According to WESH TV in Orlando, it may have been: "When asked by WESH 2's Bob Kealing if Casey Anthony's fingerprints were on the duct tape, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation said, 'This is not going to be good news for the defense.'"
In what I am sure is a completely unrelated development, Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, was hospitalized for a stomach ache last Friday. Baez's ailment was not stress-related.
Looks like it may not improve anytime soon, though.
Thousands are gathering in Orlando or watching TV this morning, remembering Caylee Anthony. In another part of Florida, another child has vanished, and this time there was no one-month delay in reporting the disappearance.
Haleigh Cummings, age 5, was last seen around 10 p.m. Monday night in Satsuma, Florida. Haleigh was staying with her father, Ronald Cummings, and his girlfriend, Misty Croslin. The little girl's father was at work when she vanished. Misty Croslin told police she realized Haleigh was missing around 3 in the morning.
Putnam County officials said there was no sign of forced entry into the house, but they didn't know if all the doors and windows were locked when Haleigh disappeared.
Haleigh is wearing a pink shorts and a tan shirt. She is 3 feet tall, has blond hair, brown eyes and pierced ears.
Details about this disappearance are still trickling in, but CBS47.com reports that "[police] believe Cummings may be endangered." Authorities are searching in and around the Hermit's Cove area in Satsuma [see map below -- also, the name of the community has been misreported as "Hermus." The Ocala paper linked in paragraph 2 above states that Haleigh was staying at a home in the Buffalo Bluff neighborhood].
If you have any information pertaining to the whereabouts of Haleigh Cummings, you can call the Putnam County Sheriff: (386) 329-0808 or 1-888-FL-MISSING.
According to Fox News, both Ronald Cummings and Misty Croslin are being questioned in connection with Haleigh's disappearance. Are Cummings and Croslin suspects? Police spokesperson Sgt. Jason Nettles tells Fox "I don't know that for sure."
Cummings also spoke to Jacksonville's Channel 4. From the article in the preceding link: "Ronald told Channel 4 there is no doubt in his mind that she was abducted and he'll do anything to get her back. [...] Haleigh is afraid of the dark and there's no way she would have gone out in the middle of the night by herself."
The same report indicated that a 2-year-old child was in the same room as Haleigh. That child was unharmed.
It was our intention to begin the sale of the Sunshine Caylee Doll at 12:00pm January 27, 2009. As we mentioned to the media in our press release it was very important that we allow the press to present our idea to the public first, in an effort to measure the reaction to our fund raising efforts. As the story developed we also announced that we would be donating 100% of the profits to charity. However, after reviewing the response to our media introduction of the Sunshine Caylee Doll and listening to the advice of the general public. We feel that is it best to suspend the launch of The Sunshine Caylee Doll.
While we still feel it is important to raise awareness and raise money to help stop this type of crime from being committed. We feel we can be more effective using more traditional methods.
We would like to that everyone who made comments or called us to express their opinion.
Sincerely,
Jaime Salcedo
President
Showbiz Promotions
Really, Jaime? You want to "raise awareness and raise money to help stop this type of crime from being committed?" How does that work, bro, when the alleged killer was a mother who, however troubled, was not necessarily viewed beforehand as a potential murderer by anyone, as far as I know?
If you want to go with that line, Mr. Salcedo, it's your choice. People with sense see right through what you tried to do there, and of course the Caylee Doll itself. If there is a hall of shame for promoters/PR people of any stripe, then they are surely reserving a spot for you right now.
And let's just be clear here -- "suspended" doesn't mean, 'this was the worst freaking idea we ever had and we're ashamed of ourselves and pray you will forgive us for even conceiving of such a thing' -- it just means 'we might decide to go ahead and do it anyway, later.'
Showbiz Promotions of Orlando has easily concocted the worst doll idea of the decade.
The Inspirational Caylee Sunshine Doll is officially on sale from these fun folks beginning tomorrow. If you want to buy your doll representing a murdered child, you can pay 29.99 for an 18-inch long moppet with blonde hair wearing a little T-shirt with a sunshine logo and the legend, "Caylee Sunshine."
