Chris's Crime Forum

Casey Anthony's Father To Testify Against Her In Front Of Grand Jury
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Detectives think they have a solid case against Casey Anthony and Eyewitness News found out Thursday that Casey's own father will testify against her in front of Orange County's grand jury next week.

Sources told Eyewitness News that prosecutors now have all the forensic evidence they need to ask the grand jury to indict Casey for the murder of her daughter Caylee.

Two members of the Anthony family now have key roles in the case against Casey, her father for what he's going to do and her brother Lee for what he didn't want to do.

Sources told Eyewitness News the Orange County grand jury will hear about high levels of chloroform in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car. The panel will hear how lab tests on the hair and the stain in the trunk will show that Caylee's body was in that trunk and that investigators also believe the little girl's body was at some point in the Anthony's backyard near her playhouse.

The focus on when Caylee was murdered is on the afternoon of June 16, sometime between mid-day, when Caylee's grandfather last saw her alive with Casey, and the evening, when Casey went to her boyfriend's apartment without Caylee.

Eyewitness News has learned George Anthony will testify against his daughter next week before the grand jury about, among other things what he's already told investigators, how in late June Casey prevented him from going near her trunk, which he later found exuded the smell of death.

"Her and I got into a little verbal, she don't want me to go in the trunk," Anthony told investigators during questioning.

George and Cindy Anthony voluntarily gave up DNA samples this week so investigators could scientifically exclude either of them as the source of the hair and stain in Casey's trunk, but investigators had to get a search warrant to get Casey's brother Lee to submit to a DNA test. He also has refused to take a lie detector test for the FBI.

The fact that a grand jury is being called to hear the case at all does not bode well for Casey. In Florida, a grand jury only has to be presented with a case for "capital" crimes, a charge of either first-degree murder or felony murder. It won't be as difficult to convince a grand jury to indict Casey as it would be to convince a regular jury to convict her.

Trial jurors have to convict defendants beyond a reasonable doubt. Grand jurors only have to have probable cause, meaning a reasonable person would conclude from the evidence that Casey committed the crime.

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If you watched Nancy Grace tonight, you'll recall that she made a big deal out of the discovery of a dress - similar to a dress of Caylee's - that was "just found" near the airport. During the show, Grace interviewed Tim Miller, who mentioned that the find had been leaked to a "member of the media." I am that "member of the media" and I can provide you with the details of that find.

On Saturday, I received an email from an individual in Florida, who informed me that a dress had been found in a swampy area near the airport. A search group that is not affiliated with Texas EquuSearch made the find. The email went on to describe the item and the fact that the individual had an "exclusive" photo of the dress.

After receiving the email, I contacted Tim to confirm the find. As you can imagine, Tim was quite upset that the information had been leaked. Not only that, but he was also upset because the information the person was providing constituted a direct violation of search and rescue protocol.

Tim told me that the authorities did not believe the dress was connected to the Caylee case. As a result, I chose not to publish that information. The last thing we needed was another media frenzy, at a time in which Tim was trying to determine what to do. Grace has since picked up on the find, which is why I am addressing it now.

I am not going to identify the name of the organization involved, as they should not be judged by the actions of a single person; however, I will say that Tim told me that there are suspicions regarding the origin of that dress and how it ended up in the swamp.

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Indictment handed down, Anthony taken into custody
Last Edited: Tuesday, 14 Oct 2008, 4:22 PM EDT
Created: Tuesday, 14 Oct 2008, 3:59 PM EDT

Breaking News

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) -- A grand jury has issued a sealed murder indictment in disappearance of 3-year-old Caylee Anthony.

What that charge is and who is named is not clear as the prosecution asked that the incitement be sealed until Casey Anthony was taken into custody. They also asked that bond be revoked. According to the Associated Press the sealed indictment is a murder charge.

Judge Belvin Perry granted both motions.

