More Anthony News? Crazy!

Today's news in the Casey Anthony case comes in two forms--one bizarre, the other mysterious.  In the first category we have an update on the Anthony's home foreclosure situation. 

Everybody's favorite black-hatted Bounty Hunter, Leonard Padilla, said that he wants to ride to the family's rescue to keep the foreclosure from happening.  Of course, Brad Conway had to tell reporters that the his clients don't want Padilla's help.  Mr. Conway may regret that comment--the Anthonys don't have a history of following their attorneys instructions.  And if George and Cindy are down and out, they might welcome any hand willing to pull them out of the mire--even one they'd bitten once before.

The mysterious news comes from the Orange County Circuit Court of Judge Stan Strickland.

After a review of the state's sealed request, the judge agreed that the prosecution had a good reason to temporarily withhold evidence from the defense and the public.  What is this super secret, confidential stuff?  The only clues given are that it is "certain material and information" that's "come into the possession of law enforcement."

Sort of sounds like evidence dropped from the heavens onto a patrolman's windshield, or found beneath a pumpkin in a lonely farmer's field or located behind the john in the last stall of the ladies' room in WalMart.  Nothing in this case would surprise me.

It will be very interesting to learn what it turns out to be.  At least, I hope it is interesting and not just more of the much ado about nothing that has had the rumor mills in Orlando busy since the day of Casey's arrest.

Anthony Home in Foreclosure

The big question many have been asking is where George and Cindy Anthony are getting the money to pay for the defense, go on trips and get tattoos while not holding down steady jobs.  It might be that the answer is reckless borrowing. 

According to the Orlando Sentinel, this morning, their home is now in foreclosure. 

They purchased the house in 1989 for $90,000 and now owe somewhere between $50,000 and $249,000.  It will take some time for reporters to sort out a web of equity loans and payments before they reach a final figure.  I'd guess it's probably closer to the higher amount or it wouldn't be such a broad spread of unknown debt.

I guess crime doesn't pay after all, or at least, not indefinitely.

The Sun Always Rises, the News Never Ends

This week, a second person pulled out of the defense team for Casey Anthony.  You can doubt but accept the reason given when one person leaves but when the second one followed close on the  heels of attorney Todd Maculso's departure, you can't help but to think of those proverbial rats and the sinking ship.

What really is behind these sudden vanishing acts?  Pure coincidence?   A tightening noose?  A bankrupt defense fund?  We can only speculate.  We certainly can be sure we won't get a straight answer from the latest deserter, P.R. diva Marti Mackenzie.

I know some of you picked up on my use of "diva" right away and drew the conclusion that Ms. Mackenzie and I must have some history.  Well, you're right.  It wasn't with MOMMY'S LITTLE GIRL, my book about this case.  It goes back a little bit further to 2006 when I was writing OUT THERE, the story of astronaut Lisa Nowak, the diapers, the stalking and the love triangle.

I respectfully contacted her about her client, Lisa Nowak. Ms. Mackenzie proceeded to scold me and call me names for daring to write a book.  I actually thought that was pretty funny.  But then, she took it a step further. 

She placed a call to my Senior Editor at St. Martin's Press and yelled at him, too.  Not exactly the professional behaviour you'd expect from someone whose job of making the client look good.  That conduct was why I was not surprised when she was hired by Jose Baez.

In other news about the case this week, the judge decided that he would not meet with the prosecution in the absence of the defense.  However, he conceded, he would review the material that raised the state's concern before deciding about the timing of its release as discovery.

Also, the State Attorney's Office publically released more of the discovery this week that they'd already provided to the defense--photographs and documents. 

What evoked a visceral response in me were the pictures of the baby doll.  It brought my mind back to where it belonged.  It is often hard to maintain the proper focus in the midst of the Baez and Anthony three-ring circus.  That doll did it. 

It's all about Caylee.

Never forget it.
 
Her life was short but it had tremendous value. 

And she calls to us for justice and whispers a fervent wish: don't let this happen again.

I Am Not that Diane Fanning

For a year and a half, I have been recieving emails about the story of Diane Fanning in North Carolina who displayed the antithesis of southern hospitality when Candidate Obama came calling during the campaign.  At first, I freaked out, thinking that everyone who read the story would think it was about me, the true crime and mystery writer.  In a week, I decided that I was silly to be concerned.  If I just ignored it, it would go away.  But 18 months later, I am still getting email--proving the old adage that once something goes on the internet, it has eternal life.

To set the record straight, I am NOT that Diane Fanning.  I do not live in North Carolina.  I live in Texas.  I think name calling is the last resort of someone who is rude and has nothing worthwhile to say. And I've never been close enough to the President to speak to him.

While I'm at it, I might as well strike down a few other entries:

• I am not the concert pianist Diana Fanning.
• I am not the artist Diane Fanning living in Barbados.
• I am not the Diane Fanning who cruised with her husband Jim.
• I'm not the Diane Fanning I follow on Facebook.

However, if you see a link connecting me to scared monkeys, sewer rats or serial killers--well, yeah, that's me.

Anthony and Nowak Update

How the Casey Crumbles

Casey Anthony's trial for the murder of Caylee Anthony is now scheduled for May 2, 2011.  No, that is not a typo. Next year.  And who knows if it will happened then since the defense said that they needed five years to prepare for trial.

But that isn't the only news in the case.  Prosecutors sent a request to Judge Strickland, asking for a closed door meeting without any defense team members present.  They claim to have new evidence--blockbuster information and material on the case that they do not wish to disclose to the public.
Heaven knows what they're hiding in their poker hand but I imagine there will be a lot of rumors before the truth is finally ferreted out.

Still Lost in Space

In the case of Lisa Nowak, the former astronaut with the extreme over-reaction to a love rival, the civilian court has spoken, agreeing to a no-prison time plea agreement if Lisa admitted to her guilt.  Now it's the Navy's turn.  They will decide the military punishment she should receive for driving across country, stalking and attacking Colleen Shipman, the new girlfriend of Astronaut Bill Oefelein


Officials from the Naval Criminal Investigations office have taken custody on the evidence in the case prosecuted in Orlando.  According to Lieutenant Commander Mark Tilford, the attorney from the Judge Advocate General's Corps, it's all in the Admiral's hands now. 


There is a broad range of possibilities facing Lisa Nowak.

• Dismissal from the Navy: in this option, she could lose her pension, be imprisoned and face a possible fine.
• Administrative Action:  She could be demoted and forced to retire.  If that were done, she could receive a lesser pension or that of her current rank as a captain.
• A letter of reprimand: Placed in her file this would, in all liklihood, block any career advancement.
• A letter of censure:  The most lenient option.  This letter would not become a part of her permanent file.
• A letter of censure. This would not be placed in her file and is the most lenient of the options.
  

 Although Tilford reports that the Admiral is making progress toward a decision on a course of action but as not reached a conclusion yet.  And Tilford has no idea of when he will.

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When I hear of updates on the stories in any of my ten true crime books, I'll post the information here, where Writing is a Crime.