In a televised interview, Casey Anthony’s estranged parents shared their divided reactions to their daughter’s acquittal on felony charges related to granddaughter Caylee’s death.
George Anthony, Casey’s father, told Dr. Phil host Phil McGraw that he was disappointed with the jury’s verdict.
“That’s being truthful,” Anthony said during the interview, which aired Monday on The Dr. Phil Show. “I don’t want to see my daughter put to death but I wanted her held responsible for my granddaughter. I did, and I still do.”
(PHOTOS: The Trial of Casey Anthony, Acquitted in Caylee’s Death)
In a July decision that sent shockwaves throughout the nation, jurors acquitted Casey on all charges related to the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, which included first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, and aggravated child abuse. She was released from Orange County Jail in Orlando, Fla., on July 17.
“I remember I started to shake,” George said, describing his reaction to the verdict. “Oh my God,” he thought. “My daughter is going to walk out of here and I’m never going to know about Caylee.”
Casey’s mother, Cindy, had the opposite reaction. When the acquittal was announced, “I was elated,” Cindy told McGraw.
Both parents played a large role in the murder case and its dramatic developments; it was widely speculated that Cindy lied to prosecutors under oath, while George was sucked into major defense theories that accused him of molesting Casey.
When Jose Baez, Casey’s lead attorney, made the molestation allegation during his opening statement, George said, “I wanted to go and jump over this little railing that we had and I wanted to confront Mr. Baez on what he said.”
“I was angry at Mr. Baez for that and still to this day believe they did not need to involve George in that scenario,” Cindy added.
George, who has vehemently denied ever molesting his daughter, did so again during the Dr. Phil interview. Cindy also stated that she stood by her husband, saying if the allegations were true, “he would not be sitting here today because I would have killed him myself or had him arrested.”
Due to the three-year ordeal, George doesn’t foresee reigniting or ever maintaining a relationship with his infamous daughter.
“I do love my daughter, I don’t like what she’s done to this family,” George Anthony concluded.
MORE: Parents Tell Dr. Phil: Seizures May Have Led to Casey Anthony’s Lies
Kai Ma is a TIME contributor. Find her on Twitter at @Kai_Ma or on Google+. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.