Mom Testifies At Casey Anthony Murder Trial

Trial Resumes Saturday Morning

The murder trail of Casey Anthony, accused of murdering 2-year old daughter Caylee continued Saturday with follow-up testimony from ex-boyfriend Anthony Lazzaro, followed by questioning of Cynthia "Cindy" Anthony, mother of the accused.

Lazzaro read from text messages between himself and Casey Anthony. Anthony had suddenly left his apartment after Cindy Anthony came to get her, followed by a surprise police search of his apartment, and then Casey's brother Lee Anthony coming to pick up Casey's clothing and laptop computer.

Bizarre text message between Lazarro and Anthony, indicate Caylee is still alive according to Anthony, Anthony blaming herself for the missing child. The defense claims on the date of the text messages, Caylee is already dead by drowning, while the prosecution says she is dead by murder.

(photo: Cindy Anthony testifies at daughter's trial)

Mrs. Anthony, a nurse, is questioned about her history, and ultimate move to Orlando, Florida from Ohio. August 9th 2005 was the birth date of her granddaughter Caylee, and Mrs. Anthony says she didn't know about the pregnancy until June, and after finding out, the family was told. She says she was looking forward to the birth, planning a baby shower, preparing a "Winnie The Pooh" themed room and telling other relatives.

Mrs. Anthony began to weep when showed a photo of Caylee's bed and a Winnie The Pooh teddy bear and later upon seeing a photo of Caylee's sand box and picnic table in the family's backyard.

June 15, 2008 - The Last Time Caylee Was Seen And The Lies Begin

The last time she saw Caylee was Father's Day June 15, 2008, having watched a video with Caylee and Casey of her father who at the time was in a hospice.

Mrs. Anthony said she believed Casey was employed at Universal Studios in Orlando as an event coordinator. She said Casey would wear a lanyard with her photo ID on it and explained she also saw emails and text messages from her employer as well as photos of Casey at the amusement park, although said the photos were taken before Caylee was born.

Mrs. Anthony believed Casey went to work as usual at Universal on June 15, 2008, the day after Caylee's last sighting by the family.

She heard about "Zanny," Caylee's mysterious babysitter first in 2006, but said she never met her.  Zanny moved around from place to place "quite frequently" she said. The Anthony's later tried to find Zanny upon the disappearance of Caylee and gave up the search six weeks ago she said.

Casey told her Caylee would be staying with Zanny on Monday, July 16, and Casey would stay at Zanny's when she returned from Universal Studios. Casey and Caylee was scheduled to return back home on Tuesday, July 17, but Casey said some work schedule prevented her from returning and they were to stay at Zanny's again.

They would not return on Wednesday, Casey saying Caylee would be going to Tampa's Busch Gardens with Zanny, and told Mrs. Anthony they would be back home Saturday, June 21. Mrs. Anthony said there was always some reason why she could not talk to Caylee during the week.

Then the plan changed to a return for Monday, June 23. Casey, on Monday night then told her Zanny had a car accident and Zanny was in a Tampa emergency room.

On Tuesday, June 24, an Anthony backyard shed was broken in to. It later turned out Casey and Tony Lazarro had been together all week in Orlando, and had broken a lock to get to gas cans in the shed. The Tampa trip was a lie.

Although Mrs. Anthony had daily contact with Casey, it turned out the lies were continuous, while Casey lied about where and who she was with during the following weeks.

A July 3rd Universal Studio trip and Jacksonville visit related by Casey to Mrs. Anthony also turned out to be fabrications, as well as the Zanny accident in Tampa. Now Mrs. Anthony was becoming suspicious and asked son Lee to see if he could find out where she was.

On the evening of July 3rd, she started an online page on MySpace to express her feelings and reach out to Casey, after becoming angry about the lies from her daughter, not realizing that anyone could see the online page. Judge Perry would not allow the page to be shown to the jury or questions to be asked about it.

The trial was recessed at 1 p.m. Saturday until Tuesday morning, May 31 at 8:30 a.m. for attorney motions.

Lazzaro Tells Court "No" Sex Abuse In Anthony Murder Trial

Without Jury Present Lazarro Says "No" Abuse By Father

Update May 26, 2010: In testimony Thursday afternoon without the jury present, Tony Lazzaro told the court that Casey Anthony had told him, her father George Anthony had "hit" Casey when she was a child.

He says he thought of it as child "discipline," answering "no" to questioning by defense attorney Jose Baez whether Casey had shared with him any thing about sexual abuse in the past from Casey's father.

During the same questioning, he told the court that Casey had told him that her brother Lee had attempted to touch her "chest" once in the past but she didn't let it happen. He said he didn't know what age she was.

Attorney Jose Baez in opening statements Tuesday told the jury that Casey Anthony had been molested by both her father and her brother. The judge will decide later whether to let the jury hear Lazzaro's testimony on what Casey had told him.

(Photo: Tony Lazzaro in court Thursday)

Casey Anthony's boyfriend had earlier testified for the prosecution Wednesday afternoon in her Orlando first degree murder trial. Either a life sentence or death penalty may be Anthony's fate at the conclusion of what may be a very lengthy trial during May and June.

Anthony "Tony" Lazzaro says he met Anthony through Facebook, finally meeting her in person where they "hit it off." Lazaro said he found her on Facebook in May 2008, and requested to be a Facebook "friend."

Anthony Lazzaro told the jury he was a student at Full Sail Univertiy, a music business school in Orlando at the time he met Anthony. He was living with three male roommates at the time in a small Orlando area apartment.

Anthony visited his apartment frequently and starting in mid-June 2008, when Anthony's daughter was missing, was staying overnight every night in Lazzaro's room.

Testimony established that Anthony's daughter Caylee had visited Lazaro's apartment only a few times, and never stayed overnight, although Casey did sleep there. Caylee was said to be staying with either Cindy Anthony or a nanny named "Zanny" who Anthony paid $400 per week, according to what Anthony told others.

Anthony, as his girlfriend, helped Lazzaro in his promotion business as he tried to bring customers into Orlando area clubs. Testimony centered today on the Fusion restaurant, where Lazaro and Anthony helped bring in customers. The Fusion was a sushi restaurant during the day and turned into a club at night.

Anthony posted notices on Facebook and by word of mouth, attempting to get her friends to visit the club. One witness said none of her friends ever visited, however. Employees at the Fusion, including "shot girls" testified that Anthony was seemingly normal during the June-July 2008 period, even as her child was missing, and not mentioning any problems to anyone.

Lazzaro says Anthony had told him she worked at Universal Studios. The same story was told to other witnesses, where she was telling friends she worked as an event planner.

