DNA Confirms Skeletal Remains Are Caylee

Florida Toddler Had Been Missing Since June; Mother Casey Anthony Charged

(CBS/AP)  Skeletal remains found in the woods are the Florida 3-year-old who has been missing since June, but they don't reveal any clues about how she was killed, a county medical examiner said Friday.

A utility worker stumbled upon the remains last week, less than a half-mile from where the girl lived. DNA tests confirm that the remains match Caylee Anthony's genetic profile, said the medical examiner, Dr. Jan Garavaglia.

Caylee's mother, 22-year-old Casey Anthony, was indicted in October on first-degree murder and other charges, even though no body was found. She has insisted that she left the girl with a baby sitter in June, but she didn't report her missing until July.

It took authorities several days to analyze the remains, and some tests are still being completed. Some of the bones were as small as a pebble and had been scattered, and the fragments were hard to find by excavators who searched on their hands and knees, authorities said. The bone fragments did not reveal any trauma before death, Garavaglia said, but exactly what happened to the girl remains a mystery.

I think there's been an open wound in the community. And I believe we can start putting some closure to those open wounds," said Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary, according to CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella.

Investigators say they may have missed an opportunity to make their case stronger, Cobiella reports. The same witness who tipped them off about the little girl's remains told them about the site three times in August.

A search team said they did not check the wooded area sooner because it was submerged in water. Beary said his department was investigating reports that the utility worker who called in the tip leading to the discovery of the remains had tried several times in August to call in his suspicion about a bag in the area.

"If we missed a window of opportunity we don't know," he said. "I'm not throwing anybody under the bus because we don't know. That's why we conduct an administrative review."

A message left for the attorney representing George and Cindy Anthony, Casey's parents, was not immediately returned.

The Orange County utility worker, Roy Kronk, identified himself at a brief afternoon news conference. He said that he had contacted the Orange County Sheriff's office in August to report that he had seen "something suspicious, a bag, in the same area."

Reading from a statement, he said he was cooperating with the sheriff's office and FBI and would not discuss details with the media.

David Evans, his lawyer, said Kronk is not involved in the girl's disappearance.

"His participation in this matter is strictly as a concerned citizen with a sharp eye, good instincts," Evans said. "Those who have speculated to the contrary could not be more wrong."

Evans asked that the media give his client and other utility workers their privacy.

The case captivated the community where the little girl's family lived, and Caylee has been a staple on national news as her grandparents pleaded for tips, promising that the girl was still alive.

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

Police immediately interviewed Anthony and soon said everything she told them about her daughter's whereabouts was false. The baby sitter was nonexistent and the apartment where Anthony said she had last seen Caylee had been empty for months. Anthony also lied about where she worked, they said.

Other troubling details emerged: Photos surfaced of Anthony partying after her daughter went missing. Friends said she was a habitual liar, but also a good mother.

Last month, the Orange County State Attorney turned over almost 800 pages of documents showing someone used the Anthonys' home computer to do Internet searches for terms like "neck breaking" and "household weapons."

In mid-March, someone searched Google and Wikipedia for peroxide, shovels, acetone, alcohol and chloroform. Traces of chloroform, which is used to induce unconsciousness and a component of human decomposition, were found in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car during forensic testing, the documents say.

[ekucrew]

All child killers should be bound and tossed into a gator-filled swamp.

[cherry9105]

RIP ANGEL! LET''S GIVE HER A FINAL RESTING PLACE AND FOCUS ON THAT _____ OF A "MOTHER"!!!!!!!!!

[hissteps4u]

It is truly sad but I am thankfulk that the police and FBI and DR G are doing a great Job and now the focus will certainly be on the lying mother and her pitiful excuses and she will likely Burn for her killing of this child. The evidence has mounted that the connection to the home through evidence at the scene is overwhelming and certainly implicates the mother in this and we will see what the court shows as the trial will eventually get on the way next year sometime while the mother sits in Jail and ponders her fate. I hope they go after the death penality in this. such a brutal way for this Baby to end up and such stupidity on the mothers part it seems.

