TikTok: @caseyanthony_substackThe true crime community is up in arms after Casey Anthony joined TikTok as a “legal advocate” nearly 14 years after she was tried and acquitted for the murder of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony.
In 2011, three years after Caylee was found dead in a wooded area near the Anthonys’ home, Casey’s murder trial began. Due to the mounting evidence against her, she became known as “America’s most hated mom”, a belief that’s still held to this day.
However, Casey turned the blame to her parents (who have since passed a lie detector test), a narrative she continued in the 2022 docu-series Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies. Now, she’s on TikTok, where her two videos have racked up millions of views.
To remind yourself about the case or learn more about why the backlash to Casey’s actions has been so strong, there’s a documentary on the case that’s well worth adding to your watchlist.
Why JCS’ Casey Anthony documentary is worth your time
Casey Anthony was explored in a YouTube documentary by JCS – Criminal Psychology, who uploads in-depth analysis on true crime cases and police interrogations.
Titled ‘There’s Something About Casey’, the 67-minute video gives the most thorough, compelling breakdown of the case, providing evidence of Casey’s behavior, before, during, and after Caylee’s murder.
It’s more of a character study of Casey herself, but JCS backs up his argument with real-life interrogation footage, 911 calls, and a background of her upbringing, allowing viewers to see the full picture.
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Arguably the most damning piece of evidence is the call Casey’s mother Cindy Anthony made to the police after discovering her granddaughter had been missing for a month.
While Cindy was notably frantic and panicked, JCS states that there was “no urgency nor concern” in Casey’s voice. The phone call is also the first time Casey alerts the authorities to Caylee’s alleged kidnapper: a nanny named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez.
Casey later admitted to fabricating this entire story, which would be the first of many.
Another strong point about ‘There’s Something About Casey’ is its ability to pick out the pertinent facts, giving an overview of the trial that lets viewers know the arguments on both sides.
He opens up about the defense team’s ability to connect with the jury, their expert abilities in creating empathy and doubt, and how this led “many believe to be what saved Casey Anthony’s life.”
Although prosecutors were seeking the death penalty, Casey was found not guilty on the first-degree murder charges and walked free.
There’s no denying social media has changed the true crime landscape for good. It can be unsettling to see how narratives evolve online, especially when new audiences – who may not be familiar with the full details of a case – encounter it for the first time.
It’s important in times like these to be armed with the facts. Watching (or rewatching) and sharing JCS’s YouTube documentary will help you and others better understand why Casey’s TikTok debut has sparked outrage.
For more true crime, check out the new documentaries coming to streaming this month. You can also read about where Ruby Franke is now, the most shocking details in American Murder: Gabby Petito, and the true story behind Toxic Town.
