to them!.. I hope that Jury is made to suffer for the rest of their lives for delivering a not guilty verdict!!. I don't think Caylee will ever be able to rest, even if she is in Heaven because of that Jury!. Once again, I hope that Jury gets what they deserve!. I also hope that whoever is wanting to take revenge on that Jury or Casey Anthony, I hope they get to!.. I would love to hear that someone erased her, and that Jury from this Planet!. Lets all hope we can see it on Pay Per View!.
DONNA
9:45 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Well put Billy,there's someone out there with Casey's name on a bullet.
BShum3
6:23 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Odd how everyone's middle name is Incompetent .
Beth
6:35 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Hey, if she didn't do it, then who did? George?? If so, why has he not been investigated if what they say (Jose) , is true...re: the drowning in the pool. Nothing makes any since. I'm a Floridian who is infurianted with this Jury and their decision, and my tax dollars being wasted!! This was an "OJ" jury!!! They have to live with this decision for the rest of their lives. I often wonder what they think (if at all), when they read all of the articles that have been written about this horrible killer known as Casey
Anthony!!
Anne Onomous
7:31 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I'm not a lawyer, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Anne Onomous
7:42 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
One last comment - I personally think she "got away with murder" as they say...... BUT as one poster said in so many words, "the jurors will have to live with their decision the rest of their lives". I think the State blew their case and under the articles of law they just followed instructions on what they were presented....... garbage in, garbage out. I'm as sickened as the next person that child was killed and no one is being held accountable for it. I think Casey did it and the parents collectively created the monster known as Casey by letting that prima donna get away with years of BS. Every last one of them ought to be haunted for years. NOT being in the juror's room I have no idea what transpired BUT I would have thought if the judge himself thought it was an unjust verdict HE would did something himself - RIGHT?? So he's just as much to blame if we're blaming people. Bottom line: disclosing names (IMHO) serves no purpose!
richard blume
7:45 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
i too am not a lawyer thank god though i have studied this case for over three years. With court tv,the internet and HLN i carefully weighed everything . Having said this and consulting with Leonard Padilla I firmly confirm Casey Anthony should be in prison...
Jennifer
9:01 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I do not think the names should be made public, this case was so high profile and there are people who are unfortunately still upset that Casey was acquitted. I watched the entire trial from start to finish and on an emotional side I would say she is guilty, but the fact remains that the defense created enough confusion to create reasonable doubt and the jurors had to make their decision based on the law and the evidence provided which lead to her being acquitted. No one knows for sure what happened except God and Caylee. If Casey did intentionally murder her child, she will be held accountable in the biggest court room of all on judgement day. Until then, we have to accept the jury's decision, and let it go because she cannot be tried for again thanks to the prosecution overcharging her right out of the gate. Rest assured though for the people who want her to pay for a crime they feel she committed, she may be out of jail but she will never have a normal life ever again. She is hated by most everyone and the stigma will follow her the rest of her life. She will have trouble starting a new life, finding love, and really all of life's journeys she may not be behind bars but she has to live in seclusion and people always harrassing her. I don't think the jury should be harrassed for doing their civil duty
carol dugan
9:57 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Guess crime does pay. Worked for Casey all the way around.
1800dontevenask
12:26 am on Saturday, October 29, 2011
I know a good lawyer who can have your name changed legally within couple days and guess what; he is right down ulmerton Rd and Belcher.
Pam
3:05 pm on Monday, November 7, 2011
I can see not guilty for murder count but what about the MANSLAUGHTER charge?!?! These stupid jurors definitely had enough evidence by far to convict her on the manslaughter and child abuse charges!! This jury system is horribly broken! Casey did it and we all know it! And now shes walking free because of this stupid justice system!