Testimony today by prosecution witnesses uniformly showed Anthony never mentioning the disappearance of her daughter to any of her friends or co-workers at the club she was promoting in the month since her daughter's disappearance. 

Descriptions of Anthony's behavior during the June to July 2008 period, when Caylee was missing, were described as normal, friendly, and not ever showing any sadness, worry, or anger. 

Several witnesses described Anthony during this period as a "typical" girl in her 20s, and one mentioned her being a "party girl," always friendly, outgoing, and happy.

On July 16, 2008 Lazzaro said he went to an Orlando Blockbuster video store with Anthony. The defense and prosecution have stipulated that a video showing what appears to Anthony and Lazzaro can be entered into evidence to be shown the jury. Anthony reportedly was telling her parents she was out of town July 16.

On June 16th the defense is claiming 2-year old Caylee Anthony had died in a swimming pool accident.

Lazzaro described Anthony as being happy that night. He never saw her scared, crying, acting nervous, and had not told him Caylee was missing. Casey stayed at Lazaro's apartment every night after but did not bring a suitcase or anything of Caylee's.

Lazzaro testified that on the night of June 16th Casey did not make any phone calls, but she would routinely go outside when making a call. Lazzaro "played hooky" from school the next day saying he "didn't want to leave the bed." Anthony never gave Lazzaro any indication anything was wrong, he said.

On June 19th he and Anthony went to look at an apartment to rent, around the block from his current one, but Anthony did not look at the apartment because "she didn't have identification with her," Lazzaro said.

During one club event, Anthony entered a "hot body" contest wearing a blue dress. The photo was entered into evidence and shown to the jury.

Lazzaro said his role at the club during the contest was "security," to make sure no one harassed the bartender or female employees. Lazaro notice no change in Anthony's demeanor and he still had not been told Caylee was missing.

The story of Lazzaro picking up Casey after she ran out of gas, taking her to her parent's house to get some gas was related to the jury. Casey said she didn't have a key to the shed where the gas cans were and used his tire iron to break into it. He said he was concerned but Casey told him it was no problem since it was her house.

A second time, Lazzaro was called on to help Casey with her car that had run out of gas. At the tine Lazzaro was told Casey's father would take care of it, and left the car behind. Lazzaro never saw the car again. Later evidence will show the car was towed away.

On cross-examination by defense attorney Jose Baez, Lazzaro was asked about any threats Casey might have made or any weapons she had. He answered "none" to all.  Baez asked if he had seen Casey buy any weapons on their shopping trips, or chloroform, duct tape, etc.

Lazzaro told Baez he had only seen Caylee two or three times, one time at the apartment complex pool, noting Caylee enjoyed being by the water.

Baez asked about a "secret" Casey had shared with Lazzaro. Baez started to ask him about her saying she had been abused by her father George Anthony, but the prosecution quickly objected as the question was hearsay, and Judge Belvin Perry sustained the objection. The question remained unanswered.

Lazzaro admitted, in cross-examination he had worn a "wire" for the authorities in some unstated connection with Casey's brother Lee, and cooperated with them, including having his phone tapped. He said he made no money from the publicity of this case.

Attorney Baez asked the Judge to introduce a photograph explaining that he didn't want to ask Lazzaro to have to come back to Florida to testify again. The mystery photograph of an Orlando street location was allowed to be shown to Lazzaro but not to the jury.

Baez notified the Judge that he needed about 20 more minutes to finish his cross-examination. Judge Perry elected to recess until tomorrow, noting that the jury had requested to work on Memorial Day but the county courthouse may not be able to open due to budget constraints.

Casey Anthony Hidden In DOC Computers

Anthony's Name Removed From Department Of Corrections Public Databases After Reporting Error

LABELLE, FL. -- A notification about Casey Marie Anthony, now under probation for four counts of bad check writing, of being taken back into prison custody last week, has now officially been described as an error as the result of a "computer glitch."

According to Vine Services, a subcontractor to the Florida Department of Corrections, Victims' Services unit a computer error occurred, sending out a message to hundreds of people on a list to receive a message if Casey Anthony's court supervision status changed.

Anthony was acquitted of the murder of her 2-year old daughter Caylee, but later convicted of lying to law enforcement about the locations her her daughter. She was given time served for the four counts of providing false information.

Anthony, then convicted of four counts of check fraud unrelated to the murder case, is scheduled to be released from supervised probation on August 23rd, a year after her conviction.

A July 26 message (shown above) indicated offender number "X70160", Casey Anthony "has returned to custody as of 7/26/2012." A check with Vine's online website confirmed she was allegedly "in custody" on that date.

However, later in the day, Anthony was shown to be "under supervision" on Vine's website. But by the next day, all traces of Casey Anthony's name had been removed from the public database of Vine as well as the online offender and prisoner look-up pages of the Florida Department of Corrections.

When calling Vine, the next day on July 27th, asking for information about whether Anthony was in custody or not, the operator "Betty" confirmed Anthony was in custody according to her records. But, later when Vine was called again to confirm, they could not find any Casey Anthony or offender X70160 on their computers at all, as if she had never been in custody or even convicted.

A request was made to have Vine supervisor Tara McKinney call and explain why Anthony's name was no longer online or available for their own employees to find, but no response was received.

Ann Howard, Director of the DOC's Office of Communications did later say the report of Anthony being "in custody" was incorrect, and this week her office indicated they had received an apology from Vine of their error in sending out a false message.

Explaining why Anthony's name was no longer on any public databases they said today "The Department has a right to remove an offender's name from the database for their protection."

Florida's Victim Services unit Program Director Gil Barnes, said today that Anthony's name had been removed last week from the Vine database for "her protection," and when asked why her name was removed only after almost a year, said a software'data revision made it necessary. He didn't know how many other offenders or prisoners names might have been removed by the Department of Corrections in addition to Anthony's but said her's probably was not the only one.

How removing Casey Anthony's name provides "protection" to her is still a mystery, as no location for her was ever publically given, nor what facility she might be assigned to, only whether she is "under supervision" or not, or in custody.

All other offenders and prisoners on the public databases have locations provided for the public, but because of court orders, Anthony's location is still kept secret.

Vine, with offices in Kentucky, keeps track of prisoners and offenders around the country so as to allow crime victims to be advised of the changing status of offenders, i.e. in jail or prison, under supervision, or released, and where they are.

Vine is owned by Apriss, Inc. and has the contract with Florida and many  other states to access jail and prison databases, publishing prisoner and released offender's information to the public.