Shortly before the announcement Casey Anthony was taken into the custody of the Orange County Sheriffs department. While in route from her attorney’s office with her mother, Anthony stopped the vehicle under a bridge near Boggy Creek road in south Orange County near a sheriff’s department vehicle.

Casey Anthony was placed in the sheriff’s department car and taken away, where she was bound was unknown.

"They have seen and considered things which people shouldn’t have to see or consider, and vicariously have endured a lot of sorrow." said Lawson Lamar, State Attorney in the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages ... geId=1.1.1

Thanks alabamamom!..I was right behind you!

And It's about time..something has happened..this is disgusting! This case has been a circus right from the start!

The only one I feel sorry for is Caylee...poor little one.

neeless to say it must have been the hardest thing that (George) a Father/Grandfather..had to do.

My heart also goes out to george Anthony. He has been in Law Enforcement his entire life. Now to admit, under oath what your daughter , your own flesh & blood has done & to admit it to yourself .
He is the only one who said his #1 priority is Caylee , that he loves his daughter , son & wife , but that Caylee is the most important here & always will be.
My heart really goes out to him.

I feel the same way you both do,poor George.And to have to live in the same house with a daughter you know has done something to your granddaughter,and not be able to say one word about it must have been awful.Casey is where she belongs.Anyone see the CNN interview Jose did where he said the baby was dead.

The parents of Casey Anthony, the 22-year-old Orlando mother accused of killing her three-year-old daughter Caylee Anthony, are expected to release a statement later this week that will explain why they have continued to search for the young girl.



The statement will likely be released by Michelle Bart, the new family spokesperson who took over for Larry Garrison who quit the position last week.



According to reports the statement from Cindy and George Anthony will detail why they have continued searching for Caylee Anthony despite the overwhelming evidence that has suggested the young girl is dead.

http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory ... 119&cat=14

Man Who Runs Kid Finders Gets Physical During Interview

ORLANDO, Fla. -- He's been arrested twice, once for assault and once for impersonating a police officer, and he's the man Caylee Anthony's grandparents are trusting to help find their granddaughter.

Dennis Milstead runs the so-called Kid Finders Network, but Eyewitness News uncovered serious problems with his criminal past and his not-for profit group, including the fact Kid Finders has never found anybody.

Still, the organization is out every day, collecting donations using jars with Caylee's picture on them. Even the Palm Beach County sheriff's sergeant who helps run their Crime Stoppers operation says Orange County deputies have been warned about Milstead.

When Eyewitness News confronted Milstead about his criminal past, he got very quiet and then he grabbed WFTV reporter Kathi Belich's microphone and pushed the camera while WFTV photographer Adam Liberatore was holding on to it (images | video).

Milstead's pickup truck had a "Gotcha" emblem on the side of it instead of the Kid Finders emblem he has now. West Palm Beach police say he flashed phony blue lights and claimed he was a law enforcement officer. He pled his felony down to a misdemeanor and seven months later another arrest for assault.

Eyewitness News has also learned that the president of Crime Stoppers in south Florida had a restraining order against Milstead after he allegedly tried to connive a 90-percent cut of any donations he solicited for the group. At the time, Milstead was operating a business called Gotcha Billboards, but he was reportedly representing himself as an employee of the non-profit Crime Stoppers.

Milstead's Kid Finders Network mentions its intentions to raise funds a number of times, mainly so it says it can build more billboards to report on missing children. Its list of accomplishments does not include finding any missing children.

Eyewitness News obtained Kid Finders Network's tax return for its first year in operation, 2006. It shows the organization borrowed $4,800 from someone to get started. It's listed as an asset and a debt. Kid Finders' 2007 return has not yet been submitted.

Fifteen minutes after Eyewitness News confronted them, Kid Finders packed up their posters and their donation cup and they left.


