Facing Murder Rap, Fla. Mom Stays Silent

Casey Anthony Denied Bond By Judge In Case Surrounding Missing 3-Year-Old Daughter

(CBS/ AP)  The mother of a missing 3-year-old Florida girl went before a judge Wednesday to hear charges she killed her daughter, a day after she was indicted following four months of searches that yielded no sign of the child.

Casey Anthony, 22, went before Judge John Jordan, who read the charges against her and denied bond. Dressed in a blue jail jumpsuit, Anthony made no comment during the 90-second hearing. Her attorney, Jose Baez, declined comment afterward. She will be arraigned in about 30 days.

Anthony was arrested Tuesday after a grand jury indicted her on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter and four counts of lying to investigators about the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee.

Casey Anthony has been the primary suspect throughout most of the investigation, CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver reports.

The case has captivated the Orlando suburb where the family lives, and teams of volunteers have looked for the doe-eyed child with brown hair and bangs for months. No body has been found, and prosecutors have questioned why the child's mother didn't contact authorities even though the girl had been gone for a month.

Casey Anthony wept before the indictment was handed up Tuesday, and her attorney said she would be vindicated.

"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,"' Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, said Tuesday as he stood next to his client before the indictment was issued.

Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary said investigators' satisfaction that the indictment had been issued was tempered by what it concludes: That Caylee was apparently killed.

"Speaking as a father, a day doesn't pass where I wish the evidence that we have gathered didn't add up to the painfully obvious," he said, adding that investigators will continue looking. "Sadly, I cannot change the facts surrounding the investigation."

If convicted of first-degree murder, Anthony could face the death penalty or life in prison. Prosecutors said no decision has been made on whether to seek the death penalty.

After the indictment was announced, Baez spokesman Todd Black said Lamar was rushing the case to the grand jury as a ploy to get re-elected.

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.

For part of the grand jury hearing, the external audio system of the courtroom was left on, feeding into media trucks outside. Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. warned members of the news media that they could be charged with criminal contempt if they made public what was said, since grand jury proceedings are secret. Perry said he didn't know what may have been heard.

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 an event planner.

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.

[ztdangel]

what probably happened was that she went to her friends house. When she got there Caylee was sleeping so not to inconvience herself, she left her sleeping in the car. When she returned to get her, she died of heat exhaustion. It was June in Florida, we all know how hot it gets there at that time.

That is the only thing that i have been able to think of happened. I think that she panicked and continuously called her mom to find out what to do. I think her mom does have something to do with it. She''s a weirdo just like her daughter.

may little Caylee rest in peace.

[leesa429]

Casey is a manipulative, calculating, murderous bi!@#. She killed her child and then covered it up. As a mother, there is no way you can tell me that if someone was watching my child and took off with her, I wouldn''t go absoutely crazy. I would not wait a month before reporting it or even use my own resources to find her....I would call in the special forces to find her. Casey is a compulsive liar and is only concerned with protecting herself....she knows what happened to her daughter and she will never tell. She should get the death penalty.

[psychfl08]

"There is plenty of proof to do that for me and lots and lots of witnesses. My assumptions are just as "astounding" as practically everyone familiar with this case."
Really?

I don''t see any proof other than circumstancial evidence. Most of which cannot be used at trial and won''t be allowed in.

I have not made up my mind about her, if she is guilty fine, if she isn''t whatever I don''t care about her guilt. What I do care about is you all not allowing her to get a fair trial. Thats my concern.

Please read the comments made by your peers (especially the on that said she was a dog and deserves death like a dog). It might open your eyes.

[calicocat6]

To PsychFLO8: Sounds like you''ve also made up your mind "before ever being asked to sit on the jury." Perhaps you didn''t know this, but it''s okay to have an opinion. This is a forum, remember? And I wouldn''t have to "lie to the judge, prosecutor, and defense teams just to get onto the jury to convict her" (I don''t think you meant to include the defense team in this jab). There is plenty of proof to do that for me and lots and lots of witnesses. My assumptions are just as "astounding" as practically everyone familiar with this case. And to say that I "and almost everyone elses on this board) you would just do away with the Justice system and kill her on the spot," is a bit much. I''ll wait until she''s convicted of Murder One. By the way, did you serve on the jury of OJ''s murder trial?

