Missing: Caylee Anthony
She missed celebrating her 3rd birthday with her family. No cake, no candles, no presents for little Caylee Marie Anthony of Orlando, Florida. She has been missing since sometime after June 15th . Her birthday was August 9th.
Now, a couple of numbskull bail bondsmen have given Caylee’s secretive, lying mother the gift of freedom - again. For the second time Mom gets bail on child neglect charges and leaves jail to watch from the comfort of home as others try to clean up her horrible mess.
Where is Caylee? Read more and vote in my online poll after the jump…
The child and her unmarried mom, Casey, had always lived with her maternal grandparents. But after Mom broke up with a boyfriend and met a new man on the internet, sometime in late May, mother and daughter moved out. The new boyfriend says Mom moved in to his place but not with the little girl.
Incriminating photos surfaced of Caylee’s 22 year old mother whooping it up at a local bar about the same time she now claims her daughter went missing. A local tattoo parlor says she visited there and was happy-go-lucky. The new boyfriend says Casey spent time helping him at his DJ job and cooking and cleaning at his apartment. Cozy arrangement.
Casey Anthony, inexplicably, took 31 days to file a police report after she says her daughter disappeared - and only then because her mother forced the issue. Casey told detectives her daughter had been staying with a nanny who ran away with the child. But no one has ever seen this nanny, no payments to a nanny were found and authorities believe she never existed. Police say Casey Anthony remains “emotionless … stoic and monotone” when they speak to her about her missing baby.
Casey Anthony is a proven liar. She’s woven tales about her daughter’s last location, mysterious phone calls, her job (actually, she didn’t have one), why she asked a neighbor to borrow a shovel and why the trunk of her car contained maggots and smelled like a dead body. Forensic tests conducted on matter found in her car trunk concluded it once held a decomposing human body and traces of chloroform. There is only one body who is missing from Casey’s sphere and that’s her 3 year old daughter, Caylee. Authorities reportedly seized a computer on which Casey researched how to use chloroform.
Police originally charged Casey with child neglect, giving a false statement and obstruction of a criminal investigation. She was in prison for about a month, released on bond and then when she continued to refuse to come clean on the whereabouts of her daughter, exasperated authorities tossed her back in jail on charges of theft and check forgery. Seems she may have stolen 740 dollars from a girlfriend.
Want to bet she’ll ultimately be charged with murder?
Infanticide happens. More than 200 American women kill their children every year. But unlike Andrea Yates who immediately called police after drowning her five children; unlike Susan Smith who ultimately confessed to strapping her two sons in a car and driving it into a lake, Casey Anthony remains mum.
Somewhere deep in her twisted mind she believes she isn’t required to account for the whereabouts of her tiny child, she believes she’ll “win” at this mind game if she just stays silent.
Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, President of the Violent Crimes Institute, says Casey is displaying typical escapist behavior. She calls it the “White Picket Fence Fantasy” whereby young women long for a knight in shining armor to rescue them from their boring lives. When it doesn’t happen reality seeps in and instead of feeling love for their child they begin to feel seething anger. “Everything that has gone wrong becomes the fault of the child,” says Dr. Shurman-Kuflin who has interviewed many female serial killers and mass murderers and profiles the mind-set.
So, that leaves the Orlando Sheriff’s Department to untangle Casey’s web of deceit. Imagine the man-hours they’ve expended so far! Imagine their dilemma in dealing with the fate of a tiny child and her mother who they can’t crack. Should effort be spent trying to make the liar speak truth or on searching for a toddler who might be dead?
A study of mothers who murder reveals most dispose of their children’s bodies in “a womb-like way.” The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports the victims are often found carefully wrapped in plastic or submerged in water and the bodies were usually found within ten miles of the family home. In an eerie aside, Casey told her brother during a prison phone call,
“In my gut she’s still ok and it still feels like she’s close to home. There’s this type of bond you have with your kid … it’s unexplainable.”
Yeah, right, lady - it is unexplainable.
Vote in this week’s online poll:
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
It is a sad and suspicious case. I hope the police are building a solid, deliberate case against her.
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Diane, this case has been bizarre and baffling right from the start. This woman is a pathological liar and still seems to get away with it. What I don;t understand is that she has not been arrested yet for the “Murder” of this child. The chlorofoam in the car is excessive so why can;t they arrest her for that? I’ve been watching Nancy’s how every night and there is always something more each day. I hope to God, this nutbag gets what she deserves. The grandparents baffle me even more….it is pretty obvious they know more than they are letting on too. Cindy is just so “odd” but understandably wants to believe her granddaughter is alive until proven otherwise. I guess I understand that….having that small piece of hope. Anyway, this case makes me so angry that I can hardly stand watching it - lets hope she gets what she deserves soon.
