Acquitted of killing daughter, Casey Anthony says, ‘I’m OK with myself’

Once branded “the most hated mom in America” by legal commentator Nancy Grace, Casey Anthony sleeps “pretty good at night.”

For the first time since she was acquitted in 2011, Anthony, 30, opened up in a series of interviews with The Associated Press about her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, whose 2008 disappearance and death has gripped the nation for nearly a decade.

She also talks about her subsequent murder trial, what she’s doing now —which is living and working with one of her defense investigators in Florida — and being a persona non gratajust about everywhere she goes.

Here are some of Anthony’s notable quotes from the interview:

On her murder trial
“My sentence was doled out long before there was a verdict. Sentence first, verdict afterward. People found me guilty long before I had my day in court.”

On public opinion
“Based off what was in the media, I understand the reasons people feel about me. I understand why people have the opinions that they do.”

On Caylee’s disappearance
“I’m still not even certain as I stand here today about what happened.”

On her unsubstantiated defense that her daughter accidentally drowned
“Everyone has their theories, I don’t know. As I stand here today I can’t tell you one way or another. The last time I saw my daughter I believed she was alive and was going to be OK, and that’s what was told to me.”

On lying to police during the murder investigation, including about Caylee’s babysitter and her employment at Universal Studio
“Cops tend to victimize the victims. I understand now … I see why I was treated the way I was even had I been completely truthful. Cops lie to people every day. I’m just one of the unfortunate idiots who admitted they lied. My dad was a cop, you can read into that what you want to.”

On now doinginvestigations with Patrick McKenna, her defense’s lead investigator who she also lives with
“I love the fact that I have a unique perspective, and I get a chance to do for other people what so many others have done for me.”

On working ona DUI manslaughter case in which the defendant took a plea deal
“I look at him and I think this kid almost lost his life for something they can’t definitively prove that he did. I’ve lived it firsthand. I didn’t do what I was accused of, but I fought for three years. Not just for me, but for my daughter.”

On what her daughter would be doing now
“Caylee would be 12 right now and would be a total badass. I’d like to think she’d be listening to classic rock, playing sports and putting up with no nonsense.”

On living as “themost hated momin America”
“I don’t give a shit about what anyone thinks about me, I never will. I’m OK with myself, I sleep pretty good at night.”