Number 1 noteworthy crime and punishment story 2008: Caylee Anthony

January 4, 2:59 PMCrime ExaminerCindy Adams

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Caylee Anthony

Two year old Caylee Anthony went missing on or about June 15, 2008 and the only person who appears to know what actually happened to Caylee is her 22-year-old mother, Casey Anthony.  According to Casey, she dropped little Caylee off with a babysitter and has not seen her since. Florida investigators have reported that the babysitter does not exist and the supposed address of the babysitter is an apartment that has not been occupied for several months.

Caylee’s grandmother, Cindy Anthony, contacted the authorities when Casey could not produce her granddaughter for over a month. After detecting a vile odor in Casey’s car Cindy became alarmed, called law enforcement, and this began the investigation into Caylee’s whereabouts.

Casey and Caylee had lived with Cindy and George Anthony from the time Caylee was born, but moved out of their home in June 2008.  Casey told her parents she had dropped Caylee off at the babysitter’s, Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, to watch Caylee while went on a business trip for her employer, Universal Studios.

During this time, it is reported that Casey tells friends that Caylee is spending time with the “nanny.” At the time Caylee is said to be missing, Casey is seen out at clubs drinking and partying with friends. 

During the initial investigation, not only did Casey lie about the babysitter and her address, but she also lied to law enforcement about her employments status. In actuality, Casey had been fired from Universal Studios in 2006. Casey also claims she did not report Caylee missing for a month because she was conducting her own investigation.

Casey was first arrested in July 2008 and charged with making false statements to authorities, obstructing an investigation, and child neglect. During this first incarceration period, Casey’s car was searched and a stain and some hairs were found in the trunk. The hair strands were tested and were determined to be those of Caylee and the strands showed signs of decay.  In addition, traces of chloroform were also found in the trunk. 

In the midst of all this, Casey was in and out of jail after being bailed out by several different parties.  Leonard Padilla, a reality television bounty hunter, was the first to come to Casey's rescue, but regretted the decision to bail her out after he met with her and got the impression she may be guilty of harming her child.

Shortly thereafter, Casey was arrested for fraud because she had stolen and used a friend's checks.  In October 2008, Casey was charged with first-degree murder.

In December 2008, bones were found near the Anthony home in a wooded area that were identified as Caylee's remains.  The Anthony family has been avoiding the public eye since this revelation.

Casey is expected to stand trial for the murder of Caylee in spring 2009.