I hope they toss the book at her

[hissteps4u]

Davicar 3 Are you so clueless to believe that the Mother if grieving for her lost child when she did not even give a *** she was missing for a whole Month and did not report it at all to anyone at all???? What cluless world do you live in to make such a stupid statement of disbelief??? Your ignorance is truly showing...........


I feel so sorry for that girls Mother...all these months clinging to hope, and now all is lost. I can`t imagine how she is taking the news. It must be terrible to lose a child.

I wonder if somebody killed her, or if she just wandered off and crawled into that bag and suffocated?


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Posted by DaVicar3

[butterflync]

All along I had some small dim bit of hope that she would be found alive. This is just heartbreaking. I can''t believe how this woman could to this ...and to her OWN CHILD! She is disguisting and troubled.

I hope justice is done for this sweet and innocent little angel. May she rest in peace, and I hope the jury isn''t touched by this innocent, "Oh I''m just a little sweet young mother" act that Casey Anthony is trying to pull.

Can''t wait to turn on Nancy Grace tonight!

[rrozsa-2009]

to Hissteps4u - I think you missed the sarcasm in DaVicar3''s post. No one really thinks she crawled into the bag and smothered. It was (I presume) meant to emphasize how preposterous Casey''s claims really sound.

[volleymom3]

How could anyone hurt their own child? Every day I hug and kiss both of my daughters and tell them I love them. There are days they test the very fiber of my tolerance, but I could never hurt them.

[grammy703]

Isn''t it strange that no one seems concerned about the father of this poor little angel?????

[cherry9105]

Grammy703 - From what I understand the father of Caylee was killed in a car accident a while back before she went missing.

[a_witness-2009]

I can''t believe that the cops were so stupid as to not jump on the first call about the bag. They most likely were on the way to the donut shop and couldn''t be bothered with a call about a bag of trash that someone threw out into the woods and they certainly would not want to get their fresh shined shoes wet either.

[a_witness-2009]

Hang on folks there is nothing to say that it was a month, it could have just been two days. From the end of the past month until the begining of the next month. Don''t assume anything or that she is the one that did it. Maybe the baby sitter did do it or her grandfather, who knows. A child being with the baby sitter for 24 hours is not a big deal. Question is if the baby sitter dropped the girl off at the grandparents house where grandmother was gone and something happened. Grand father has his way maybe and puts the kid in the trunk of his daughters car until he can get rid of it. There are all kinds of possibilities here and even those who have convicted her may be dead wrong, but want to take the easy way out.

[a_witness-2009]

Here is another sinearo. Maybe she had her husband wacked in an accident and she couldn''t pay and the terminator took the child as payment against the mother. There are all kinds of possibilities, think outside the box and donut shop.

[nirak2-2009]

I would like to give Casey the benefit of doubt, but that is almost impossible as she partied instead of looking for her daughter and doesn''t seem to give a ***.
There are monsters in this world and she seems to be one of them.

[frootloophhh]

DaVicar....were you, per chance, on the OJ Simpson jury? :-)

[frootloophhh]

Has it ever become public who the father of Caylee is? From all the coverage I''ve watched, the father has never been mentioned.

[plplearecrzy]

DaVicar3 I have one word for you...lunatic

[mandi2282]

a_witness let me just say this.. Maybe there isnt a book of how someone should act when something terrible happens.. but let me tell you what.. if my child went missing.. and it was the babysitter who I last saw her with one minute wouldnt go by without me calling the police and reporting it!!! Caylee deserved better then what her "mother" did to her and for her! and the proof is in the pictures.. Casey out at night clubs doing her "own investigation" oh what she figured she had 5 minutes to have a drink and take a picture?? NO! I would not sleep untill my child was found.. I would not sleep untill the person who took her was found.. I mean come on it took her over a month to report her daughter missing ONE MONTH! 30DAYS! 720 HOURS!43,200 MINUTES!! that is COMPLETLEY UNACCEPTABLE! as a mother your suppose to protect your children.. not kill them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mrschassis]

davicar, obviously your last name is anthony. and for the record, i don''t profess to know or care what casey anthony thought during the month she didn''t bother to report her baby missing, but i will tell you this..... actions speak louder than her words. and by her actions, she didn''t care at all.

