Watch CBS News

Not Guilty Verdict In Casey Anthony Trial Stirs Emotions In The Tri-State Area

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A shocking not guilty verdict was delivered Tuesday in the murder trial of Casey Anthony, who was accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.

A jury in Florida found the young girl's mother not guilty of first-degree murder and not guilty of aggravated manslaughter of a child. However, she was convicted of providing false information to law enforcement.

The verdict has caused an uproar across the country and in the Tri-State area. CBS 2's Sean Hennessey and 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck spoke with residents in New York City and New Jersey about their opinions regarding the case's outcome.

"That's it? Just lying to police?" a bewildered Lori Shapiro, of Brooklyn, asked Hennessey.

LINK: More On The Trial From CBS Miami

Social networking sites have also erupted with reaction, including celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, who Tweeted: WHAT!!!!???!!!! CASEY ANTHONY FOUND NOT GUILTY!!!! I am speechless!!!," and Ricki Lake who also posted on Twitter: I'm disgusted! #notguilty? Oh come on.

For Shapiro, the verdict also brought back memories of another high-profile case.

"There was so much, all the stack of evidence that was against her -- just like OJ got free. This is another OJ that somebody who I feel was guilty went free," she said.

CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez also spoke with people in Times Square who were closely following the trial.

"I thought she was guilty. I was a 100 percent sure she was guilty," Ray Clavel said.

"I think her and the father and the mother were all in on it," LaVera Oberly said.

Other New Yorkers had quite a different opinion on how the trial turned out.

"I think there was more to it than the prosecution showed us," Marvin Shapiro said, "I thought it might have been just an accident that led to other things, but I don't think she was guilty of premeditated murder."

"All the facts weren't presented in terms of whether she drowned or if it was an accident," said Joanne Bactowal, of East New York.

"It didn't sound like to me, from the limited information I had, that they had real forensic evidence that was conclusive enough to really make you think that she had done it," said Jan Wheeler, of Bloomfield, Connecticut.

Schuck spoke with a crowd at Matthews Diner in Waldwick, N.J. who watched the verdicts as they came down.

1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck With Reaction From New Jersey

Podcast

"I'm extremely mad. I know if it was my daughter, I would have an extremely difficult time even thinking about anything happening to her -- let alone having something happen to her like this," Lisa Barthold told Schuck.

Barthold also went on to say that Anthony should have at least been found guilty of neglecting her child.

"It just doesn't seem logical that a 2-year-old disappears for 30 days and you don't say anything," she said.

SOUND-OFF: What's Your Reaction To The Verdict?  Share Your Opinions In The Comments Section Below...

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.