Just when you think it can't get any worse, though, the doll will sing "You Are My Sunshine" if you punch her belly button. I wish I was making this up. I wish it didn't appear to be totally serious. But you know, if wishes were horses, yadayada...
I'm guessing duct tape and a little heart sticker will be extra.
Seriously, though -- what the hell is wrong with people? I wish I had something more sophisticated to say, but I don't. Reps for Showbiz Promotions say the doll is a tribute, but come on -- it's obvious what it is -- an attempt to cash in. Even if the proceeds from Caylee Sunshine go to charity -- it isn't the only product these folks promote. They're counting on bringing extra dollars in, regardless. They want you to check out their Jacksonville Jaguars stuff, or their Christ Life Store. What sane folks should do is boycott these people to teach them a lesson -- but I won't hold my breath.
So... to really check out the meaning of puke-worthy or to get an idea as to what your friendly neighborhood pedophile will be purchasing just after midnight tonight, take a look at CayleeDoll.com, why dontcha? If you don't mind your soul being slowly eaten each time the Caylee Sunshine Doll appears on the screen, that is.
Maybe we now know the real reason George Anthony finally snapped and headed out to off himself late last week. This was the Talky Tina straw that broke the old silver-haired camel's back. [Orlando Sentinel]
AP video of Casey Anthony having a contentious jailhouse conversation with her parents.
The more I learn about the the Caylee Anthony homicide, the more queasy it makes me when I have to write about it. So you'll forgive me if I just point you to a pertinent link and give a quote on this one, because it's the case that only gets worse every time you hear about it.
You can read about the new release of documents here: "Heart sticker had been on tape over Caylee Anthony's mouth." Here's a quote from the Orlando Sentinel article that might give you some idea of why this high-profile case makes me so sick:
Someone placed a heart-shaped sticker on the silver duct tape stretched across the mouth of dead toddler Caylee Marie Anthony.
A medical examiner had to cut the child's brown hair to remove the tape, and when the FBI took a close look, it found adhesive residue in the shape of a heart, according to court documents released Wednesday.
The investigators who scoured the Orange County woods where Caylee's remains were found last month found a loose sticker similar in size.
"It appears that the sticker was put on the duct tape intentionally," an Orange County detective wrote in a search-warrant affidavit.
Some true crime stories can poke through the toughest emotional hide. This is definitely one of them.
For a different source of in-depth coverage of this case, as well as some of the new documents (search warrants, etc), check out WESH TV.
Will Lee Anthony face charges that he obstructed justice? He's hired a lawyer. Lee's attorney Thomas Luka appeared on Greta van Susteren's show on Fox last night and addressed the issue with guest host Megyn Kelly. Quote:
KELLY: What do you make of these charges, these potential charges? What are you hearing is the possibly basis behind them?
LUKA: Well, first of all, there has been no announcement, formal or otherwise, that there are charges pending against Lee Anthony. This is all speculation and rumor at this time.
What I can tell you is that there has been speculation that he may be charged as an accessory after the fact for some sort of obstruction of justice charge.
The law in Florida, the statue in Florida dealing with obstruction of justice is very broad and gives prosecutors a wide latitude to use that power to charge individuals in order to motivate them to testify against other defendants.
Later, in the same interview, Kelly asked Luka an interesting question: "Does [Lee] still believe in the innocence of his sister?"
And Luka's answer was equally interesting:
At this point, he has not made a determination as
to that fact right now. That fact has yet to even be determined--that
fact can only be determined by a court of law...
In short, he didn't really answer the question at all, not in any direct way. So you have to wonder if the Anthony family's internal cohesion where defending Casey is concerned has finally begun to crumble.