Subscribers to the Vine Link service can receive immediate notifications of changes in offender status by email or phone, or on their website.

Casey Anthony has been hiding out in undisclosed locations for the last year, although "sightings" have reportedly been made in places ranging from small town Okeechobee, Florida to Bellaire, Ohio.

To Find Offenders and Prisoners Online:

Vine Link Search Page For Florida Offenders and Prisoners (Searches are available there for most states)
Search Department of Corrections Offender Database

More Southwest Florida Online Stories About Casey Anthony

Casey Marie Anthony Back In Jail?

Florida Corrections Department Says Anthony Now Back In Custody?


UPDATE: The Department of Corrections early Thursday indicated Anthony was "in custody." But later, as of approximately 6:30 p.m. (ET) the Department reported online she is "under supervision." It is unclear why the change in status was made.


At 8:15 a.m., Friday July 27th, the Department's subcontracted record keeping office confirmed that Anthony was in custody in an unnamed prison facility of the Florida Department of Corrections and indicated the online records had not been updated as yet this morning to reflect that.


At 10:30 a.m., Friday July 27th, Ann Howard, communications director for the DOC says Anthony has no status change and is still under supervision. Howard did not know why a notification appeared yesterday showing Anthony was back in custody, nor why another office said she was 'in custody' this morning.


At 5:00 p.m., Friday, July 27th, a search of all DOC databases indicates Casey Marie Anthony has totally been removed from all public prison and corrections department records online. No officials have responded to a request for reasons why Anthony's name has been removed.


The mystery remains why Anthony was reported in custody July 26, and why her name has been removed from all public databases.


LABELLE, FL. -- A notification of status change by the Florida Department of Corrections on Thursday, July 26th indicated Casey Marie Anthony is back in custody, presumably in an undisclosed jail somewhere.

The message from the Department reads in part: "The inmate...CASEY ANTHONY with offender number X70160, has returned to custody as of 7/26/2012."

The offender number matches that of Casey Marie Anthony. The notification does not indicate a location where she may be or a release date.

Anthony was acquitted of the murder of her 2-year old daughter Caylee, but later convicted of lying to law enforcement about the locations her her daughter. She was given time served for the four counts of providing false information.

Anthony, then convicted of four counts of check fraud unrelated to the murder case, was to be released from supervised probation on August 23rd, a year after her conviction. Speculation is that she may have violated the terms of her probation and was taken into custody.

She has been hiding out in undisclosed locations for the last year, although "sightings" have reportedly been made in places ranging from small town Okeechobee, Florida to Bellaire, Ohio.

A story ran earlier this week that Anthony had an encounter with two women in a Bellaire library parking lot. The Ohio story reported, "Mail is being delivered to a Casey Anthony on Monroe Street."

Could she have been arrested in Ohio and transferred back to Florida?

Anthony's defense attorney Jose Baez has been on a book tour for his book about the murder trial "Presumed Guilty." He was in Miami yesterday and is scheduled on many TV programs including Fox's "Hannity" this week.

Other Casey Anthony stories on Southwest Florida Online: Casey Marie Anthony

Casey Anthony Convictions Reduced To Two

Court Says Casey Only Guilty Of Lying Twice Not Four Times

UPDATE: On the same day, Anthony filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Tampa, claiming $792,000 in debts, including $500,000 owed to attorney Jose Baez. 

ORLANDO, FL. -- Florida's 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated two of four convictions handed out to Casey Anthony by Orange County Circuit Court jurors in the 2011 trial that acquitted her of the murder of daughter Caylee Anthony.

A civil trial Anthony has been facing brought against her by Zenaida Gonzalez has been on hold pending this appeal of her criminal convictions.

The three-judge Court said in it's opinion published today that Casey Anthony appealed her convictions for four counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer during a missing person investigation arising from statements she made to Detective Yuri Melich on July 16, 2008 during an investigation into the disappearance of her young daughter, Caylee Anthony.

Anthony argued that these convictions should be reversed because the trial court should have granted her motion to suppress statements made to law enforcement officers prior to her having been apprised of her Miranda rights and secondly, her multiple convictions violated the prohibition against double jeopardy; and thirdly section 837.055 of the Florida Statutes is unconstitutionally vague.

The Court rejected the first and third arguments, but concluded that double jeopardy principles require that two of her four misdemeanor convictions be set aside.

The opinion cites the narrative of the events where Anthony lied to officers ('Appellant' is Casey Anthony):

On the evening of July 15, 2008, law enforcement officers arrived at the residence of Appellant’s parents, George and Cindy Anthony, in response to three 9-1-1 calls placed by Cindy Anthony.  In the first two calls, Cindy Anthony requested police assistance in recovering a vehicle and money allegedly stolen by Appellant.  In the third 9-1-1 call, Cindy Anthony reported that her granddaughter, Caylee, had been missing for approximately thirty days.

Cindy Anthony testified that she made these phone calls because Appellant would not tell her where Caylee was.

When the officers arrived, they separated the family members according to their standard procedure and obtained  statements regarding the missing child.  Appellant appeared to be cooperating with the officers and provided information freely and voluntarily.  She informed the officers that she had last seen Caylee when she dropped her off at the apartment of her nanny, Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, on June 9, 2008.

Appellant informed the officers that Gonzalez lived at the Sawgrass Apartments in Orlando, but she could not remember the apartment number.

Appellant agreed to go with Deputy Acevedo to the Sawgrass Apartments to show her exactly where she had last seen her daughter.  She sat in the back of Deputy Acevedo’s vehicle with the partition open so that she could communicate with her.  After indicating to Deputy Acevedo the particular apartment where she had purportedly left Caylee, Appellant was driven back to her home where she gave law enforcement officers a written statement.

This was part of the narrative of a convoluted story Anthony told law enforcement officials which led to her arrest and convictions by an Orlando jury.

Anthony argued that double jeopardy principles preclude her from being convicted for more than a single violation of section 837.055, because her various false statements to law enforcement officers constituted a single offense.  The State takes the position that each of Appellant’s false statements constituted a separate offense and, therefore, no double jeopardy violation occurred.

The Appellate Court rejected both parties’ arguments and concluded that under  the facts of this case, Appellant can properly be convicted of two counts of providing false information to a law  enforcement officer during a missing person investigation.

All four of the false statements were made by Appellant in her interview with Detective Melich at the Anthony residence.  Two of the false statements were repeated to Detective Melich in the later interview at Universal Studios, where Anthony falsely claimed she currently worked.