[jw4949]

its good that they found her she can now be at piece. :(

[susieq_13]

This is such as sad sad story. At least now her body can be laid to rest properly and not in some muddy swamp area where her mom left her. RIP Caylee...you are in a much better place sweetie.

[juniorsgv-2009]

well anyone who follows any missing cases knows there''s a small window of time before you know it will end up tragic. 30 days plus pass, and mother and grandmother only hindering search. were''nt there stories that they didn''t even help in the searches? and assuming they did they''re own investigation, i''d have to see huge phone bills, and gas/travel expenses. now they will push for this utility worker as the culprit to try and deflect some attention away. area was flooded, someone had to have seen something suspicious in that area.

[jw4949]

Spread your little wings Caylee! Fly as fast as you can away from this place of hate and evil. You are in a better place and are a guardian angel now. Jenna take care of her like one of your own and love and care for her like she has no-one for her! RIP Caylee! :) you are missed and loved!!!!!!

[rrozsa-2009]

jw4949 - Was that intended as a play on words or did you mean ''peace''?

[jw4949]

?

[nirak2-2009]

EXACTLY RAFLIN!
I am a grandmother and no way, no how would I defend my daughter if she killed one of her kids.
Loving your kids I understand but defending someone like Casey and maybe even hang the crime on someone else is where I draw the line.

[plplearecrzy]

Apparently DiVicar you have not read the case file contained on the Orlando Sentinel website as have I. It''s worth reading. Casey Anthony is a habitual liar who lied to her parents and friends about the whereabouts of her daughter for over 30 days until her mother finally was fed up and reported the child missing to the police. Casey Anthony them formed an elaborate "story" to cover her a** that quickly fell apart. You''ll have to excuse me if I don''t believe that someone else murdered this child. It''s quite clear who the real murderer is...it''s Casey Anthony!

[rrozsa-2009]

its good that they found her she can now be at piece. :(


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Posted by Jw4949 at 03:52 PM : Dec 19, 2008

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I was referring to your use of the word "piece"....

[blogthis1]

This guy saw a bag that rose his curiousity enough to call police but not if enough to want to open the bag? I sure as hell would peeked in the bag BEFORE calling police.

[spiritwalk]

I find it incredible that the grandmother of the dead girl still clings to the belief that her daughter didn''''t do it. But then I guess she''''d have to accept some guilt knowing that she raised a murderer.
Posted by raflin0010
-----------------------------------
Don''t you also find it incredible that she is defending her daughter by suggesting that maybe her son is the killer? (It seems she can accept the fact that one of her children is a murderer.)
What I find incredible is that so many people want to excuse the grandmother''s actions by saying that the poor thing is is denial and that makes it understandable. (It has been a long time since I took Psych 101, but I did not know that denial has now become a healthy method of dealing with a crisis.)
Then there is the grandfather. A man who spent 10 yeas as a homocide detective. I have to wonder, seeing as how he has tried again and again to plant false leads in this homocide, if there might be other cases in which he has planted false evidence. There may be a few people he put behind bars that shouldn''t be there.
Perhaps it means nothing, but from the very beginning this family has been trying to pin this killing on someone else from Zanni the Nanny to even the brother.
It doesn''t seem too far a stretch to suspect that there may be a patern of planting false evidence in the family and somebody had better look at the case of the people this guy put away.

[plplearecrzy]

dude...she died over four months ago...get a grip.


