Originally Posted by ryeb:
I want to jump on the whole mental illness cases, I do believe that Yates lady was truly mentally handicap when she killed her children in the bath tub. I also think her husband at the time was just as guilty for his children's deaths due to his lack of intervention. I am not condoning her actions, however I do think her mental illness pushed her over the edge to kill her children.

Yates was truly mentally ill with delusions and schizophrenia. Yates had been hospitalized and was being treated for severe postpardum psychosis. People like Yates shouldn't be lumped in with the Susan Smiths, Scott Petersons, and Casey Anthonys of the world who "alledgely" killed their children b/c they were cramping their style. In that respect, you can't say a mental illness caused this b/c they were making conscience choices and calculations.

Originally Posted by jules1216:
if she didnt want to be a mother why didnt she give custody to her parents, the biological father or his parents....

I think there was an image to uphold and that she knew she could use little Caylee as a bargaining chip to get what she wanted from her parents. Not to mention, having a child makes you look mature and nuturing, so motherhood might have made her attractive to males wanting children.

Sociopaths are not capable of love. Putting a child up for adoption is a loving option so you can see why she wouldn't have chosen that option. There's a link to the profile of a sociopath.

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

Originally Posted by DixC Chix:
I saw an interview with a private investigator (?) who said mom Casey was in the habit of giving the child xanax so she could go out partying. Apparently called that "nanny xanny". This is close to the name of the alleged nanny she supposedly left the child. This then lends enough of Casey's brand of truth to her statements to police.

When she ran out of Rx drugs, she got hold of chloroform which she didn't have experience handling.

Has she ever detailed who the father is?

No detail on who the father is, and we probably never will.

I really like the PI's theory. But where does the shovel come in?

Originally Posted by bama girl:
I can agree with that... she definitely behaves narcissistically, and I think your statement is close to what I was thinking and just couldn't quite express it. I just got frustrated reading the comments on news sites where people were like "Well she OBVIOUSLY has bipolar disorder" or something like that. I just think it's dangerous to stigmatize everyone with a mental issue as a potential murderer.

SOCIOPATH!!

Originally Posted by Brown:
I'm not justifying ANYTHING she has done (I also think she's guilty), but I will say I can see that some of the things people say to those of us who are childfree, or those who are unsure they want to parent (or those who are considering abortion, or even adoption post-conception) being enough to make those who aren't as secure in their choices go through with things they really DON'T want to do. That can lead to tragedies like this one.

I have to agree with you.
I cannot and will not, ever, justify what she has done, and yes I believe she is guilty.
But, we really don't know what her mental thought process was when she was pregnant. She may have very well wanted to be a mother, thought she would be a good mother and after some time was overwhelmed, thought she made a wrong decision, realized it really wasn't what she wanted - anything like that.
Again, I don't think this is an excuse, justification or in anyway reason to show any compassion to her. She may or may not be mentally ill, no I don't think she is -- I think she is just a self serving, cold hearted person.

But - all we know is she wasn't a good mother in the end months of that precious childs life. It's inexcusable.

Originally Posted by 4star:
I think there was an image to uphold and that she knew she could use little Caylee as a bargaining chip to get what she wanted from her parents. Not to mention, having a child makes you look mature and nuturing, so motherhood might have made her attractive to males wanting children.

Sociopaths are not capable of love. Putting a child up for adoption is a loving option so you can see why she wouldn't have chosen that option. There's a link to the profile of a sociopath.

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

I guess I just cant comprehend why somebody didnt see warning signs, giving a child Xanex to put her to sleep should have been a real big one...sounds like she even bragged about doing it...the sociopath makes sense though...its the thing that until you realize theres a problem you dont know it exists...and in her mind she probably was a good mother

and I wasnt talking about giving up custody at birth, those red flags again, why didnt somebody step in later, thats what I was saying in my post that has been taken in a whole different direction than it was meant...thats what I hate about posting....

Originally Posted by jules1216:
I guess I just cant comprehend why somebody didnt see warning signs, giving a child Xanex to put her to sleep should have been a real big one...sounds like she even bragged about doing it...the sociopath makes sense though...its the thing that until you realize theres a problem you dont know it exists...and in her mind she probably was a good mother

and I wasnt talking about giving up custody at birth, those red flags again, why didnt somebody step in later, thats what I was saying in my post that has been taken in a whole different direction than it was meant...thats what I hate about posting....

I think they weren't catching the "Zanny" reference. Really, who'd ever think someone would be callous enough to drug their kid so they can go party? I think her Mom was getting ready to file for custody and that may be why she took off with the child, to punish Gma.

As for the people in their lives, I think your first paragraph sums it up. "Until you realize there's a problem, you don't know it exists." What a **** of a way for everyone to find out there was a problem. Her friends and associates were very forthcoming and cooperative b/c they never pictured that she could disregard the life of her own flesh and blood, whom she proclaimed to love. Really in normal life, why would they ever be friends with someone they thought would be capable of treating a child that way? They were ignorant to the real facts. I think everyone in her life was ignorant to the situation and what she was capable of, it's just unconscionable.

I can't believe that somebody on this poll thinks she is innocent !

Originally Posted by bargoo:
I can't believe that somebody on this poll thinks she is innocent !

Maybe they are thinking she accidentally killed her? I doubt anyone can say she died at the hands of anyone other than Casey, whether she premeditated it or accidentally overdosed her. It's pretty obvious from the evidence, if not for Casey's actions, that child would still be alive. If she's innocent, she sure did her best to make herself look as guilty as possible.

One this is for sure from her past and present actions, this is a sociopath. Not all sociopaths are murderers but none of them care about anything other than themselves and their self-gratification.

I voted guilty but as far as the trial goes ... first degree seems ambitious. She's definitely largely responsible for all that happened, and I personally think she killed Caylee. But whether she planned it out or did it spur of the moment .... ? (As an aside, she seems to do everything on the spur of the moment.)

Maybe this is typical of such a seasoned liar, but it's like every thing she did and said only bought her another day -- until it didn't. The whole thing is just, wow.

I am from the area and I've been watching highlights whenever I can. I know a lot of my relatives there are glued to it.

Definitrely a sociopath, she has shown she cares for nobody but herself, not her daughter, not her parents or brother. Look at the pain she has caused her family.

Casey is a liar and is so guilty of this crime...I have been listening to the live trial daily and it is so evident that she did this.

May Caylee rest in peace

Originally Posted by WhitePicketFences:
I voted guilty but as far as the trial goes ... first degree seems ambitious. She's definitely largely responsible for all that happened, and I personally think she killed Caylee. But whether she planned it out or did it spur of the moment .... ? (As an aside, she seems to do everything on the spur of the moment.)

Maybe this is typical of such a seasoned liar, but it's like every thing she did and said only bought her another day -- until it didn't. The whole thing is just, wow.

I am from the area and I've been watching highlights whenever I can. I know a lot of my relatives there are glued to it.

I have been concerned about proving premeditation too but then I remember them finding searches for "neck breaking" and "chloroform" on the family computer so that's why I think law enforcement feel they can get a guilty verdict, especially with traces of chloroform in the trunk where they can also place the body. I think their evidence is strong and I am glad they've held their cards close to their chests with all the media attention. I look for them to have more evidence the public hasn't seen. With just what's out there now, if they laid it out with the evidence in order, it's a strong case.

GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY...Death Penalty I'm for!

Originally Posted by bargoo:
I can't believe that somebody on this poll thinks she is innocent !

Maybe they just read the book "Twelve Angry Men" and felt they had to be that one juror that debates the whole time.