Appellant gave false information to Detective Melich during two separate interviews that took place several hours apart.  The Appellate Court said when there there is a sufficient temporal break between two alleged criminal acts so as to have allowed a defendant time to pause, reflect, and form a new criminal intent, a separate criminal episode will be found to have occurred.

Appellate Court Opinion

Baez Says Casey Anthony Needed Mental Help

Jose Baez - New Book 'Presumed Guilty' Criticizes Cops And Judge

LABELLE, FL. -- Making the rounds promoting his new book, Jose Baez, Casey Anthony's defense attorney, writes critically of the events leading to Anthony's arrest for the murder of her 2-year old daughter Caylee, the judge's erroneous decisions, and of police efforts to leak purported "evidence" to the press, and George Anthony's attempts to make end runs around attorney-client privilege.

The first chapter of Presumed Guilty: Casey Anthony, the Inside Story recites what is known already by trial followers about Anthony's lying to police, attorney's, and her parent's, about the whereabouts of daughter Caylee. Baez says, while making some basic investigative errors, the police should have realized Anthony had serious mental health problems and Baez says she was "living in an intricate fantasy world."

The police should have brought in a health professional, a psychiatrist, to see what was going on before arresting her for murder, he said.  Baez still wonders if bringing in a psychiatrist at the beginning "might have affected the outcome of this case."

Everyone knew she was lying "through her teeth" about most everything, but didn't know why, Baez says.

Baez, in Miami this week to promote his best selling book, says he's opening a law office in the Coral Gables area, a trendy suburb of Miami.

If law enforcement had realized Anthony's serious mental issues up front, the whole case might have went a different direction, Baez speculates. Asked why the case became a nationwide sensation, Baez attributed it to being about a white, pretty female.

Later in the book, Baez accused Judge Strickland of bias, when setting her original bond at $500,000 for what he thought should be $1,500 for lying to police when she was charged with two misdemeanors and a third degree felony originally. Baez says this was the first time in Florida such a high bond had been set for the charges made.

The judge accused Casey Anthony of being a liar although she had not testified at the bond hearing, says Baez. And the press went with that story.

Baez, candidly tells about his days before defending Anthony, his marriage, delays in being admitted to the Florida Bar, and his legal training in Miami at the Dade County Public Defender's Office. Baez seemingly leaves nothing out, telling how early on $200,000 was paid by the media for photos of Caylee and many other inside details of the trial, State of Florida v. Casey Marie Anthony where Anthony became the most hated person in America.

Casey Anthony is due to be soon released from supervised probation on a fraudulent check conviction from last year. Her release date is on August 23rd, 2012.

The book was co-written with Peter Golenbock.

More Southwest Florida Online Stories of Casey Marie Anthony

Buy The Book:

Why Casey Anthony Lies

An Expert Liar - Until The Truth Prevails?

Psychologists says everyone lies several times a day, but Casey Anthony may be on the way to a "Guinness" World's Record in lying. 

A key survival trait is the ability to manipulate the expectations of others. Most of us do it in small ways all the time. Casey Anthony is the master of lying about everything. 

Robert Feldman of the University of Massachusetts  discovered the most effective liars were often the most popular. Witnesses in the Casey murder trial unanimously tell prosecutors she is outgoing and happy, a "normal" fun-loving girl, not to mention an attractive female.

Pathological liars tell a lot of lies, but end up getting caught eventually. Prisons are full of bad liars. Anthony may be one of those, she lied every time she opened her mouth, pundits are fond of saying. 

To be a successful liar one must save the lie until it will get them something they really want. The more one lies, the more difficult to make the fabrications believable. Anthony just told too many lies.

The best liars tell the truth, but only a half truth. It's harder to get caught that way. Casey's stories about her job as an event planner at Universal Studios, tales about Zanny the nanny, the "friends" she told investigators about, and visits to other cities as told to her family, were all just completely false. And eventually detectives were able to show the stories as total fabrications.

Good liars have to get inside the head of the listener. Casey did a fairly good job of that. She could get away with lying about her whereabouts to family. But she did an awful job after professional investigators got involved. Orange county Sheriff's detectives were not fooled for long after being told fantastic stories of Anthony's whereabouts, and where daughter Caylee was supposed to be.

Great liars do a good job of keeping the "facts" straight. Casey was pretty good at spinning detailed stories including names and relationships among her fantasy friends and colleagues. She seemed to keep things straight by using cues of real names and locations, using real details inside her made-up stories, helping her remember the details of the fabricated stories she told. 

She is also good at "quick thinking," making up new details on the spot when questioned. Her family and friends seemed fairly gullible, but the detectives were not, as she added explanations for things that just didn't seem right.

Successful liars keep their composure, staying committed and steadfast to their stories. No matter what even experienced detectives said to Anthony, she stuck with her story no matter what proof was shown she was lying.

Manipulation is a key skill for an expert liar. Anthony easily got her family, and strangers to search for the missing daughter, notwithstanding there seemed to be no Zanny the nanny to be found anywhere. The Anthony family was making multi-state investigations, and raising money to find the child and only gave up looking for the mysterious babysitter 8 weeks ago. 

Casey Anthony was ultimately able to convince a legal defense team to work on her behalf pro bono. And presumably they were convinced the child accidentally drowned, and was not murdered as the prosecution charges. They also presumably believe Anthony was a sexual abuse victim. 

It may be that Anthony learned her skills as a teenager, to escape punishment for misbehavior or to get something her parent's or others forbid. She learned to get out of trouble or obtain something by a lie.

And liars will blame others when cornered. Anthony's defense is her father and brother abused her as a child, her mother was controlling, and father was a "cop" not a father.

When Caylee dies by "accident," it relieves her of responsibility. She says didn't call the police because she was afraid of the resulting anger from parents, choosing to look for Caylee on her own so she couldn't be blamed by her parents.

And she blames the police for not looking hard and far enough for Zanny the babysitter, and blames them  for failing to examine the family swimming pool for evidence of the accidental drowning she claims happened.

Casey Antony, a liar that made too many mistakes. Whether the result of a dysfunctional family, sexual abuse, or habits of lying picked up while an adolescent, the lies have finally caught up with Anthony, causing great pain to everyone around her.

Fireworks Over? - Jose Baez "Wins" For Casey Anthony

Casey Anthony Trial - The Verdict's In

Twelve jurors in the Casey Anthony murder trial reached a verdict Tuesday July, 5th, 2011, three years after two-year old Caylee Anthony was killed.

In open court, at about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, the verdict was read. Casey Marie Anthony was found guilty of four counts of lying to law enforcement officers, not guilty of first degree murder, not guilty of aggravated child abuse, not guilty of manslaughter of a child.

