Casey Anthony: Where the truth lies is a three-episode docuseries produced by Abby Hoyt (This is Paris) among other things, that Casey Anthony for the first time the opportunity to speak directly with the viewers. In 2011, Anthony stood trial for the 2008 murder of their 3-year-old daughter, Caylee, and was later found not guilty by a jury. There have been many other shows and films documenting the case and Anthony, including the one from 2017 Casey Anthony: An American Crime Fiction but this time Anthony is in control of the narrative and its story. Content warning for mentions of abuse and rape.
opening shot: Immerse yourself in South Florida palm fronds while binaural music plays in the background and the sounds of nature are heard.
The essentials: The first episode begins with Casey Anthony entering the home the crew has rented in South Florida so the interviews can take place. Anthony shows the last items she has left of Caylee, including various photos and some drawings. Then many archived news footage from 2008 and 2011 are shown, contrasting Anthony as an individual with the media scrutiny and publicity she received 14 years ago. The phrase “she has not conducted a single on-camera interview since her acquittal at her murder trial” stands out particularly as it tries to give meaning to the meaning of this docuseries. Anthony herself also explains that she’s put in a lot of work over the past 10 years “to make sure I knew who I am,” which empowers her and is able to finally speak out now. We can also see Casey in motion, taking a hike and working as a research assistant for Patrick McKenna, the lead investigator on her 2011 case, before then briefly discussing how Caylee was born and what becoming a mother meant to her be .
This then leads to “The Case Against Casey” in which Detective John Allen, who oversaw the Anthony investigation, talks about the case. On July 15, 2008, Cindy Anthony, Caylee’s grandmother, called 911 to report that 3-year-old Caylee had been missing for a month and Casey had not reported it. Another detective, Eric Edwards, shows Anthony’s home and explains how Anthony’s explanation that a nanny had taken Caylee has proven to be pretty much nil since the detectives, when attempting to locate her, found the apartment in who should live found her completely deserted . During this initial investigation, detectives point out other lies Anthony told, including one in which she said she worked at Universal Studios but didn’t, and brought down her lack of emotional response to her daughter’s disappearance Language.
Another aspect of the examined case is the media portrayal. Local investigative reporter Tony Pipitone explains the portrait that was painted on Caylee and how Anthony’s parents, Cindy and George, also wrote a narration as footage of them conducting interviews, handing out Caylee t-shirts and even a vigil that increased the desire to find Caylee. Local reporter Jacqueline Hampton also explains how social media played a big part in this case and even changed how we view true crime cases today. When Anthony is eventually released from prison on bail, her lack of emotional response continues to be investigated as she goes out and parties and even gets a tattoo. Friends of Anthony’s former boyfriend Tony Lazzaro also speak out about how Anthony acted before their daughter went missing and afterwards without anything being wrong.
Finally, we come to Casey’s Story, where Anthony explains in her own words what happened. She admits she lied to law enforcement but claims that Caylee meant something to her. Former best friend Annie Goderwis also defended her, saying: “[Anthony] didn’t kill her kid” and that so many of the photos from her party were taken out of context and time period. The producers are trying to figure out why Anthony lied and she explains that it was her “whole life up to this point” and that she’s suppressed a lot of memories. She then goes into detail about her childhood, explaining how her father was a liar, stole money from her mother, and had affairs. Anthony also describes the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, beginning at age 8 and ending at age 12, before her brother began abusing her until she was 15; She never told anyone what had happened for fear if she told her mother she would get in trouble. She also reveals that Kaylee was conceived by rape when she was 18 and that she told her then-boyfriend because she hadn’t told anyone what actually happened. One of the reasons she lied was because she didn’t want Caylee to know how awful her conception actually was and she wanted to protect her. She again defends her lies, arguing that nobody asked why she lied. Goderwis chimes in again to say that Anthony has said many times that she lies and does what “they” (law enforcement officials maybe, lawyers) tell her to do. Casey finally explains who “they” were: her father.
What shows will it remind you of? It’s a very typical interview-style true crime documentary that you will remember killer Sally and The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez on Netflix.
Our opinion: While Anthony tries to tell us the truth, the narrative and structure of the show feels confusing and the pacing for certain parts feels very fast. When a news reporter or friend comments on the case, it feels rushed and for no apparent reason. The producers seem to be trying to justify to various professionals why these documentaries are necessary, but once they’ve shared their two cents, the show takes off. The editing feels rushed and as a result the viewer may struggle to find a way to stick with what is being said.
The first episode keeps asking for the truth, but spends more time separating the truths of Casey and the detectives than trying to show them as being in the same vein. And instead of giving us a more accurate idea of who Caylee is and why she was important, it just gives us a few details. So while the case surrounds Caylee and Anthony as their mother, it doesn’t allow us to see them as connected and related, and that thwarts some of the heart and purpose of the show’s meaning.
gender and skin: none
farewell shot: Casey tells the camera that she did what her father told her and the camera goes black.
sleeping star: Anthony’s former best friend Annie Goderwis adds some much-needed nuance and depth to the show, criticizes Anthony, but also brings in the empathy the show is desperately trying to show.
Most pilot line: Throughout the episode, the question “why did you lie?” and “why” to Anthony is thrown menacingly in and out of the episode in a very dramatic manner. While it keeps the viewer engaged, it can sometimes feel too broad for the information people want to know.
Our appeal: SKIP IT. Though it tries to shed some light on someone whose story has been taken from him, Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies doesn’t add much to the case or make you want to know more. In a world full of true crime documentaries and drama series, it’s hard to listen to Anthony given the mountains of evidence against her that even now makes her hard to believe.