Murder Charge For Missing Fla. Girl's Mom

Mother Of 3-Year-Old Caylee Anthony Had Already Been Charged With Child Neglect, Lying To Investigators

(CBS/ AP)  The mother of a missing 3-year-old girl was accused Tuesday in an indictment of killing her daughter, prosecutors said, even though the child's body has not been found during an exhaustive four-month search.

A grand jury returned charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter and four counts of lying to investigators against Casey Anthony in the death of her daughter, Caylee, State Attorney Lawson Lamar said. The mother is being held without bond.

A few hours before the sealed indictment was issued, the 22-year-old Anthony stood silently, sometimes crying, as her attorney told reporters she is innocent.

"Casey is going through a nightmare," Jose Baez said. "I sincerely believe that when we have finally spoken, everyone, and I mean everyone, will sit back and say, 'Now, I understand. That explains it."

Casey Anthony's father, George, testified Tuesday behind closed doors to the 19-member grand jury along with a detective, a cadaver dog handler and an FBI agent.

The child's grandmother first called authorities in July to say that she hadn't seen Caylee for a month and that her daughter's car smelled like death.

Casey Anthony told authorities that she had left her daughter with a baby sitter in June, and that the two were gone when she returned from work. She says she spent the next month trying to find her daughter and didn't call authorities because she was scared.

Investigators immediately started poking holes in her story. The apartment where Casey Anthony said she had left her daughter had been vacant for months, they said. They said she also lied when she told them she had been working at an area theme park as a photographer.

Investigators also accused her of stealing checks from a friend and cashing them. She was charged with felony child neglect and making false statements along with forgery and theft. She was released on $500,000 bail and confined to her parents' home.

Baez called a news conference at his office Tuesday afternoon. The lawyer commented on speculation about his client's seemingly unexplainable behavior, reports CBS affiliate Local 6 in Orlando, and why Casey waited more than a month after her daughter's disappearance to seek help from law enforcement agencies - which insist the woman was uncooperative in their search for the missing girl. Then he lashed out at those agencies.

"The question should be posed and turned around toward law enforcement as to why they are behaving the way they are," Baez said. "Why they are attempting to circumvent our Constitution?"

Meanwhile, the grandmother of missing Caylee Anthony is blaming politics and the upcoming election on recent leaks concerning the case of her daughter, Casey, reports Local 6.

"I feel that a lot of what is going on right now is a political move on the state attorney's office - Lawson Lamar," Anthony said. "I feel that right now I think the reason these leaks are being let out - especially about the grand jury is because of the upcoming election."

[kaliwind]

I hope the jury sends this woman to prison for the rest of her life. Innocent until proven guilty? This one has acted nothing but guilty from day one and done nothing to help find her child. Why? Because she knows the child is dead.

[kittykatty2]

"Casey is going through a nightmare," Jose Baez said. "I sincerely believe that when we have finally spoken, everyone, and I mean everyone, will sit back and say, ''Now, I understand. That explains it."


Then why the h ell doesn''t the silly b itch speak?

[smurfcrusher]

I guess this means she shouldn''t have lied, searched for chloroform on the internet, borrowed a shovel and gas cans, invented stories about babysitters, stole checks, cheated on her boyfriend who was not the father of the child, and murdered her in cold blood before partying her a.s.s. off.

[smurfcrusher]

"I hope the jury sends this woman to prison for the rest of her life. Innocent until proven guilty? This one has acted nothing but guilty from day one and done nothing to help find her child. Why? Because she knows the child is dead."

Posted by Kaliwind

Any reason not to go for the death penalty?

[smurfcrusher]

""Casey is going through a nightmare," Jose Baez said. "I sincerely believe that when we have finally spoken, everyone, and I mean everyone, will sit back and say, ''''Now, I understand. That explains it."


Then why the h ell doesn''''t the silly b itch speak?"

Posted by kittykatty2

It wouldn''t sound good for her to say "yes, I murdered my daughter so I could return to my partying lifestyle"

[jenni2007-2009]

Stop and ask yourself why a sealed murder indictment was issued if there wasn''t something (or someone) that authorities are trying to keep confidential? Not that I''m convinced that she''s entirely innocent, but I think some of you may be eating your words before long.

