Armed guards flanked Casey Anthony as she walked out of a Florida jail and past crowds of detractors shouting "baby killer" early Sunday, nearly two weeks after being acquitted of murder in the death of her two-year old daughter.
Following years in the public eye, the 25-year-old looked straight ahead as she strode past protesters and slipped into an SUV just after midnight. More than 100 people surged against police barricades as the vehicle whisked Anthony away to an unknown destination.
Streets outside the jail were obstructed by mounted patrolmen and police cruisers so Anthony's SUV could drive onto a nearby highway ramp with ease.
"A baby killer was just set free!" protester Bree Thornton shouted at the vehicle as it drove past her.
Somewhere along Anthony's undisclosed route she switched vehicles and eventually boarded a plane to a private location to start her life anew, reported ABC's Jim Avila.
Helicopters trailed Anthony's SUV as it sped off into the night, leaving behind her childhood home and the city where she gave birth to her late daughter Caylee.
People around the world have been transfixed with Caylee's mysterious disappearance since it hit headlines three years ago. Tabloids scrutinized Anthony's every move, criticizing her for shopping and partying after her daughter vanished.
The glare of the public spotlight only strengthened in December 2008 when Caylee's skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area near Anthony's family home.
For two months, the world had front-row seats as the case unfolded in a nationally-televised murder trial.
But when Anthony was acquitted of murder on July 5, the question of how Caylee died was still left unanswered. Hordes of people captivated by the case took to micro-blogging sites like Twitter and Facebook to convict Anthony in the court of public opinion.
Safety concerns
Much of the public's rage has been aimed at lies Anthony told investigators, including early claims that her daughter Caylee was kidnapped by a nonexistent nanny.
When acquitted, Anthony had been finishing a four-year sentence for those lies.
Public ire reached new heights when Anthony was sentenced July 7 for lying to police and the world learned she would only serve 10 more days in jail, after building credit for good behaviour during her time in jail.
Since then, Anthony's legal team has expressed concern over her safety upon release from jail.
Her lawyers said Friday that they had received an emailed death threat with a manipulated photo showing Anthony with a bullet hole in her forehead.
During Anthony's Sunday release, Orange County Jail officials had contingency plans in place in case shots were fired.
Onlookers who flocked to the jail acknowledged that the 25-year-old will find it difficult to return to a normal life.
"She is safer in jail than she is out here," said Mike Quiroz, who drove from Miami to spend his 22nd birthday outside the jail.
"She better watch her butt. She is known all over the world," he told The Associated Press.
Despite the widespread vitriol that Anthony faces, Orange County Jail spokesman Allen Moore said the jail didn't receive any threats before her release.
Supporters gather
Though outnumbered by detractors, a small contingent of Anthony supporters did attend her release from jail.
Braving a Saturday night thunderstorm, many stood outside the jail holding signs in support of Anthony. One fan even carried a "Casey, will you marry me" placard.
Many supporters maintain that there wasn't enough evidence to convict Anthony.
"She's done her time for a crime she didn't commit and that's just the way it is," one man told ABC News.
Regardless of how the public views Anthony, her lawyer Jose Baez said he believes her release signals that a new chapter is opening in her life.
"It is my hope that Casey Anthony can receive the counselling and treatment she needs to move forward with the rest of her life," Baez said in the statement.
Out of the spotlight
Following three years of media scrutiny, it is unclear how Anthony will carry on with her life.
Her relationship with her family has suffered as a result of the trial, where defence attorneys accused her father of molesting Casey when she was young.
Lawyers argued during the trial that the alleged abuse resulted in psychological issues that caused her to lie and act without remorse after Caylee's death.
Her father George Anthony has vehemently denied the accusations.
Though Anthony has been offered multi-million dollar opportunities to turn her infamy into fortune, it is not yet known whether she'll agree to tell her story through a book or movie deal.
With files from The Associated Press