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Posted by DaVicar3 at 04:21 PM : Dec 19, 2008

Someone must not have loved you enough when you were little

[rrozsa-2009]

BlogThis1 -- Yeah, it makes you wonder why he was so intent on calling the police time after time yet never looked for himself. It''s almost like he knew all along what was in the bag, but finally gave up and realized they police weren''t going to take him seriously unless he s-p-e-l-l-e-d i-t o-u-t.

Maybe the earlier poster who thought he might have had some involvement with Casey (we know she would sleep with anyone), and maybe assisted with her cover-up, had a point. Casey has seemed awfully anxious for everyone to find that body-- she has dropped hints, such as "I just feel she''s still near home" and "when they find Caylee everything will make sense". Like she felt the duct tape would help clinch her kidnapper story.

Maybe the meter worker has been trying to help her out by directing police to the "mysterious garbage sack", before the duct tape got scattered and disappeared with the rest of the bones, and finally had to "find" the skull just to sort of "get the ball rolling"?

Just a thought...

[mizzerz]

Why the fascination about the murder of a little girl in Florida. What makes this a national story? Do the media have so little to do but cover a local story nationally? I guess It was discovered during sweeps week.

[plplearecrzy]

Be kind to people that''s all

[plplearecrzy]

oops maybe I should take my own advice...sorry for calling you a lunatic

[ccdsswrkr08]

Why the fascination about the murder of a little girl in Florida. What makes this a national story? Do the media have so little to do but cover a local story nationally? I guess It was discovered during sweeps week.


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Posted by mizzerz at 04:31 PM : Dec 19, 2008

you my dear are a contradiction. You''re reading the article, and posting on the comments, so you''re apparently interested.

[rrozsa-2009]

mizzerz -- You probably didn''t think it deserved national attention when Baby Jessica fell down the well and people worked for days to get her out, several years ago. What makes this one interesting to the public is the fact that the drama isn''t over and done with yet. After the trial the talk will go away, just like the OJ trial and others.

[westvernon46]

They should take this kid''s mother and string her up right on the 6 o''clock news.Then maybe the next sick person will think twice before they something like this to an inocent child

[JRC_903]

The funny thing about lying to the police is that even if you are innocent, it tends to make whatever you say seem like you are just trying to get away with murder. So--for those who cling to the notion that somehow someone else did this crime---it is possible--but not likely. In so far as the grandparents are concerned: in all likelihood, they are guilty of a crime as well. I am particularly interested in seeing what they do with the grandmother--she has been obnoxious with her claims of false persecution for her daughter.. i.e her assertions that she knows her daughter could not have possibly done this.. Of course, everyone has an opinion--but she has been actively trying to obstruct this investigation.

[jcruize1]

I dont get all this people actually thinking that Anthony is innocent! Fact is only a MOTHER can understand when I say that I as a mother WOULD NEVER wait a month to report my child missing! N-E-V-E-R! So save me the drama of innocent to proven guilty in this case bcs that''s BS if I ever heard it! I live for my child, I breathe for my child and I would give my life for my child!

[keno2969]

The death of a little child...How sad..I sure hope whoever did this can rest at night.

[caligula1--2008]

" The meter reader isn''t a suspect in the girl''s disappearance "

Why not? Serial killers would LOVE Jobs as meter readers since it allows close access to private residences without question. Consider the following scenario. Casey is a lazy cheap ***, and she leaves her kid at home alone, locked up so she can''t get out, while she goes to work. She won''t admit to anyone that the child was unattended for obvious reasons (hence her shifting stories) and thinks Caylee just wandered off, or one of her shiftless friends with keys to the place made off with her.

That would explain her reluctance to involve the police, her denial, etc.

Now we get to the meter reader, who apparently tries to call the crime scene in several times so he can "watch" them recover the body, but fails. He figures eventually they''ll find it, but they don not. He gets frustrated, and finally "finds" the skull so they can''t ignore him anymore. Serial killers LOVE to watch one of their victims being "discovered".

