Casey Anthony reveals meaning behind cover up of tattoo she got while her child was missing
Casey Anthony has explained the meaning behind the cover up of her tattoo she got while her child was missing.
The 36-year-old was once dubbed 'America's most hated mom' after she was controversially acquitted of the murder of her two-year-old daughter Caylee in 2011.
Caylee went missing in 2008, only for her remains to be found six months later in a laundry bag located half a mile from the family's Florida home.
What angered people most about the case was Casey's behaviour while her daughter was missing.
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Rather than call the authorities, the young mom was seen out partying with friends and living her life.
A full month passed before Casey's mom rang the police to report the child was missing.
What's more, she continued to lie to the police, claiming that a fictitious nanny had taken Caylee and that she had been trying to find her child herself.
Despite the evidence showing she had created a web of lies amid the investigation, Casey's defence team made some serious allegations against her father, George.
They claimed that Caylee had accidentally drowned in the family's swimming pool and he had disposed of the body.
Shocking sexual abuse accusations were also made against George during the trial, which ultimately saw Casey acquitted of the murder charge.
The verdict enraged the nation, with many still believing she is responsible for the death of her own daughter.
In an explosive new, three-part documentary series - Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies - she tells her side of the story in her first on-camera interview since the saga.
In the opening episode, Casey is questioned about her new ink job, which covers up a controversial shoulder tattoo that became a focal point of the prosecution's case against her.
During the time that her child was missing, she got the words 'Bella Vita' etched onto her back, which is Italian for 'Beautiful Life'.
The decision was slammed at the time, with prosecutors arguing that it showed Casey enjoyed her new life free from the shackles of parenthood.
Her defence team, however, claimed that it was a tribute to Caylee.
Whatever the case, Casey has since had it covered up with a huge floral piece on her shoulder.
In the documentary, she explains the meaning behind the new tat after it was spotted by the interview.
"It's peonies and half a mandala," she says. "It symbolises growth, rebirth."
Casey continues, "I have fought so hard for a normal life," before explaining how her defence team helped her to get back on her feet following the trial by giving her financial support and work.
Elsewhere in the series, Casey makes a number of explosive allegations against her dad, some of which weren't even said in the trial.
Legal experts have since warned that he could potentially sue her for defamation, although this is just speculation at this point.
Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies premieres on Peacock on 29 November.
Topics: US News, Crime, True crime, Documentaries
Daisy Phillipson