LOS ANGELES -- The parents of Casey Anthony are scheduled to be interviewed by Dr. Phil, the first time the two have spoken publicly about the trial since the acquittal of their daughter last month on charges related to the killing of her toddler daughter.
The appearance by George and Cindy Anthony on Dr. Phil McGraw's show will air on the 10th season premiere of his syndicated television show. Viewers in the Jacksonville metro area can watch the show's premiere at 4 pm ET on Sept. 12 on WAWS-TV/FOX30.
Casey Anthony's murder trial for the slaying of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, sparked national media coverage and an enormous amount of attention and scrutiny. She is now considered the most hated person in America, according to a recent poll that tracks public perceptions of U.S. celebrities.
"Despite living under a 'media microscope' for year, their story has never really been told and there's so much more to it than we've heard in the media," said Dr. Phil in a written statement, adding that no questions were off limits during the interview. "I looked them straight in the eye and asked them some very tough questions."
Said Cindy Anthony: "We knew that we'd want to speak at some point, and we figured there was no better place than with Dr. Phil. We are hoping that by doing this interview, we will be able to help other people who may be experiencing struggles of their own."
The little girl's body was found in December, 2008 in a plastic bag near the Anthony's home in the Orlando area. The case catapulted to the national stage, driven largely by around-the-clock coverage on cable news channels and online coverage.
A jury ultimately acquitted Casey Anthony during a trial in which the defense accused George Anthony of trying to cover up the girl's death. The defense also accused him of sexually abusing Casey, abuse that started when she was a young girl. He denied both allegations.
After the trial, Casey went into seclusion has largely shunned the public spotlight.
George and Cindy Anthony reportedly did not ask for compensation for the interview, but asked that a donation be made to a planned charitable organization that will honor their granddaughter.
ActionNewsJax.com Staff Writer Alfred Charles contributed to this report.