[psychfl08]

PsychFLO8, this case is a no-brainer. Haven''''t you been reading the papers and watching the news? DNA and forensics ARE physical evidence. And there will be lots more where that came from in the trial! The strand of hair found in the trunk was confirmed to be Caylee''''s and it had a band of color that only appears in the hair of a corpse. The only "speculation" here is HOW she killed Caylee, not IF she killed her.
Posted by calicocat6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If the police came and searched your trunk they would find DNA and forensic evidence that you were in your trunk (aka skin cells that fall off after you unload your groceries. I am not saying that she is innoncent. I am saying that people like you who jump to conclusions are ruining our country.

Its people like you who make up their mind before ever being asked to sit on the jury. And its people like you who would lie to the judge, prosecutor, and defense teams just to get onto the jury to convict her.

Your assumptions are astounding.

By your opinions (and almost everyone elses on this board) you would just do away with the Justice system and kill her on the spot. Stop acting like this is the middle ages.

SHE IS INNONCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

[calicocat6]

PsychFLO8, this case is a no-brainer. Haven''t you been reading the papers and watching the news? DNA and forensics ARE physical evidence. And there will be lots more where that came from in the trial! The strand of hair found in the trunk was confirmed to be Caylee''s and it had a band of color that only appears in the hair of a corpse. The only "speculation" here is HOW she killed Caylee, not IF she killed her.

[psychfl08]

"grand jury found that there was enough evidence? This is not the prosecution, but a jury of her peers."

Right because I am sure that the "jury of her peers" weren''t influnenced by the media creating this story into a 3ring circus. You are right that grand jury wasn''t tainted at all, its not like there has been 24/7 reports about this story since the girl was reported missing....oh wait there was.

You are saying to put her down like a dog, but you don''t know the evidence or anything about this trial (because the evidence hasn''t been presented yet). But yet you condemn her anyways. Yeah you are just another biased person who is blinded with outrage about this story so you condemn anyone associated with it even if they don''t deserve to be condemned.

[psychfl08]

If the child is dead then where is the body? Where is the PHYSICAL evidence that she commited this crime? Oh wait thats right there isn''t any, there isn''t anything more than speculation.

The decomposition? LOL have you even read the reports? The experts have stated that there isn''t enough phyiscal evidence of decomposition because the few strands of hair they found did not have roots attached and could have fallen onto anything (clothing etc) and gotten into the trunk. Over 1/2 of this evidence cannot be used in court.

If she is guilty then the jury should figure that out, if she is not guilty and there is no evidence and she is still condemned then its not a fair trial.

[psychfl08]

"Casey somehow thought she had everyone fooled. What scares me most about her is that she is not insane. She is a psychopath who is aware of the destruction she leaves in her wake and just doesn''''t care. If her family wants to continue to portray her as a loving mother and that some day "we''''ll get it", it''''s because that''''s what gets them through the night. The forensic evidence, witness testimony and text messages reflect her lack of concern for her daughter the entire time even while she was rotting in the trunk. Who would do that even to an animal?? Sure, we''''d like to have footage of Casey actually committing murder, but short of that, experienced detectives and scientists conclude what we feared all along. There are no mitigating circumstances. Caylee was becoming a millstone around Casey''''s neck and she wanted it removed. This constitutes motive and she had opportunity. "

This is all speculation. If you were on her jury you would have already made up your mind. How can you condemn someone without knowing the evidence that is presented at her trial? This is what I have a problem with. Its people like you that make assumptions about guilt or innoncence based on what the media tells you, rather than remaining unbiased and listening to the trial. I hope you learn something about yourself from this mess. Innoncent until PROVEN guilty. What can you not comprehend about that?