[snoopy28173]

I have suspected this mother from day one. If my child were missing for one day or even less I''d be on the phone with 911. I''d be in extreme panic. They''d probably have to give me a sedative just to calm me down some. This lady''''d action convey guilt.

[smurfcrusher]

"Not that I''''m convinced that she''''s entirely innocent, but I think some of you may be eating your words before long."

Posted by Jenni2007

Yeah, I''m sure she only "partially" murdered her daughter.

DUH!

[mcv57]

Okay, does double wife-murderer, retired cops get back-of-the-line privileges??? Yeah, remember the other pyhco Drew Petersen!

[runningralph]

I''m sure Miss Anthony is going through hell right now. The jig is up. The party''s over. She''s caught. We used to classify people like her as insane. Now they call them sick, manic depressive, bi-polar, neurotic etc. They are just plain sick, rotten and evil.

[mcv57]

How can they arrest this woman then allow Drew Peterson to remain free? They have as much on this girl as they do Drew Peterson. The average citizen goes to jail, murderous cops walk the streets.
---------------------------
Posted by howzilla

Can you smell the stinge of judicial and police corruption. The dirty cop drowned his second wife in the bath tub of his own home. Don''t know to many cop wives (with kids) that want to commit self murder in the comfort of there own home.

[shannon5218]

She had plenty of opportunity to talk and she didn''t "want to". The cops should have started cutting her fingers off one by one... who does she think she is... she should go to prison just because she''s an ugly ***!

[tomanyt]

smurfcrusher is channeling Agatha Christie.

[justme1954-2009]

I understand that we should consider everyone innocent until proven guilt, but this case really upsets me, mostly due to the mothers reactions, lies and unwillingness to help find her daughter. She must have a mental illness, maybe in denial. I would still be in a state of panic had my daughter been kidnapped last summer, partying and trying to have a normal life would be on the back burner. I would be hounding the police, media, everyone to try and find my daughter. There is nothing she should fear now that the world knows.

[bobnjersey]

["Casey is going through a nightmare," Jose Baez said. "I sincerely believe that when we have finally spoken, everyone, and I mean everyone, will sit back and say, ''Now, I understand. That explains it." ]

is this strategy or a tactic. this same claim was made a month ago ... yet we still don''t understand ... the child is still missing ... and nobody who would have her best interest in mind knows what happened to her.

[petro49l]

Casey suffers from extreme brain damage. Her paranoid schizophrenia is the reason for the denial. The Judge should order a modified frontal lobotomy to restore her sanity. Brain injuries can be repaired by technical Surgeons. Casey obviously hears voices and hallucinates. Why not treat her delusions?

[rushyyz4]

It''s abvious she''s involved in some way, but I don''t think she intentionaly killed her daughter. I''m guessing she''s a coke, herroin addict or a tweaker.
Her daughter probably got into her stash and OD''d. She panicked because she knows she would still get charged with murder in some degree, and got rid of the body and told the police a pack of lies. Or, maybe the unsupervised daughter drowned in the bathtub while Mommy was partying or doing her boyfriend in the other room. In any event, she has something to do with it and she needs to room with the ugliest, meanest 200-pound bull lesbian in prison.

[liselle3]

It amazes me that her mother stands behind Casey. Even if this woman is not guilty of what she is being accused of, she has no doubt hampered the investigation and been uncooperative. Regardless of the outcome she put her child in danger, she neglected her child, and regardless of whether she directly killed her, she should be held accountable for contributing to or directly being involved in the demise of her own child.

Casey''s mother did her granddaughter no favors by siding with her child when it was clear that her daughter clearly was involved. Another story of a parent siding with the child regardless of what the child has done.

[upto1947]

I hope all the people that say she did kill her daughter. Can come back and said I am sorry for what I said. If it is found she did not do it. Everyone can stand and say she did it, but I don''t hear anyone saying anything after it is found someone like her did not do it.

[liselle3]

Upto1947 - even if she didn''t directly kill her daughter, she directly contributed to her death.