It looks to me like the Orange County, Florida authorities are putting the screws to the Anthonys in general to get them to cooperate with the investigation. If solid speculation about charging George and Cindy Anthony with obstruction starts popping up in news stories soon, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. [FoxNews.com]
A riddle which began sometime last June is one big step closer to being solved today. Orange County, Florida authorities say the bones found last week near the Anthony home in Orlando are indeed those of Caylee Anthony. The Orange County Medical Examiner, speaking at a news conference held on Friday, said the manner of death for the child was homicide. So -- now we know where Caylee was all these months. She wasn't with someone named Zenaida. And that almost solves the mystery. But justice still seems like it's a long way off. [ClickOrlando.com]
Orange County, Florida authorities held a press conference today regarding their continuing investigation of the suburban scene where bones were found last week not far from the home missing toddler Caylee Anthony shared with her mother Casey and grandparents, George and Cindy Anthony. Investigators have found new bones near the scene. They termed the bones a "significant" find; meaning, perhaps, they are close to assembling a nearly-complete skeleton?
An interesting fact that seems to have inadvertently been revealed during the presser was this -- some sort of call was made to authorities about the same general area on August 11, 12 and 13. These calls came just two months after Caylee vanished and they were made by the same utility worker, a meter reader who allegedly found the bones on Dec. 11 while searching for a secluded spot to take a whizz. It may be that he actually returned to the area last week out of curiosity about something he saw last summer.
Based on inquiries made during the press conference, it appears as though the unnamed meter reader may be subject to some suspicion -- at least from the press (so take it with a grain of salt). Police emphasize only that they have definitely found the bones of a small child and that they are attempting to clarify the meter reader's story. Authorities say they have found other evidence on the scene as well, and that it is substantial.
Further information is said to be available at the Orange County Sheriff's website [osco.com] but that site has been inundated with traffic and is, at the moment, unavailable.
AP video package about the bones found near the Anthony residence.
George and Cindy Anthony have released a statement about the bones found near their home last. Police believe the bones are likely those of the Anthonys' missing granddaughter, Caylee Anthony, who vanished last June.
From the statement:
In the event this is not Caylee, we will immediately continue our search for our beloved grandaughter [...] Please respect our privacy and understand that we will not be making
any statement or appearances in the near future. We would ask you to
continue your prayers for Caylee and all other missing children.
If the remains are indeed Caylee Anthony, they will be given to the family after autopsy.
Casey Marie Anthony remains in jail, charged with Caylee's murder. Jail officials have said that she is under 'psychological' observation and in isolation.
I had a feeling we'd not be hearing much out of the Anthonys after this find. Looks like I might have been right about that. Maybe they've finally received a very ugly reality check, one so strong that even their denials can't stand up under its weight. One can hope. [ABCActionNews.com]
CNN Headline News segment about developments in the Caylee Anthony mystery.
The rumor has persisted since skeletal remains were found yesterday near the Anthony home: duct tape was found on the mouth of the skull inside the plastic bag. WFTV reports this evening that "the body size and hair color" of the bones found in the woods a quarter mile from the home Casey and Caylee Anthony sometimes shared with Casey's parents are "similar to Caylee's." WFTV has also published a transcript of the 911 call made by the meter reader who discovered the bones. The caller reports finding a skull that they "believe is human" very close to "the Caylee Anthony area." Think about this -- duct tape might be an awfully good medium for preserving a
fingerprint, or three. Check out the link in brackets to hear the audio and read the full article -- be sure to note the mention of George and Cindy Anthony and "obstruction of justice." [WFTV.com]
By now you know that bones were found in Orlando today. You know they were a stone's throw from the residence Casey Marie Anthony shared with her daughter and George and Cindy Anthony. You might just know that a meter reader working in the area apparently found himself between a rock and a hard place and while searching for a private place to pee, he found a plastic bag on the ground. Naturally curious, he picked it up.
The skull of a small child rolled out of the bag.
Local law enforcement authorities are striving hard to be professional about the find. They have hinted that the skull and the bones that were still in the bag might be those of little Caylee Anthony, who vanished sometime in June, 2008. But they can't declare the remains are Caylee's until they've run forensic tests to prove it.