JOHN MORGAN TO QUESTION CASEY ANTHONY


It seems everyone who gets their hands on the Casey Anthony case ends up either fired or disgraced. Last week, Hollywood spokesman Larry Garrison was fired for taking money from a TV network. Then, bounty hunter Leonard Padilla was asked to take a lie detector test after he set off a false alarm in the search for Caylee's body.

Then there's mystery public relations man Todd Black. He slipped up on national TV and acknowledged Caylee is dead.

Casey's lawyer, Jose Baez, has been criticized by other lawyers for making mistakes. High-profile Orlando attorney John Morgan told Eyewitness News on Monday he's dealing with one of those mistakes now (watch full interview).

Eyewitness News broke the story last week when Casey's defense team filed a civil countersuit against a woman named Zenaida Gonzalez (read report | read lawsuit). Casey's attorney told Eyewitness News he wants money for attorney's fees.

Legal experts say, if Casey files a countersuit, that means she will have to take the stand and that could be used against her in the criminal case. Morgan says he is surprised by the recent counterclaim Casey Anthony's attorney filed last week.

Gonzalez filed a defamation lawsuit after Casey Anthony named her as the babysitter who took Caylee. Anthony is now seeking damages, a move that will put Anthony on the stand and could hurt her criminal case down the road.

"I think they are putting their client in a position they may be sorry later," Morgan told Eyewitness News.

Anthony claims Gonzalez is not the Zenaida Gonzalez she was talking about and says the suit is frivolous.

"When you are fingered as someone who has murdered or kidnapped a child and we can connect the dots, I don't think anyone in America thinks that's frivolous," Morgan said.

In the claim, Anthony's attorney asks for damages and legal fees. Morgan says there are deficiencies, because the motion does not state a reason why Anthony should get any money.

"Zenaida thinks this is more insult to injury," Morgan said.

In fact, legal experts told Eyewitness News the motion that Anthony's attorney filed is not even a countersuit, but really a motion to dismiss.

"I don't think I ever read anything like it in my 25 years of practice," Morgan said.

http://www.wftv.com/news/18001297/detail.html

Caylee's Family to Release Statement This Week
Monday, November 17, 2008

The grandparents of missing toddler Caylee Anthony are expected to issue a statement this week through their new family representative, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Michelle Bart, who took over as Anthony family spokeswoman, said the girl's grandparents, Cindy and George Anthony, will make a comment this week, the paper said.

Click here for photos.

"Hopefully, by the end of the week the public will understand why we've been searching for Caylee Marie," Bart told the Sentinel. "We truly believe that Caylee Marie is alive."

The toddler has been missing since June. Her mother, 22-year-old Casey Anthony, is behind bars and charged with her murder.

Bart, the spokeswoman for the Kid Finders Network, took over as the family's representative from Larry Garrison, after the Anthony family's attorney accused him of hiding a payment from a TV network for photos of the child, the paper said.

Garrison was retained in August to speak to the media on behalf of the Anthonys. He resigned Wednesday.
Due to the erratic behavior over the last several months exhibited by the Anthony family, Larry Garrison is resigning as their spokesperson," he said in a prepared statement.

"It is my opinion that others have manipulated them into situations that would not dignify the family. I can no longer be part of that behavior."

Anthony family lawyer Mark Nejame laughed at the statement and said it was released minutes after Garrison learned he'd been fired, MyFOXOrlando.com reported.

Nejame said Garrison was canned for pocketing money he demanded for interviews with Caylee's grandparents, George and Cindy Anthony.

Casey Anthony has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter and four counts of lying to investigators about the disappearance of her daughter.

She didn't report Caylee missing until July. The toddler disappeared two months shy of her third birthday.

Forensic tests released last month confirmed that hair found in the trunk of Anthony's Pontiac Sunfire came from a decomposing body. DNA evidence suggests a corpse had been in the car's trunk.

Anthony said she left Caylee with a baby sitter, but police contend that's a lie. The little girl has not been found, and authorities believe she was killed.
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