Diane, get yourself back on the telly - I am missing you.
Lyn in Minneapolis
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From Attorney Doug B.
With all respect, and I think you appreciate this, this notion of “what type of parent would refuse to cooperate in this search?” Well, how about one who if they do cooperate may end up in prison for the rest of their life.
You have the myth version and the reality version. The myth, as popularized by cable tv shows, is that a loving parent somehow becomes a science fiction character and brutally kills her child, then covers it all up, and then refuses to cooperate. That’s absurd.
The reality is that you had a person totally unfit to parent, who then got in a jealousy situation with her own mother, then due to drinking, partying, etc. ended up totally neglecting the child probably to the point of some accident like leaving her in a hot car or becoming angry and losing it tragically. Then she completely and totally panicked, and is now suffering from severe mental infirmities. That’s basically what happened.
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Diane,
This case is so tragic. Yet another instance of an unfit mother who had a child for all the wrong reasons. Children are disposable to women like this, they serve their purpose until something better comes along, like a new beau. Anyone with half a brain believes she is a pathological liar. To not report your child missing, to the partying, to the uninterested attitude points us right into the direction of the truth—-that she is a cold hearted killer. Her parents are equal in blame as far as I am concerned. She may be their daughter, but Caylee was their grandchild and an angelic child at that. If they look inward,they know the type of deceitful daughter Casey is. After all wasn’t it the mother that called the police to report her daughter for theft. All those poor people searching fruitlessly in the heat. I hope Casey rots in prison for the rest of her life.
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DD-
We have seen stories where the child suddently turned up alive. Who will ever forget Elizabeth Smart? Miracles do happen. But, sadly, these cases usually have a sad and all too common end. Most kids are hurt/killed by their own parents and relatives.
JB
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Diane Reply:
September 7th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Jerry, Let’s hope for another Elizabeth Smart miracle, shall we?
~DD
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From Steve Hartz:
“No, there was another dead body in the trunk. Caylee is with the babysitter somewhere. Didn’t you hear Cindy and George? Casey Anthony is a good mom. Oh wait! The chloroform was just the another of several pieces of evidences indicating that Caylee has been murdered!
Yes, justice will, I pray be served, regardless of finding the body. Shame on the entire Anthony family for not cooperating with the investigaters. Shame on Casey for not leading investigators to Caylee’s body so the 3-year old (she was 2 when she was murdered) can have a proper burial and rest in peace.”
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….the Bible does quote God as saying, “they who would hurt a child, it would be better if they had never been born..”
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Diane Reply:
September 7th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Can’t argue with that sentiment!
~DD
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That is a terrible shame. An unfit mother, apparently lying through her teeth and taking an unacceptable amount of time to report the disappearance of her child. I have to agree with Diane that the truth is seeming more and more apparent as to what really did occur. As disgusting as it sounds, I think Caylee has much to do with the disappearance with her daughter.
The chloroform research, the stupid silence, it all points to the obvious and unfortunate probability of what happened.
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Diane,
How sad that this child has not been found in order to give her a proper burial. I would commend the police department in not rushing to charge the mother with murder until they have all “i”s dotted and “t”s crossed before charging her. Not having a body certainly makes it much harder for them, but I’m sure that with all the new technology out there to help them, the truth will come out and then, maybe, “Mom” will regain her memory and lead the police to the body.
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You;re right, Madeleine,
No one wants the police to rush into arresting someone on flimsy evidence. But I’ll tell you I have covered cases where arrest warrants are issued on less circumstantial evidence. Scott Peterson comes to mind, of course.
Interesting to note: maybe the police are hoping that the Mom, Casey, will make a mistake now that she’s out of prison. There could very well be a method to their patience. ~DD
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I just want to know would it be possible to burn Caylee’s body and then would the searchers be able to find ashes? I also would like to know if Casey had no job, and no income why would she have a baby sitter / nanny to begin with? If Casey’s mom was so concerned about her daughter and granddaughter, why did she not answer the phone calls Casey made to her on her cellular ? also to her fathers phone?
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Diane Reply:
September 13th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Madeline:
Who says phone calls were actually made to Cindy and George Anthony? I just don’t know what to take as truth in this case so I question EVERYTHING. Including the possibility that the poor child was tossed in a swamp somewhere. Nothing would surprise me! ~ DD
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From Steve Hartz:
“…Just remember as George, the grandfather, said, it was not Caylee in the trunk of his daughter’s car. It was another body.