Tim Miller, of Texas Equusearch, has no such constraints, and Miller told the Orlando Sentinel that the bones "appear to be Caylee." Miller also said "It looks like finally it's over with."
The bones have been taken to the medical examiner's office. Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary has said that they are 'a top priority' for the FBI and the forensic investigators working on the find.
Their Orlando attorney said that George and Cindy Anthony were "obviously shocked" about the find.
Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, has filed an emergency motion in an Orlando court asking that the defense be present during all forensic tests on the remains. A judge will hear the motion on Friday.
If the bones prove to be those of Caylee Anthony, it will be interesting to see how George and Cindy Anthony respond to the news. In their vocal, visible and sometimes seemingly delusional defense of
Casey, the Anthonys have become nearly as controversial as
their pretty, flat-eyed daughter.
They have proven remarkably inventive in their attempts to circumvent common sense when speaking publicly about the case against Casey. From insisting that the smell of decomposition in the car Casey drove after Caylee vanished was old food to later implying that someone placed the decomp material found in the trunk in the car after it was impounded, the Anthonys have been object lessons in active, insistent denial.
How will they be able to deny this, if the bones were once a little girl named Caylee? What will Casey say to her parents, no doubt pinning them to their chairs in the jail visiting area with her big, innocent but unblinking baby blues? Reasonable people would like to think they'd withdraw into their grief and let the system take over. That would make sense, and perhaps be better for them. But nothing in the Anthony case has made much sense. The Anthonys might not miss a beat -- they may now come forward proposing police target neighborhood sex offenders, or insist that it was all an accident, and the only crime was a cover-up. People tired of hearing about this case in the news would do well to not sit back and say the story is over -- it may have only just begun. [OrlandoSentinel.com]
Orange County law enforcement and the FBI are investigating the remains of a child found at a location less than a quarter-mile from the home Casey Anthony shared with her missing daughter Caylee and Casey's parents, George and Cindy Anthony.
A meter reader seeking a hidden spot to relieve himself discovered the body in a plastic bag around 9:30 this morning near the intersection of Chickasaw Trail and Suburban Drive. According to MSNBC, a responding officer stated that the remains appeared to be those of a small child.
Drew Tate, who has helped in the search for Caylee, spoke to a local reporter and said he felt certain that the remains were Caylee Anthony's. A spokesperson for Texas Equusearch told WESH TV that the area where the bag of bones was found was under water during one search by the volunteer recovery group and then blocked off by a hurricane fence during another search.
A public information officer told media at the scene that the Anthony family and corrections officials have been informed about the grisly discovery. George and Cindy Anthony were out of town and are on a plane returning to Orlando.
Local media has reported that Casey Anthony occasionally frequented the area where the remains were found -- one reporter termed the area a "hideout."
No one has said that the body is that of missing 3-year-old Caylee Anthony. Police do not yet know whether the remains are those of a boy or a girl. Local reporters, however, are describing the police response to the scene as "major" and "massive." They have compared it to this false find from mid-November and say law enforcement seems to be much more serious about this find. All the Orange County law enforcement "top brass," including Sheriff Kevin Beary, have headed out to the scene. Speaking to reporters, Beary would say little other than the skull, possibly of a small child, was found 20 to 30 feet from the road.
Beary did indicate that he felt this find likely marked the end of the search for Caylee Anthony.
This discovery comes on the morning that Casey Anthony saw her murder trial postponed till early January, 2009.
If this is indeed the body of Caylee Anthony, I would be surprised to see any more of George or Cindy Anthony on TV anytime soon. But you never know. Nothing about this case is sane or normal.
Well, I'll call it as I see it: Cindy Anthony probably won't end up in jail. Still, if Orlando-area TV station WFTV is to be believed, she may have committed a crime.
The TV station has given the FBI an e-mail message forwarded to them by former Anthony family spokesperson Larry Garrison. If the message was written by Cindy Anthony, it may indicate her role in attempting to cover for daughter, Casey Anthony, who is facing charges that she murdered her 3-year-old daughter Caylee in June, 2008.
