Grandmother of Missing Caylee Anthony Disputes Decomposition Claims

Spencer Collins · #1 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Grandmother of Missing Caylee Anthony Disputes Decomposition Claims.

The grandmother of a Florida toddler missing for more than a month disputes investigators' claims that they detected the scent of human decomposition in the trunk of a car used by the child's mother.

"Do me a favor," the grandmother, Cindy Anthony, said Wednesday. "Put a little piece of pizza or any piece of garbage in your car today and leave it shut up for 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 days in this heat and then come back to me in 19 days and tell me what it smells like."

Anthony's granddaughter, Caylee Marie, was last seen on June 9. The child's mother, 22-year-old Casey Anthony, is considered a "person of interest" in the disappearance and is currently jailed, trying to raise a $500,000 bond.

At Casey Anthony's bond hearing Tuesday, Det. Yuri Melich testified that the odor of "decomposition" was detected in the trunk of a vehicle used by the young mother.

"The smell I smelled was that of decomposition," Melich told the judge. He also testified that strands of hair similar to those of the young girl, as well as dirt, were found in the trunk.

Cindy Anthony disputed the decomposition testimony Wednesday after her daughter's lawyer revealed the family had received a tip that a child matching Caylee's description had been seen at the Orlando International Airport boarding a flight to Atlanta.

The tip was even more credible because the person reported that the little girl pronounced her last name the same way Caylee's grandparents say she does, attorney Jose Baez told FOX News.

Cindy Anthony said the tip was from a woman who lives in Orlando and was left on her voicemail. The grandmother said she called the woman back and they talked.

The caller claimed to have seen Caylee board the flight with an older woman. When she talked to the woman and child, the youngster apparently said her name was Caylee "Antony," pronouncing it without the "h" the way Cindy Anthony says her granddaughter does. When asked her age, the little girl said she was 3; Caylee is almost 3 years old.

Prosecutors said Tuesday the case is beginning to look like a homicide.

Anthony's attorney said there is circumstantial evidence of a possible killing, but not enough to give prosecutors the confidence to charge her with homicide, kidnapping or any similar offense.

Detectives revealed that Anthony had become more of a focus of their investigation into her daughter Caylee's disappearance after they found the evidence in the trunk.

When asked whether he considered the child's mother a suspect in her disappearance, Melich said he'd classify her as a "person of interest."

Melich also said a witness he interviewed remembered seeing bruises on Caylee's body and a mark under her eye without knowing that Melich had a photo showing similar marks on the toddler.

On cross examination, Melich admitted he didn't have any direct evidence that Casey Anthony played a part in her little girl's disappearance.

More?

FOXNews.com - Grandmother of Missing Caylee Anthony Disputes Decomposition Claims

Beginning to look like a homicide?..

saltwn · #2 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 04:17 AM

I don't know. I guess they're doing tests on the hair and dirt in the trunk.
I hope the girl is safe though. There are too many crimes against children. It would be nice if this case had a happy ending.
I wonder if police are going to speak with the witness from the airport.

saltwn · #3 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 04:42 AM

After reading more and looking at some of the pictures, I really feel sorry for the grandparents in this case. Their anguish is palpable even through the still shots of the bail hearing.

Mikeyy · #4 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 08:22 AM

If that baby is alive I'll eat this laptop.

saltwn · #5 (**permalink**) 12-11-2008, 09:07 PM

Breaking news:

Skull of a Young Child Found Near Home of Caylee Anthony's Grandparents

Quote:

Orange County police today declared the Orlando home of Casey Anthony an "active crime scene" after the skull of a young child was discovered this morning in a wooded area close by. Police speculate that the remains could be those of missing toddler Caylee Anthony, Casey Anthony's daughter.
"It is within close proximity, so there's always that assumption," Carlos Padilla of the Orange County Sheriff's Office told ABC News. "But right now it's just an assumption.

"If we feel the need to go into [the house], we will get a search warrant," he said. Sheriff Kevin Berry said in a news conference today that he did not know of any other missing children in the area it could be but it is "always a possibility."

Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jim Solomons said, "Everyone's going to be real quick to connect the dots back to the Anthony case but we're not prepared to do that at this time."

The area around the remains, swarmed by more than two dozen officials including FBI agents, was searched by police previously but had been flooded at the time.

The remains fell from a bag that was found at about 9:30 a.m. by an Orlando utility worker who reported it to authorities.

Watch the Caylee Anthony story tonight on "Nightline" at 11:35 p.m. ET. More Friday on "Good Morning America" and "20/20."

Much more including background of case here
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cnredd · #6 (**permalink**) 12-11-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spencer Collins

Beginning to look like a homicide?..

I thought the same thing...

That's like seeing 2 feet of snow and saying "It may be chilly out."...

saltwn · #7 (**permalink**) 12-11-2008, 11:33 PM

Of course they haven't confirmed it was her as of this writing, but there is already speculation the death penalty might be back on the table for anyone charged in this now that(if) a body has been found.

saltwn · #8 (**permalink**) 12-12-2008, 12:23 AM

Authorities cordoned off the home of missing toddler Caylee Anthony's grandparents on Thursday, hours after the remains of a small child were found nearby.

saltwn · #9 (**permalink**) 12-12-2008, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Authorities cordoned off the home of missing toddler Caylee Anthony's grandparents on Thursday, hours after the remains of a small child were found nearby.
The sheriff's office in Orange County, Florida, said it is seeking a warrant to search the home of George and Cindy Anthony.

Sheriff Kevin Beary said the home has been secured "pending more investigation." The house has the "possibility of being more of a crime scene later," he added.

Prosecutors have asked police not to disclose many details surrounding the discovery, Beary said.

An attorney for Casey Anthony filed legal papers Thursday afternoon seeking a court order to preserve all evidence collected, and to permit the defense to conduct its own forensic testing. A hearing has been scheduled for Friday morning.

In a court hearing earlier Thursday, 9th Circuit Judge Stan Strickland postponed Casey Anthony's trial at the request of defense attorney Jose Baez. The attorney said he had not received all the evidence due him from prosecutors and was not ready to proceed with the January 5 trial.

Baez asked Strickland whether the trial could be delayed until March. The judge scheduled a hearing January 15 to consider a new trial date as well as a possible change of venue.

Casey Anthony remains in protective custody and has no contact with other inmates, corrections officials said.

"She has been seen by a Corrections Health Services psychologist and her status was reviewed," officials said in a statement, adding Anthony was under psychological observation -- which is not the same as suicide watch.

Sheriff: Anthony home may be a crime scene - CNN.com

I think if the mother or someone doesn't talk, they'll try the mother on circumstantial evidence. And I predict they'll get a conviction. Especially if they don't ask for the death penalty.

Spencer Collins · #10 (**permalink**) 12-12-2008, 12:40 AM

Agreed...that's the way this whole affair is beginning to take form.It sounds like the mother is doing her best to cover an accidental death caused by gross parental neglect. I think they will offer her a chance to plea to 2nd degree murder or manslaughter and she will accept.

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