Defense attorney Jose Baez and team found a "win" for client Casey Anthony, leaving only guilty charges on the four counts of giving false information to law enforcement when she made statements about the disappearance of her daughter.

The Judge confirmed the jurors' findings and Casey was fingerprinted in court and taken back to jail, waiting further hearings on Thursday at 9 a.m. for sentencing on the four guilty counts of giving false information to a law enforcement officer.

After ten and one-half hours of deliberation, the 12-member jury were unanimous in reaching verdicts on all seven counts against "tot-mom" Casey Anthony.

Five alternate jurors were kept in a separate room, not needed to render a verdict in the six-week long trial in Orlando, Florida. The jurors, all from St. Petersburg, in Pinellas county Florida, were sequestered in Orlando for the length of the trial.

The trial extended through the 4th of July weekend, with final rebuttal arguments by the state prosecution team on Independence Day, 

Defense attorney Jose Baez was said to have done the best he could for his client, given her amazing history of lying to everyone including family, friends, and law enforcement, about her daughter's whereabouts, and what happened to her.

Casey ultimately, after mother Cindy found Caylee not with Casey, claimed Caylee was kidnapped by a baby sitter, but that turned out to be yet another lie. 

Baez, a Florida attorney of only three years when he took the murder case was widely criticized for his inexperience and his surprising opening statement claiming 2-year old Caylee Anthony died in a family swimming pool accident.

Baez wanted the jury to believe Casey's father George knew about the death but covered it up, and somehow under the death theory, an Orlando meter reader hid the body until ultimately he was to find the child's skull in a wooded swamp near the Anthony home in December 2008.

Although Baez had claimed Casey was sexually abused by her father and brother, Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., did not allow that to be mentioned in closing statement as there was no evidence presented during the trial to any facts supporting that claim.

The next judicial step will be sentencing after hearing defense attorneys arguments to sentence Casey for time served, about three years in jail already, allowing her to be set free Thursday.

The judge rejected a motion by Baez last week to stop the trial, after three separate psychological examinations were made, finding her fit to continue the trial.

Should a guilty verdict have been handed down by the jurors, a death sentence in Florida normally takes about 30 years to be carried out, due to extensive appeal processes allowed convicted defendants.

Judge Perry discharged the jurors Tuesday afternoon, and explained to the jurors they were at liberty to speak or not speak to anyone about their jury experience. 

Sentencing hearings will begin Thursday. Casey is convicted of four misdemeanors, with prison time up to one year for each.

Casey Anthony Free On Friday

Casey Anthony Off Probation On August 24

OKEECHOBEE, FL. -- Infamous, and much hated by many trial watchers, Casey Anthony is scheduled to be released from probation this Friday.

Convicted of check fraud, after stealing checks from a friend in 2010, Anthony is serving a one year probation somewhere in Florida. Keeping her location and other information private, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will not release any information about Anthony, reportedly due to threats against her as reported by her attorneys.

She was acquitted of the murder of her two-year old daughter last year. She alleges the child died in a back yard drowning accident, and her father was involved in hiding the body in a wooded area near the Anthony home.

Charles White, her current attorney says she has been at one location in Florida during the entire one-year probation time and indicates Anthony will not make her post-probation plans public.

The only word from Anthony during the past year was an interview with Piers Morgan and a leaked video. (Video: An October 2011 'video diary' by Casey Anthony from a secret Florida location)

Her former criminal attorney Jose Baez says Anthony didn't put the video online, and doesn't know how it got there, saying someone else must have posted it online. Baez is now promoting his book about the Anthony trial, and is opening a Miami area office in addition to his Kissimmee office.

On the video, Anthony, with shorter blond hair, says she has been using Skype to talk with someone. Presumably anyone she might talk with over Skype could record the call and post it online.

From the video, it might be guessed she is living in a small mobile home or travel trailer, probably in a remote rural location to keep her whereabouts hidden. It appears she's not actually talking with anyone, but merely giving a four minute and 20 second commentary on her life since she left Orlando in August.

She said in the video she'll remain at her current location until at least the end of February, noting her birthday is in March.

Is she in Okeechobee, Florida?  Story: http://swflorida.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-florida-encounter-with-casey-anthony.html

My Florida Encounter With Casey Anthony

Casey Spotted In Rental Truck, Towing Trailer Near Lake Placid, Fl.

LABELLE, FL. -- A small rental moving truck with Arizona plates pulls up to the Shell station gas pump on a Sunday afternoon, August 13th, towing a white camping trailer about 20-foot long. I think I've spotted Casey Anthony.

It's a very rural area of Highlands County on U.S. 27 at the intersection of Florida's State Road 70.  I'm out just riding around the county roads on my scooter, now needing some gas, I'm at the Shell station.

The camping trailer displays Florida tags. Wonder why a rental truck is towing a camping trailer.

Head east on SR70 and you end up in the fishing town of Okeechobee, on the north side of the nation's second largest freshwater lake, Lake Okeechobee. The Bass Fishing Capital Of The World, they say.

A 30s looking man wearing nothing more than a wet pair of shorts is driving the truck. His bare feet up to his mid calf are as dirty as you can get. A woman looking exactly like Casey Anthony talks to the driver. It's a bit odd. I'm thinking why would Casey be here with a guy with dirty feet?

I notice there are about three "mud trucks" on trailers at the gas station across the street and one at this one. I'm thinking there must have been a "mudding" event somewhere in South Florida where the beat up trucks play in the mud, racing and generally having a good time.

I'm now guessing "Casey" and her wet-shorts, dirty footed companion have just returned from mudding.

Casey was not dirty at all. Somehow I can't picture Casey Anthony getting dirty. She was not at all overweight as some have said she is now appearing after her release from the Orange County Jail in July.

"Casey" has walked up to the driver's side, and talks with the man a minute or so. She looks so familiar. "It's really Casey Anthony!" my mind silently screams. Just like on TV, but with the more relaxed hair style.

I carry a video camera most places, just in case. Today, however, my senses said I should be a bit discreet and not grab the camera and start shooting. If it's really her and she's with the mud truck crowd, I might be in a bit of an uncomfortable situation, camera in hand pointing at Casey and companion.

I decide to not take pictures.

The woman, I'm now convinced is Casey Anthony, wearing a pony tail, in shorts and tank top, oddly climbs in the driver's side of the rental truck and climbs over to the passenger side.

I go around the back of the trailer, discreetly looking in the windows to see what I can see and then drive my scooter around to the truck passenger side to get another glimpse of the woman. I'm sure it's her.

But why is she here?