Essentially, the e-mail seems to indicate that Cindy Anthony gave the wrong hairbrush to police when they asked her for a source of DNA they could use to compare likely DNA from Caylee to DNA found in the trunk of a vehicle Casey Anthony abandoned around the time of her daughter's disappearance.
In the e-mail in question, Cindy Anthony allegedly told Garrison that she "never lied" to police. Instead, Cindy wrote that she "never went to my bathroom to get the hairbrush that I used only for Caylee."
WFTV also reports that rather than cooperating with authorities, both Cindy and George Anthony have been stalling the cops for weeks, apparently avoiding answering follow-up questions.
Here's 'FTV's copy of the e-mails (note the part where Garrison writes that he believes Cindy Anthony "may be on meds." Ya think?). See what you think. [WFTV.com]
***UPDATE, 12/11/08*** Go here for a post about the newest find, made the morning of December 11, 2008.
Looks like Leonard Padilla may have stepped in it, this time. The bounty hunter has a long history of proactively seeking attention related to various high-profile crime stories in the news, and much of the time, Padilla has been basically trying to do the right thing. But the supposed "find" of bones in a bag today (see original post, below) during the search for Caylee Anthony may have put Padilla in the doghouse with the media.
And with the cops.
In spite of Padilla's insistence that a shamrock was found with the bones and toys and the fact that shamrocks are important symbols to Caylee's mother Casey, the Orange County Sheriff has stated that the bones and toys were simply not related to the case at all. And they spanked Padilla and cast suspicion on his connection to the find. From the Orlando Sentinel:
"'Law-enforcement should have been the first to be called and not the media,' sheriff's office spokesman Capt. Angelo Nieves said. Nieves asked Padilla to take a lie detector test and Padilla agreed."
Orange County authorities will likely ask Padilla if he planted the bag, since that seems like the first, most obvious question.
According to the Sentinel, Tim Miller was also irritated with Padilla. Miller, who heads Texas Equusearch, has worked hard to maintain his group's reputation. The Orlando paper reports that Miller "was aggravated with Padilla's efforts and called them a media stunt."
I had a feeling this story was too good to be true, and was careful with how I worded the original post below. It just seemed too damned easy. Turns out my cynicism was merited this time.
I hate it when that happens.
Original Post
Will a bag of bones put the final nails in Casey Anthony's coffin? [...]
The Florida State Attorney has once again released a large number of documents in the case against 23-year-old Casey Anthony. There are transcripts of interviews with Anthony's best friend, Amy Huizenga and Casey's father, George Anthony. The following interesting statement from George was captured for posterity. Referencing the same car police suspect once held the dead body of little Caylee Anthony, his granddaughter, George said, "Deep in my heart and my gut and my brain I know it…I don't want to think about that but I had bad vibes the very first day that I got that. I can be straight with you guys and that I hope it stays in the confines of us three. I don't want to believe that I have raised someone and brought someone in this world that could do something to another person."
Sounds like George Anthony, a former cop, has had his daughter's number for some time. That's what I get from the "heart" and "gut" part of his statement. Check out the link on the right for further details. [MyFox Orlando]
According to WESH TV in Orlando, it may have been: "When asked by WESH 2's Bob Kealing if Casey Anthony's fingerprints were on the duct tape, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation said, 'This is not going to be good news for the defense.'"
The Florida State Attorney has once again released a large number of documents in the case against 23-year-old Casey Anthony. There are transcripts of interviews with Anthony's best friend, Amy Huizenga and Casey's father, George Anthony. The following interesting statement from George was captured for posterity. Referencing the same car police suspect once held the dead body of little Caylee Anthony, his granddaughter, George said, "Deep in my heart and my gut and my brain I know it…I don't want to think about that but I had bad vibes the very first day that I got that. I can be straight with you guys and that I hope it stays in the confines of us three. I don't want to believe that I have raised someone and brought someone in this world that could do something to another person."