[smurfcrusher]

"I hope all the people that say she did kill her daughter. Can come back and said I am sorry for what I said. If it is found she did not do it. Everyone can stand and say she did it, but I don''''t hear anyone saying anything after it is found someone like her did not do it."

Posted by Upto1947

I bet you believe OJ is innocent, too.

If the shoe fits...

[edward1975-2009]

It is time for this mother to come clean. She has denied that she had any involvement, despite the fact that they found decomposition and blood, the same type as her daughters, in the trunk of her car. Her family has been in denial since day one, even though their daughter has had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, and was supposedly out partying during the time her daughter was missing. I hope I''m wrong because as a parent you couldn''t imagine killing one of your own or anyone else''s child. But I think that I''m not.

[fabrat1]

"I hope all the people that say she did kill her daughter. Can come back and said I am sorry for what I said. If it is found she did not do it. Everyone can stand and say she did it, but I don''''''''t hear anyone saying anything after it is found someone like her did not do it."

Posted by Upto1947

You must be related to this family.....

[newlector]

With all these sad stories, I hope that parents who neglect their kids, pay more attention and be smart not endangering their kids lives. For all those parents who think they have to be quite when their sons and daughters do evil to their grand kids, Don''t feel sorry for your sons and daughters, call the police on them.
If you don''t say anything you are not only a coward but even worst than what they might be, because little kids don''t have the means and the ways to defend themselves Shame on you if you cover a crime.

[rhs648]

"I hope all the people that say she did kill her daughter. Can come back and said I am sorry for what I said. If it is found she did not do it. Everyone can stand and say she did it, but I don''''''''''''''''t hear anyone saying anything after it is found someone like her did not do it."

Posted by Upto1947

You must be related to this family.....

Posted by fabrat1

Like the family and the accused, Upto1947 appears to be in a state of denial. Even the mother originally that the girl had been murdered. Now her daughter is the victim of politics and is being falsely accused of murder.

[alicemode]

No mother, or father for that matter, would wait over a month (supposedly searching for her child) before contacting authorities. Complete no brainer. What I find criminal is that the authorities could do nothing until now due to her uncooperation.

[mydiatribe]

A Grand Jury could be convinced to indict a HAM SANDWICH, however, getting a conviction is another kettle of fish.

Sadly this Casey Anthony is a troubled woman and she had to have done something to that dear poor child that wasn''t good, but proving it was murder will be a stretch. I don''t envy the prosecutor. As long as she keeps her mouth shut the best law enforcement can hope for will be involuntary committment to a state mental hospital

[cutetinia]

I feel sorry for the cadaver dog. He goes around sniffing dead bodies all day.

[legacyabq]

I think Obiden8 is right.. This chick went partying and left the poor girl in the car, where she suffocated. Then, out of guilt and shame, she covered it up.. I hope they find out the truth, whatever it is..
That grandma says stupid things: what the hell does the elction have to do with this?!?
and that lawyer: "why are (investigators) trying to circumvent the constitution?"

HUH? What the hell does *that* mean?

Man, Floridians are weird

[aerodog]

Finally - a start towards justice for this beautiful little girl. I truly think this evil witch of a mom threw her into an alligator-infested lake, which is why no body yet. I pray the baby was already dead. what a monster - makes me sick to my stomach.

[emeraldblue]

Casey evidently learned denial from her mother, who initially said she smelled "death" in the trunk of her daughter''s car, right up until the cadaver dog confirmed the odor of decomposing flesh in the trunk, then suddenly she "remembered" that it was just some old pizza. Oh yeah, I''m always confusing the scent of death with bad pizza. Happens to everyone, doesn''t it? Gotta stop carrying those leftovers in the trunk.

And now she''s blaming politics? Get a clue grandma. It''s not about politics, it''s about your daughter murdering your granddaughter and dumping her body where nobody has yet looked. Wake up and smell the pizza.

[truthislife1]

Those who support abortion are SO MUCH BETTER than this person.