[calicocat6]

To PsychFLO8: Are you related to Baez? There is plenty of circumstantial evidence, DNA and hair evidence to satisfy forensic experts. How in the world would body fluids and traces of human decomposition get into her trunk otherwise? (And please don''t say it was "planted.") Everyone is entitled to a reasonable defense and that''s what Baez is trying to provide; however, Casey somehow thought she had everyone fooled. What scares me most about her is that she is not insane. She is a psychopath who is aware of the destruction she leaves in her wake and just doesn''t care. If her family wants to continue to portray her as a loving mother and that some day "we''ll get it", it''s because that''s what gets them through the night. The forensic evidence, witness testimony and text messages reflect her lack of concern for her daughter the entire time even while she was rotting in the trunk. Who would do that even to an animal?? Sure, we''d like to have footage of Casey actually committing murder, but short of that, experienced detectives and scientists conclude what we feared all along. There are no mitigating circumstances. Caylee was becoming a millstone around Casey''s neck and she wanted it removed. This constitutes motive and she had opportunity.

[Netterz]

"For part of the grand jury hearing, the external audio system of the courtroom was left on, feeding into media trucks outside. Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. warned members of the news media that they could be charged with criminal contempt if they made public what was said, since grand jury proceedings are secret. Perry said he didn''t know what may have been heard."
Great, now she has a legal loop hole, and will be let off on the technecality, should it become conclusive, that she murdered her child.
No babysitter in an empty for months apt, and upon finding the woman that she claimed babysat, infact NEVER EVEN MET THE MOTHER OR CHILD.
I dont think this case is rocket science, nor brain surgery.
She was out partying in bars, acting very much the part of a childless woman after she claims the baby disappeared.
Cold, calculating young woman who no longer wanted to be a mother.
Very hard to commit the perfect crime and get away with murder anymore.
I feel sick inside when I think of this baby and the rest of her family that obviously loved her.

[Meg003]

Casey probably killed her daughter because of delusional thinking, hallucinations, and hearing voices.

Posted by Petro49L

Where did you learn that she hears voices? She definitely seems to have a serious personality disorder, with manipulative behavior and self-serving lies, but I have seen no evidence to indicate a psychotic break with reality.

[qz93302]

Well - if they had nothing - they wouldn''t have indicted her.

[psychfl08]

everyone deserves an adequate defense. Remember there is no proof in this case none at all.

[qz93302]

Doesn''t anyone ever wonder how the DEFENSE attorneys can sleep at night? It''s astounding to me!

[psychfl08]

This is ridiculous.

Its nice to see so many condemn the woman before the trial even begins. This story has become a circus and its bored people like you all that need drama that are making it worse for everyone involved.

Just think about choosing a jury for this trial...how many unbiased or untainted people in Orlando don''t know about this issue and can adequately serve on the jury?

What happend to "innoncent until proven guilty"? You all want to make assumptions without any hard facts...

[cricketbeers]

For part of the grand jury hearing, the external audio system of the courtroom was left on, feeding into media trucks outside. Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. warned members of the news media that they could be charged with criminal contempt if they made public what was said, since grand jury proceedings are secret. Perry said he didn''t know what may have been heard. --

I''m assuming this was an accident? HA! We''ll probably read about this in the appeal from the "guilty" verdict months down the road.

It is easy for me to believe that an adult killed another adult in a fit of rage, passion, etc. But I cannot fathom, even for a second, killing a child - especially YOUR OWN CHILD and then continuing on in life as if nothing had changed. She''s psychotic and needs to be off the streets.

It will be interesting to see just what her attorney is talking about when he says "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 highly doubt it.

[czmdm]

All sicko murderers try and cover their tracks. The really whacked out person in this case is Casey''s mom.

[easeup-2009]

I''m sure her milfness will make her popular in prison...

[petro49l]

Casey suffers from an extreme mental illness. The Judge should order a technical scan of her head. She should be treated with psychiatric medication instead of state prison. Casey probably killed her daughter because of delusional thinking, hallucinations, and hearing voices.