The highly anticipated two-hour special, “Casey Anthony’s Parents: The Lie Detector Test,” is set to air on both A&E and Lifetime on January 4th.
This special features an in-depth look into the 2008 death of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony and the resulting trial of her mother, Casey Anthony. In a desperate attempt to set the record straight, Caylee’s grandparents, George and Cindy Anthony, have agreed to take a polygraph test for the special. Retired FBI Special Agent, George Olivo, who has conducted thousands of polygraphs in his 20 years of experience, administered the test.
Olivo, who was not allowed to divulge the results of the test, has said that despite critics’ claims that the special may be a publicity stunt, the Anthonys’ motive for coming forward is genuine. He stated, “…your daughter is accusing you of some pretty horrific things…if they speak up and say, ‘I’d like to respond to that publicly’, then critics will say, ‘They’re trying to capitalize on it.’ You can’t win either way.”
The case of the tragic death of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony made international headlines back in 2008. For almost six months, volunteers conducted a nationwide search for the toddler and followed up on hundreds of leads. Eventually, on December 11, a utility employee working in a wooded area near Casey’s Florida home found skeletal remains that were confirmed to be the remains of Caylee. Experts testified that air samples from Casey’s car indicated that decaying human remains had been present.
Following the discovery of Caylee’s body, Casey was charged with murder and her trial in 2011 was a media frenzy. Prosecutors tried to prove that Casey had killed her daughter, but they were unable to provide any solid evidence.
The defense team, led by Jose Baez, argued that Caylee had accidentally drowned and that the death was covered up. Prosecutors, on the other hand, argued that Casey had suffocated the young girl using chloroform and then covered her mouth with duct tape.
The trial lasted for more than a month, and the jury took less than 11 hours to find Casey not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated child abuse.
Casey was, however, found guilty of four counts of lying to police and was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison (credited for time served). Casey maintains her innocence to this day and has not responded to a request for comment on her parent’s decision to take a polygraph.
According to Olivo, polygraph tests are 85-90% accurate when done correctly. It is believed that during the test, George and Cindy will be asked pointed questions about whether George had anything to do with Caylee’s death or the hiding of her body. These questions are likely in response to Casey’s accusations that her father molested her and was responsible for Caylee’s death.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that 19 states do allow polygraph results to be admitted in court under stipulation, but the Supreme Court has ruled that they should not be presented to a jury. Polygraph tests can be used to negotiate plea deals and even get cases thrown out before charges are filed. However, the Supreme Court has stated that the jury must be the final decision-makers when it comes to determining the truth.
The special, which will feature George and Cindy’s reactions to each other’s answers and the results of the polygraph test, is sure to draw a large audience. With the truth still elusive and the case still a source of controversy, viewers will undoubtedly tune in to see if the polygraph test can finally provide some closure for the Anthony family.