[nothappyatall]

Casey evidently learned denial from her mother, who initially said she smelled "death" in the trunk of her daughter''''s car, right up until the cadaver dog confirmed the odor of decomposing flesh in the trunk, then suddenly she "remembered" that it was just some old pizza. Oh yeah, I''''m always confusing the scent of death with bad pizza. Happens to everyone, doesn''''t it? Gotta stop carrying those leftovers in the trunk.

Posted by emeraldblue"

A dead MOUSE that had nested inside the car''s heater box, trunk or cabin stinks up the whole car, and they can get in thru a tiny crack or hole and die.

[simplemind2]

""Casey is going through a nightmare," Casey Anthony''s attorney
Jose Baez said. "I sincerely believe that when we have finally spoken, everyone, and I mean everyone, will sit back and say, ''Now, I understand. That explains it.""
"when we have finally spoken"?
Who are they kidding?
3-year-old girl Caylee is missing for how long now?
Not only they don''t seem to be worried about her whereabouts - they told the whole world - "when we have finally spoken"?
It seems that both the mother and her attorney are dragging their feet.
Sad and tragic.
The mother needs to be charged accordingly.

[chimpyout]

Nancy Grace can be annoying and repetitive, but we sure appreciate keeping the nation''s attention focused on the "suspect" who has finally been indicted.
Prayers are with the prosecution.

[joenikk]

So anyway, Your Honor, there is this rabbit an he gots a lilly mallet, jus like yours, an he sets there
an as the da kabooms goes by, he takes that lilly hammer an he goes...

[pensacola98]

The prosecution is trying to hustle a conviction with very skimpy evidence. It won''t take much to defend and get a mistrial. While it is clear that something is wrong, and a child is missing, it is not clear whether harmful intentions were present in the disappearance of the child.

Charactar flaws are not sufficient to charge a person with a murder. Many parents share the same sets of charactar flaws and exibit the capacities to raise a successful child.

The fact that a child is missing suggests incompetant parenting, but kidnapping is also a high possibility.

In Corpus Christi, Texas, a 2-3 year old girl was kidnapped in a store and taken from a shopping cart while the mother turned her head away. She alerted the manager who closed the doors and directed a store wide search. The child was found in the womans restroom with her hair cut and dyed a different color. The mother didn''t recognize her child, but her child called out to the mother. The kidnapper was a woman from El Salvador, whose child too, was kidnapped. Her kidnappers demanded her to find a girl matching that description to kidnap and sell into an international adoption ring, or she would never see her own child again. Totally bizarre, but true.

[carlylaine]

My prayers aren''t with either side but with the truth. When you start taking sides the truth is blurred. Listen and read and determine. Don''t pick a side.

I would hate for some of you to be on the jury to convict me of a fly killing. Hopefully, there will be sane people on the jury and will look at the issue and the facts only. I don''t know the facts except what I''ve heard from Nancy bit@h-Grace and the news.

Something is not right...but even still with Nancy Grace''s big flabber jaw....does the truth get out? No, it''s just her VICIOUS venom. She sees evil and corruption in everything. I am highly suspicious of her anger....

Nancy Grace is very bitter. And it shows.

[stickybeak]

The prosecution is trying to hustle a conviction with very skimpy evidence. It won''''t take much to defend and get a mistrial. While it is clear that something is wrong, and a child is missing, it is not clear whether harmful intentions were present in the disappearance of the child.

How do you know what skimpy evidence they have. I think you have no idea what evidence they have. I am willing to bet they have a lot of evidence that the public does not know about

[tubicha]

I believe that the unocupied apartament was used to fool Casey out of that litle Caylee when Casey delivered Caylee she never said she was into the apartament that''s why police dont''t beleieve Casey was telling the true, that litle girl she''s alive waiting to be sold to someone I just pray is not to a Pedophile

[ahrats]

The mother is lying to everyone even herself. She know s where her daughter is but won''t tell anyone hoping for sympathy from the public. If your child was missing would''t you go to the police right away not a month later, unless it was a kidnapping, but where is a ransom note? the whole family is a bunch of liers.

