Parents Tell Dr. Phil: Seizures May Have Led to Casey Anthony’s Lies

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Cindy and George Anthony sat down for their first interview since their estranged daughter’s dramatic acquittal of murder – and suggested that medical problems may have contributed to her erratic behavior during the disappearance of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony.

In the opening half of a widely publicized two-part interview with Dr. Phil, which aired on CBS Tuesday night, Cindy Anthony said a history of seizures and other conditions could have led to the lies Casey Anthony told at the time.

“I’m not making justification for (Casey’s lies), but there’s a cause for that… You just don’t have a grand mal seizure,” Cindy Anthony said. “I’m not making excuses for her. I want to find out what’s wrong with Casey. I know that there’s something wrong.”

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The toddler went missing in June 2008. Casey Anthony, 25, did not initially report her missing and eventually told police and family a fictitious babysitter had kidnapped the child. In the meantime the young mom reportedly partied at clubs, got a tattoo that read “Bella Vita” and told lies about her daughter’s whereabouts.

When the child’s remains were found in woods near the family home in December 2008, her story began to unravel. She was later charged with first-degree murder, but was sensationally acquitted of killing Caylee in July, and instead convicted on four charges of lying to police.

She is currently in an undisclosed location in Florida serving a year of probation on a separate check fraud conviction. Meanwhile, the mystery around what happened to her daughter remains.

The Tuesday night interview focused on Anthony family drama around the time they found out that Caylee had been missing for a month in July 2008. McGraw asked the parents why they were not more suspicious at the time.

“There’s hindsight yes, but not in those 31 days,” Cindy Anthony said. “I knew what I know now I would have called the Army, the Navy, anybody.”

The second portion of the interview is set to air Wednesday night, while another part devoted to their daughter’s trial will be shown later this month.

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Joe Jackson is a contributor at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @joejackson. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.