Jose Baez Sends Casey To Okeechobee, Florida?

On August 22nd, multiple reports are being twittered that Casey is in Okeechobee, Florida, "spotted around town." The town is 50 miles directly east on State Road 70 from the Shell station where I believe I saw her on August 13th.

The twitter reports say she's "polite and very quiet" and the people are not making much of her appearance in the small town.

Her attorney Jose Baez confirmed on the Geraldo Rivera show on Fox this Sunday that's she is in Florida and ready to appear for her one-year probation condition on her fraudulent check convictions. An appeal had been filed with the Florida Court of Appeals, and he wanted her to be in Florida should a decision be rendered this week.

Baez said she's with "spiritual advisers," helping her get her life back on track. The guy driving the truck didn't appear to be a spiritual adviser, but then what do I know?

Update: Today, the Court of Appeals denied Baez' motion, and Anthony will be required to appear at the probation intake office in Orlando by noon, Friday August 26th.

Cindy Anthony Testifies Again Against Daughter Casey

Final Prosecution Witnesses Testify Tuesday

On what was expected to the the final day of witnesses for the prosecution in the Casey Anthony murder trial, Cynthia Anthony, mother of Casey, testified regarding the length of her hair over the years, duct tape and some missing items from the home, including white canvas bags, after Casey moved out in June, 2008.

A Winnie the Pooh blanket was missing and a Teddy Bear, she said, items that later turned up as evidence in the trial. Prosecutors also were making it clear that Cindy's hair was not the same as the hair that later showed up in Casey's car.  The white laundry bag was where the murderer placed Caylee's body.

Prosecutors say the hair found in Casey's 1998 Pontiac was Caylee's, and the dead tot's body was in the car for several days. DNA found in the hair sample can be identified as being from any of the Anthony females, Caylee, Casey, or Cindy.

Cindy was in Los Angeles on December 11, 2008 when Caylee Anthony's tiny skeleton was found and the same day a search warrant of the Anthony home was executed by Orange County deputies.

An Ohio manufactured-brand duct tape found in the home was stored in the garage, she said, and could have been also used in the "command center" during the search for Caylee. The tape, she said was also used by George Anthony on the gas can. 

The defense is trying to tie the duct tape, found on Caylee's skull, and the gas can to Mr. Anthony. The prosecution says the duct tape may have covered the child's mouth and possibly the nose as well, suffocating her.

The final questioning was about the "Big Trouble" shirt Caylee was wearing in a photo with Casey, and later found with her remains in the woods. Cindy began crying as she told the jury she first saw the shirt photo in a deposition after Caylee was discovered.

Cindy reportedly mouthed "I Love You" in the direction of Casey as she left the witness stand. No reply from Casey was seen.

Defense Case To Begin Thursday June 16

The prosecution will formally rest it's case against Anthony, after a short session, on Wednesday morning, after which the defense will have an opportunity to argue a motion of acquittal for their client. Numerous defense motions for mistrial have been denied by the Judge.

The defense's case, led by attorney Jose Baez, will begin on Thursday, June 16 according to Judge Perry. Baez was asked by the Judge if he wanted to begin Wednesday, but declined. Whether Casey Anthony will testify in her own defense is still in question.

Mysterious "Matter" Stops Casey Anthony Trial

Judge Halts Jury Selection Suddenly After Lunch Break

Judge Belvin Perry has mysteriously recessed the Casey Anthony murder trial, still in the jury selection phase, until 8:30 a.m. Thursday.  Anthony is charged in the killing of her two-year old daughter.

The court is in it's 9th day of jury selection, still looking for one more juror and eight alternates, The judge has suggested he will swear in jurors when they get to twelve, and begin opening statements next Monday in Orlando.

After a lunch break, the Judge asked defense attorney Cheney Mason if he had discussed a mystery "matter" with his client Casey Anthony. Mason indicated "yes." At 1:10 p.m. Wednesday afternoon the Judge abruptly recessed the proceedings until Thursday morning.

The court had recessed for lunch at about 11:15 a.m., and Jose Baez had asked the Judge to extend the lunch break until 1 p.m. instead of the 12:45 p.m. time the Judge had suggested.

Reportedly, Baez then did not join his colleagues at the courthouse lunch room as was his pattern. Baez also did not return to court after the lunch recess. Co-counsel Mason was there however, to represent Anthony in Baez's absence. 

The defense attorney team is reportedly working without pay, although the courts do allow for costs to be reimbursed. 

Some observers have commented on lead attorney Jose Baez's inexperience, having reportedly graduated from low-ranked St. Thomas University Law School in Miami, Florida. and having reportedly failed to pass the bar exam, and finally admitted to the Florida Bar in September 2005. Baez took on the Casey Anthony case only three years after being admitted to practice law.

Speculations For The Mysterious Court Recess:

1. A filing has been made with the District Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the Judge denying defense motions on jury selection procedures.

2. Lead defense attorney Jose Baez is ill.

3. Jose Baez is withdrawing as Casey Anthony's counsel. The court would have to approve such.

4. The State has made an offer to Casey Anthony to settle the case in a plea deal, eliminating the death sentence.

Casey Anthony Cries During Caylee Skull Showing

Watch live video from Don Browne - Florida on Justin.tv
Judge Warns Spectators To Leave If They Can't Control Emotions - Court Recesses When Anthony Becomes Ill

Judge Belvin Perry warned spectators in the Casey Anthony trial courtroom Thursday morning that graphic crime scene photos will be shown to the jury.

He suggested anyone unable to watch, leave the courtroom, and advised the bailiff would take anyone out that expressed any facial expressions during the testimony, which was to be very graphic.

The Judge further ordered that photographs of Caylee's skull available to the public from the courtroom be pixelated, and that any cameras or cellphones from the audience would be confiscated if anyone attempted to take a picture of the tiny two-year old's skull.

George and Cindy Anthony, parents of Casey, elected to not be in the courtroom for the rest of the day.

(video: Jennifer Welch testifies about the discovery of the skull in the woods)

Jennifer Welch, Orange County Sheriff crime scene investigator began testimony about the December 11, 2008 rainy morning investigation of a skull found  in a dense wooded area on Suburban Drive in Orlando, only a short distance from the Anthony home.

The area was known to locals as a place where family pets were buried in the woods.

Casey Anthony was crying, wiping her eyes and looking down at the desk during the showing of her daughter's skull. She was apparently purposely not looking at the computer monitors while the photos were shown to the jury.