[sunbum33919]

N. Grace has been doing a great job of keeping up with the two mysteries of the missing little girl and the woman from Chicago. You can always change the channel or maybe start your own show if there is other subject matter more interesting. All the lying does tell a lot about a person''s character. Surely there will be evidence coming forward at a later time that we are not privvy to at the moment. But, for corn sakes, lay off Nancy Grace.....

[calicocat6]

To Tubicha: The Sawgrass apartment had been empty for months and Casey claimed she had been there many times. Casey knew people who lived at the Sawgrass Apartments and used that location to cover her alibi. I believe Casey had been planning to eliminate Caylee for some time because (1) she was getting frustrated with having a child to appear to be looked after and maintaining an active social life and (2) Caylee was becoming a liability by being able to talk and tell her grandmother what was really going on when Casey was supposed to be taking her to the "nanny." It was only a matter of time.

[calicocat6]

When I heard Jose Baez say, "I sincerely believe that when we have finally spoken, everyone, and I mean everyone, will sit back and say, ''Now, I understand. That explains it,''" I laughed out loud. What is this man thinking?? There is absolutely NOTHING rational about this woman''s behavior since Day One. Any red-blooded mother with an ounce of compassion would''ve been beside herself had her daughter been abducted, if indeed that was true, which is not in this case. And she wouldn''t have waited one month either. The smell of human decomposition is just that. You can''t buy it, manufacture it, imagine it. It was there. Unless someone was holding a gun to Casey''s head, which they weren''t, what rational person would make up a story like this unless to think that we''re all stupid and she was going to garner sympathy and be believed by all of us? It''s beyond ridiculous! Jose Baez will certainly make a name for himself on this one and he''s counting on that. If that helps him sleep at night, more power to him. But some of these postings sound like there are some pretty naive people out there and that scares me if they''re to be in a future jury pool. I, myself, couldn''t stomach being in the same room with Casey Anthony.

[sunbum33919]

must agree with CalicoCat..... just think when you''ve been at the market and for only a few seconds you couldn''t see your child. Hysteria sets in. You''re frantic. Now imagine if your child were missing for a month or more....how insane would you be? As a mother, years ago when I needed to leave my child with a trusted person for a few days, I was calling every chance I could get for fear of "whatever". I would like to hear something from a Body Language expert....that might be interesting.

[payasyougo]

"Meanwhile, the grandmother of missing Caylee Anthony is blaming politics and the upcoming election on recent leaks concerning the case of her daughter, Casey,"
----
The grandmother will eventually license the rights to this story so that she (the grandmother) can continue to gain attention from this. What a sad family.

[calicocat6]

I heard on the news that police in an unmarked vehicle arrested Casey Anthony as she was slipped from her mother''s car (under an overpass) and into her bail bondsman car! What''s up with that??? Once again, Cindy Anthony is giving mixed signals. She was the one who called 911 to report her granddaughter missing (not the child''s mother), etc., but she doesn''t want her daughter held accountable after all. I hope charges are pressed against Cindy Anthony for (1) destroying evidence when she washed the pants from the trunk and (2) perhaps orchestrating an escape from impending arrest.

[babooph]

No body & a murder charge-that is VERY dangerous -smells bad.

[CMancos]

Let me tell you something, if I leave my kid with a babysitter and I go to get her and she is gone, I am going to call the cops like right now. There is to much BS in this girls mouth but she does deserve a fair trial. Look at that beautiful little girl and say to yourself, is this how a loving mother acts when her child has just dissapeared with a babysitter? She either killed this kid or sold her into so child porn *** ring. I don''t care how scared you are in a situation, you are going to put you kid first and your fear can take a back seat. The only thing they would be putting me in jail for is hunting the b i t ch down who took my kid, but I dont believe her story one bit. Also, she says the smell in her car was old pizza, a dead body and old pizza dont come close to smelling the same. What, not only cant she take care of her baby but she a real slob too? The only thing that stinks here is her entire story. I cant wait to know the truth if we ever will and Florida has the death penalty. It is a shame that she didnt love her child enough to keep her safe or give her to someone that would. They will tare her up in prison.

[cheteunice]

I feel so sad for this poor cild regardless of what happened--she didn''t deserve this family or whatever happened to her.