George and Cindy Anthony, the parents of Casey Anthony, are seeking to clear their name in a two-hour special titled "Casey Anthony's Parents: The Lie Detector Test."
The special, set to air on A&E and Lifetime, will delve into the 2008 death of their granddaughter, Caylee Anthony. The case gained international attention and caused a deep rift within the family. Casey Anthony, now 37, was charged and later acquitted of the murder of her 2-year-old daughter in 2011.
To address the accusations and speculation surrounding their involvement in the case, George and Cindy Anthony agreed to take a polygraph test. The examination was conducted by retired FBI Special Agent George Olivo, who has extensive experience in administering polygraphs over the course of his 20-year career. Olivo was not allowed to disclose the results of the test to Fox News Digital, and he has not seen the special prior to its airing on January 4th. The special will feature George and Cindy's reactions to each other's answers and the lie detector results.
According to Olivo, the Anthonys' decision to participate in the special was driven by their desire to address the accusations made by their daughter. He emphasized that the couple has been caught in a difficult position, as remaining silent would be seen as an admission of guilt, while speaking out would be criticized as an attempt to capitalize on the situation. Olivo stated, "You can't win either way."
In 2022, Casey Anthony participated in a docuseries titled "Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies," marking her first on-camera appearance since being found not guilty of Caylee's murder but guilty of lying to law enforcement. While Casey did not explicitly accuse her father of intentionally killing Caylee in the docuseries, she heavily implied his involvement.
The timeline of events surrounding Caylee's disappearance is as follows: Casey was arrested in 2008 after her mother reported Caylee missing on July 15th, despite the child supposedly being last seen on June 16th. Casey initially claimed that Caylee had disappeared with a babysitter. Volunteers conducted a nationwide search for the toddler for nearly six months, following up on numerous leads. On December 11th, skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area near Casey's Florida home. These remains were later identified as Caylee's. Experts testified that air samples from Casey's trunk indicated the presence of decaying human remains.
Casey was charged with murder, and her 2011 trial became a media spectacle. While prosecutors were able to establish Casey's dishonesty, they failed to prove how Caylee died and could not find Casey's DNA on the duct tape that was alleged to have been used to suffocate the child. Casey's defense team, led by attorney Jose Baez, argued that Caylee accidentally drowned and that her death was subsequently covered up. Prosecutors contended that Casey suffocated Caylee using chloroform and then used duct tape to cover the toddler's mouth.
After a trial that lasted over a month, the jury took less than 11 hours to find Casey not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated child abuse. However, she was convicted of four counts of lying to the police, though two of these counts were later dropped. Casey was credited for the three years she spent in prison while awaiting trial.
Casey Anthony has not responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment. A source close to her stated that she does not care about her parents' decision to take a polygraph test, as she believes she and her parents know the truth and that a polygraph will not change that.
According to Olivo, when conducted correctly, a polygraph test is 85 to 90% accurate. The test is expected to include pointed questions about whether George molested Casey and whether he had any involvement in Caylee's death or the concealment of her body. While polygraph results are admissible in court in 19 states by stipulation, meaning both parties agree to admit the results and the test's conductor, the Supreme Court has ruled that polygraph tests should not be presented to a jury.
Olivo also shared that according to FBI studies, 75% of guilty individuals will agree to a polygraph exam if asked properly. He emphasized the importance of approaching the request for a polygraph in a cooperative manner, assuring the individual that the goal is to verify their statement and put the matter to rest. Guilty individuals may initially appear cooperative if they believe they can get away with their actions, but they may also start backpedaling or expressing nervousness before the test begins.
In a legitimate polygraph test, the participant should be aware of the questions they will be asked beforehand. There should be no surprises or attempts to catch the participant off guard. The purpose of the test is to collect physiological data and observe patterns of truthfulness or deception. A truthful person may initially be nervous but will habituate over time, while a deceptive person will become increasingly anxious with each lie.
Olivo expressed hope that the polygraph test, regardless of its outcome, will bring some form of closure to the Anthony family. He acknowledged that the wounds caused by this tragedy run deep and that there are still many unresolved issues that need to be addressed.
"Casey Anthony's Parents: The Lie Detector Test" is set to air on January 4th at 9 p.m. on A&E.
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