Casey Anthony Becomes Ill

Testimony continued all afternoon with more photo evidence entered showing Caylee's remains and the trash bags found at the scene, along with graphic testimony of the condition of the remains, matted hair connected to half the skull, and duct tape attached to the hair and skull, clearly upsetting to a normal person in the courtroom.

The skull with hair still attached was described by courtroom observers as gruesome looking and  "shiny" due to the damp and rainy conditions when it was recovered.

Casey Anthony was keeping her head down throughout the day, wiping her eyes with a tissue and not looking at the photos.

After an afternoon recess the Judge pronounced, without the jury present, that Anthony had taken ill, and the court would take an early recess until Friday morning. The Judge called the jury in to tell them there was an "event" but they were not to speculate upon it.  

Casey Anthony Trial Begins - Caught In Multiple Lies?

Tot's Dead Skull Photo Shown To Jury
25-year old Casey Anthony's first degre murder trial from Orlando, Florida began this morning shortly after 9 a.m. During the prosecution's opening statement, jurors were shown side-by-side photos of  2-year old Caylee Anthony and a photo of her tiny skull.

Father of Casey, George Anthony was seated quietly with a Bible in his lap. Casey's mother, Cindy was holding a stuffed animal toy. The 12 jurors, 7 women and 5 men are seated in the jury box with notepads. 

The State of Florida's Linda Drane Burdick, an attorney with 21-years experience, blonde-haired and wearing a red jacket, began opening arguments describing the circumstances of Casey's pregnancy, the birth of Caylee, and then the last time Caylee was seen by the Anthony family, June 16th, 2008.

Casey was shaking her head slowly from side to side in a "no" fashion as the prosecutor described the last day Caylee was ever seen by the family, arguing that no one ever saw Caylee alive again. Casey began to weep quietly.

The prosecutor says Anthony lied about the whereabouts of Caylee as well as making up a story about an Hispanic babysitter, who has never been found.

Anthony also lies, says the prosecutor, about a trip to Tampa with Caylee, Phone records show she was not in Tampa, but was in Orlando with her boyfriend, Tony Lazarro.
Ironically, Anthony has broken into her parent's house to get a gas can after running out of gas in her white Pontiac Sunfire, while she was telling the parent's she was in Tampa.

In July, she allegedly lied to parents again about here whereabouts, to prevent her parents from seeing Caylee, telling them she was in Jacksonville while she was really in Orlando.

Ironically, on June 30th Anthony's car was towed in Orlando and George Anthony later picked it up July 15th from the tow company lot, finding an awful smell like death coming from the trunk, and the phone number of one of Casy's friends, leading Cindy Anthony to discover Casey staying at Tony Lazarro's place in Orlando and without Caylee, who has now been missing for a month.

Cindy Anthony calls 911 three times on July 15th to report a missing Cayle. The Court has recessed for 15 minutes after the 1st part of the state's opening statements.

Near the conclusion of the prosecutor's opening statement, photos were shown to the jury of the tiny skull of Caylee and a photo of Caylee before she died. (Jurors have monitors in front of their seats at the Orange County courtroom.)

Trial Oddities: A haunting train whistle in the background could be clearly heard near the beginning of the prosecution's opening statement.

Jose Baez Gets Schooled By Judge

Casey Anthony Lawyer Gets Flustered, Angers Judge

During cross-examination of George A. Anthony, father of Casey Anthony, attorney Jose Baez was making more and more mistakes, eventually catching the ire of Chief Circuit Judge Belvin Perry. Jr.

A long session of questions during Thursday's session of the murder trial of Casey Anthony was put to Mr. Anthony about gas cans taken from the Anthony home utility shed by his daughter. 

This is Mr. Anthony's second appearance on the witness stand. He was the first witness produced the state.

Baez kept going away from the microphone, causing problems for the court reporter who could not hear him clearly, The Judge repeatedly warned Baez to be at the microphone if he was speaking.

Baez seemingly badgered Mr. Anthony during questioning about the gas cans. Casey Anthony had broken the lock on a shed to take them, later returning them to the house. The FBI and local authorities had apparently taken the can for evidence on two occasions.

Mr. Anthony repeatedly asked Baez to stop badgering him, saying Baez was asking questions to purposely upset and confuse him. Extensive questions began about a photograph of a gas can. As Baez not getting the answers he was looking for,  numerous objections were made by the prosecution, and the Judge sustaining most.

After more questioning about the gas can photos, Judge Perry advised Baez the photos were not entered into evidence yet, despite his long questioning to Mr. Anthony about them.

Finally, Perry had to bring the attorneys off the record in a sidebar, to explain to Baez he can't ask questions about the gas can photo unless the photo is entered into evidence.

The trial continued, Baez continued asking more question to Mr. Anthony about the gas can photos. Exasperated, Judge Perry sent the jurors out of the courtroom and then chastised Baez for not following his admonitions about the gas can photo questioning.

Why Casey Anthony Will Walk Free - Baez' New Defense

Casey - A Non-Treatable Psychiatric Disease?

While the defense has yet to present it's case, Jose Baez on behalf of accused child murderer Casey Anthony is certainly going to present a novel set of circumstances in an attempt to keep his client out of prison next week when his defense portion of the trial begins.

(photo: Dorothy Clay Sims comforts Casey Anthony)

Anthony goes into the defense portion of the trial with one big advantage, she's a proven liar. She's gotten away with it for a long time, some say learning from her father. George Anthony has been accused of being a liar by his ex-wife, according to Dr. Drew Pinsky on his nightly cable tv show.

Here's what we speculate Baez could say next week:

1. Casey is a pathological liar, reinforced over the years by father George Anthony
2. A pathological liar uncontrollably makes up lies bearing no semblance to reality and are even harmful to themselves
3. Casey lied to attorney Baez, confusing him, making a strategy of defense to confront her accusers impossible
4. There is no medical or psychological treatment for pathological liars
5. It is cruel and unusual to criminally punish anti-social behavior that has no current treatment
6. Anthony cannot be convicted criminally for lying because of the unusual untreatable condition she has
7. Anthony cannot be convicted of murder because reasonable doubt has been shown at trial
8. Anthony should be committed to a psychiatric facility for study and treatment, should treatment ever be available

9. A mistrial should be declared due to Anthony non-cooperation with her attorney, and his confusion resulting from her lies

About Pathological Lying - Pseudologia Phantastica

According to Dr. Charles C. Dike, of the Yale University School of Medicine's division of law and psychiatry in a June 2008 article from Psychiatric Times, there is no universal consensus in the psychiatric community on the definition of pathological lying (PL). It is said to be characterized by a long term history of lying for which no psychological motive or external benefit can be discerned.