Yepper, if I was Casey''s lawyer I''d be doing handstands about now, because although they found the body, they found nothing that ties Casey to the body, which is even more exculpatory since, given all that time, if she wanted to do a PROPER job of disposing of the body, she could have.

[cattiej]

I think the case has been in the National headlines because many of the people in our country are having a very hard time now and we were all hoping against hope that this child would be found alive. When the daily news shows had video of this little girl just sitting and looking at a book, a very innocent child, none of us in our right minds would want any harm to come to her. We do not want any harm to come to any children. They are our future. It is a sad sad statement in our country when any child is harmed. Children in other countries are starving to death because there leaders are dictators. God is watching.
Who ever hurt and killed this child when someday meet with the one who has the book of life and then they will get there answer on what it will cost them for taking the life of an innocent child. I can''t help but think of all the innocent children in Iraq and Afganhastan who have also lost their lives with this senseless war that George Bush and his gang have started. They too will answer to the holder of the book of life.

[JRC_903]

The meter man most likely does not have any selfish interest in this case. Other than that he assumed that calls made to the police in August were investigated and found to be non important.. Only to go back and discover things for himself. I am sure the police have looked into his background before declaring him a "just good citizen." I think the hurricane may have played into this case---to the extent that someone may have forgotten to do something after the waters receded etc etc.

[beth.cornell]

I think there should be an investigation as to why the reports in August weren''t seriously taken. Maybe we would have had all the answers by now.

[osiod9]

Give Cheney and Rumsfeld a couple hours with Casey Anthony and I bet she comes clean...guilty or not.

[citizenusa-2009]

"Friends said she was a habitual liar, but also a good mother".

***????

[rrozsa-2009]

cigi-fubar - Except that likely she locked the kid up to go party, not go to work, since she didn''t even have a job. Or maybe she was actually there, but was too stoned to call the police when it happened.

[rrozsa-2009]

cattieJ -- Please don''t bring politics into this. There are lots of little girls in Afghanistan who are now able to go to school for the first time in their lives since females were not allowed to under the old regime, so your inflammatory comment was just like your name -- "catty"! Me-ow!

[mdalerwill]

What a time of year to have to break this kind of news to those who cared for Caylee. I hope they can take what little comfort there is to be had in the fact that she can be laid to rest with the care and respect she did not receive in life.

As to some of the theories I''ve read here, this is the second time I''ve seen comments on this site accusing Caylee''s grandfather of raping and murdering her. Where in the world is that coming from? I haven''t seen anything in any news stories indicating those kinds of tendencies in his past. I would certainly hope people are basing their comments on more than the fact that he''s a man and that some of them thought he was "creepy". Jeez, you don''t accuse someone of being a child-molester and a child-killer based on the fact that you think he''s creepy. It''s bad enough that the man has to face the fact that his granddaughter is dead, and that it looks very likely that his own daughter is the killer, without people trying to make him out to be something so disgusting.

Fault him, perhaps, for trying to protect his daughter when he should have been pressing her for the truth. Fault him if it turns out he helped cover up evidence. But suggesting he did these things for no other reason than he''s "creepy" is just pouring salt in the family''s wounds.

[rrozsa-2009]

Seriously? A meter-reading taking a whizz in the woods sees a plastic bag...
how many man-hours do you want to devote to every plastic bag within say, 1 square mile of the missing persons house?
Remember, this area WAS NOT considered a crime scene in August, and there were over 5000 other tips.

It sounds like you are creating artificial outrage with the benefit of some really incredible hindsight.


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Posted by DaVicar3 at 05:07 PM : Dec 19, 2008

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For once I agree with you -- if the meter reader had opened the bag rather than just calling it in, and then waited around to lead them to the direct spot, then we could all be justifiably outraged that the officials didn''t take it seriously.