It is so said that a former officer of the law (yes, I know he is a father and grandfather) does not want to really give his granddaughter the proper burial so she can rest in peace. His daughter (Casey) is very ill. The time for denial is over.”
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Diane Reply:
September 11th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Steve,
I guess everyone greives in their own way. I can’t fault the grandparents for holding on to the hope that their granddaughter is still alive. You see on their faces that they desperately want to beleive that. They also want to stick up for their daughter, I suppose, but in their hearts they know she’s a habitual liar. Think of their torment! I hope its all over soon. ~ DD
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From Reina114
“…I think Casey murdered her child. Why don’t they hold her in contempt of court until she reveals her baby’s whereabouts?”
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Diane Reply:
September 11th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Reina114,
A defendant is held in contempt if they refuse to do something the court has ordered them to do. So far that hasn’t happened. No judge has said, “I order you to tell us, under oath, the whereabouts of your daughter.” No order, no contempt.
It’s a Catch 22. They haven’t charged her with murder. She’s been charged and arraigned (so far) on child neglect, obstruction, check fraud and other things. She’s done some time in jail and is, as I write this, currently out on bail.
Obviously the police are working furiously to put together a rock solid case. THEN I predict Casey Anthony will be charged with murder - with or without the discovery of a body. ~ DD
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Diane:
Regarding one of the comments you made on the Nancy Grace Show tonight, that you were unaware of any knife being found in Casey Anthony’s trunk. You seemed to almost poo-poo the poor caller’s question by stating that you watch Nancy every night, but had never heard about a knife being located in her trunk…..well, I have heard that they found “a dinner knife” in Casey’s trunk. I heard it from Nancy herself, as well as on Fox News, CNN News as well as MSNBC News.
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Diane Reply:
September 13th, 2008 at 12:05 am
June!
I would never poo-poo a caller into any show on which I am the host. I have constantly said the Nancy Grace audience is the smartest, best informed audience around! What I said tonight, when asked by the caller, was, “Gee, I don’t get to watch Nancy’s show every single night … and I don’t know about any knife.”
I’m sorry if I gave the wrong impression. After tonight’s show one of the producers told me that Cindy Anthony had admitted to police that she found a knife in the trunk, took it into the house, washed it and put it away. I wish I’d known that earlier!
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Diane,
I’d like to play the devil’s advocate for a moment here, and excuse me for being naive, as I have just recently heard of this case.
But, to your knowledge has the media or have the police considered the possibility that it might be possible that this child was abducted by person or persons known only to the mother, and that the abductor(s) have threatened the mother,Casey and or her family with bodily harm. Might that not partially explain her behavior?
Second, do the authorities know when those photos of Casey partying were taken?
By the way you did an excellent job the other night.
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Diane Reply:
September 13th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Mike,
First, thanks for your kind compliments.
Yes, I believe detectives DID contemplate the idea that Caylee might have been kidnapped by thugs who threatened to do harm to the Anthony family. But now, after weeks and weeks of investigating what have come to be found to be Casey’s lies - there is NO evidence to point to the idea of threatening kidnappers.
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Just wonder what the difference between Susan Smith and Casey is- what did the investiators do to finally get susan to crack?
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Diane Reply:
September 13th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
JC -
It was a very patient Sheriff’s detective who took Susan Smith into a quiet room and whispered to her, “Okay, time to set things straight.” She crumbled and admitted everything.
I wish Casey Anthony’s family and lawyer would allow her to be gently confronted by a strong detective who could one-on-one confront her like that. Maybe she too would finally give up the whole truth.
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Casey continues to say Zaniada took the child, has the police ever shown a series of pictures to this lying piece of crap and have her pick out Zaniada if she can.Also what
does she do all day at her lawyers office, there is only so much to be discussed,how is he being payed or is he doing this out of the kindness of his heart I doubt it.
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This is the best summation I’ve come across on this case. When will “we” be able to see this coming or perhaps these dire situations are regularly averted through interventions and social service programs Wouldn’t that be a great story of real hope. With the rising numbers of single, young moms with grandparents parenting both mother and child; people need resources. Poor young life, created by chance, born by default and destroyed through neglect - the mothers and society’s. We can do better and we need to do better than just punish the crime. Prevention trumps justice!
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I think of all the childless couples that would give most anything for that beautifull little girl and it makes me cry! I do believe she is dead and when they find that small body and can prove who is guilty I would like to see them recieve the worst puishment.
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