This fits easily with Anthony's behavior of lying which made no apparent sense, and had no benefit for her as she made up an imaginary babysitter, imaginary job, led investigators to an imaginary office at Universal Studios Florida, and on and on.

Pathological lies appear purposeless, often self-incriminating and damaging to the liar, making the lies seem to others incomprehensible, says Dike. He says ordinary lying is goal directed to gain external benefits but PL is just the opposite, with no apparent benefit to the liar.

Dike says PL is relatively obscure although it was first observed in the medical literature a century ago and termed "pseudologia phantastica."

He says letters from "mental health professionals, attorneys, and individuals around the world describe similar characteristics in people they know—excessive lying, easily verifiable to be untrue, mostly unhelpful to the liar in any apparent way, and even possibly harmful to the liar, yet told repeatedly over time."

There is yet no psychological test for PL, or much research which confounds efforts to define and understand it and define it as a mental disorder.

Prevalence of PL in the population is unknown, but a study of 1000 repeat juvenile offenders found a prevalence of close to 1%. The average age at onset of the lying behavior was 16 and the average age at discovery was 22. The intelligence quotient (IQ) was found to be average or slightly below average, with significantly better verbal IQ than performance IQ; and a history of brain abnormality in 40% of the cases, characterized by epilepsy, abnormal electroencephalographic findings, head trauma, or infection.

If PL as a disorder can be established in an individual it would cause concern for the degree of responsibility of a pathological liar when their lies lead to criminal behavior, says Yale's Dr. Dike.

"It's Not An Easy Issue" Judge Tells Jose Baez

Casey Seeks Full Freedom From Court Jurisdiction - Judge Needs More Time To Study

Jose Baez, attorney for Casey Anthony appeared in an Orlando courtroom before Orange county Chief Judge Belvin Perry this morning to argue to quash an order for Anthony to report for one-year probation after her 2010 conviction for check fraud.

Anthony was not in court and is still in hiding in an unknown location.

Susan Finigan, senior probation supervisor for the Florida Department of Corrections testified by telephone about her case notes on Casey Anthony's case. She said the case notes indicate Anthony was in the Orange county jail during a one-year probation period, and officials from her department were handling it as they would any other probation case. 

Finigan has worked for the department for 28 years, and said she has never had a case where probation was set at sentencing for an unknown future time. Baez tried to dispute an order this week where Anthony's probation was set to begin after her release from jail, being an unknown time during 2010 because of her pending trial for murder. 

She said she believed "restitution" was completed by Anthony because she was in custody, and the probation was completed January 24, 2011, with a standard letter sent to her at completion.  One her conditions of probation was no contact with the victim Amy Huizenga. Anthony fraudulently stole her checks and cashed them.

Assistant State Attorney Frank George cross-examined Finigan about the role of the probation department and if probation would normally be while a defendant was in jail. Anthony was instructed about her "probation" on February 2, 2010, according to Finigan, about a week after her probation was to begin when Anthony was convicted of check fraud.

Just How Complicated Is Florida Law?

Judge Perry followed up questioning Finigan as to whether Judge Stan Stickland, the judge at the time, was ever contacted about "tolling" of the time Anthony had served. Perry cited several cases regarding the legal issue. 

Additional arguments were offered by Baez' defense team attorney Lizabeth Fryer, on how the case is moot since Anthony served her "probation" and Judge Strickland had no authority to amend the original order, since 60 days had expired with no order amendment. Arguments were also made of the "double jeopardy" issue, as Anthony is being ordered to serve probation twice. 

Judge Perry noted the video of the Judge Strickland's oral pronouncement of sentencing Anthony to one year probation after her release and asked what responsibility the defense has to note the commencement of a probation period by their client to the court, and what obligation anyone has to object to the oral sentence of the court at the time, as no objections were made at the time.

Perry also noted from case law, probation is not a sentence, and while the issue is not clear cut, perhaps there is no double jeopardy issue.  He asks if a defendant is erroneously placed on probation and the oral sentence has not been followed, does the defense counsel have an obligation to notify the court. "It is not an easy issue. It is not a black and white issue," said Perry.

Attorney George ended by saying it is not good public policy to allow probation to be served while a defendant is in jail. He provided arguments about the time limit on correcting "scrivener's" or clerical errors, which allegedly happened in this case. The case law shows that the correction may be made at any time as long as the original intent of the court is not being changed.

George said the state learned of the dispute when Judge Strickland made the order this week, and had no prior notice of when a probation had been started or ended by Anthony until that point.

Perry said he needed to research the issue more and is concerned about threats against Anthony and would take measures with the Department of Corrections to address that issue should he decide for probation. He also agreed to a "status hearing" should an order for probation be found to discuss the issues that may extend from Anthony being placed on supervised probation.

Casey Attorney Jose Baez - Amazing Story Of Tot's Death

Attorney Claims Caylee Anthony Was Never Missing, Abuse By Father, Meter Reader Hiding Body

In a bombshell defense opening statement, lead attorney for Casey Anthony tells the 12-member jury in Orlando, Florida that Anthony's 2-year old daughter Caylee died in a swimming pool accident at the Anthony home on June 16th, 2008.

Baez tells the jury that this trial should not be a murder trial against his client, but a tragic tale of an accident, and accuses the meter reader Roy Kronk, who found the body, of hiding the tot's body in the woods near the Anthony home. The child's remains were not discovered until December 2008, six months after the alleged swimming pool drowning accident.

Baez, an attorney for 5 years, in a meandering tale of amazing ramifications if true, explains his client is not guilty of 1st degree murder, while accusing Anthony's father, in very graphic language, of sexual abuse against Casey Anthony for many years.

George Anthony, an ex-detective was also accused of having a mistress who paid him, while pretending to be at work, so at to fool wife Cindy Anthony.

George and Cindy Anthony, not showing any facial expressions during the statements by Baez are allowed to be in the courtroom because they are considered victims in this case. Ordinarily, prospective witnesses are not allowed to hear any testimony during a trial.

The reason they are appearing extraordinarily calm may be because the Judge had previously ordered all in the courtroom to not have any outbursts or show any facial reactions to what was occurring during the trial, or face being removed from the courtroom.

He goes on to explain why there were "psychic" search dogs and others failing to find the child's body until December 11th, when the meter reader goes to urinate in the same areas where searchers had been, and claims to find the skull and bones of the child. Baez insinuates the man had the remains all along and plants the evidence to get a reward for finding the missing child.

Baez made his extraordinary claims before the jury until 2:22 p.m. Tuesday afternoon when he smilingly asked  Judge Pery if he should continue after a break, but the jury indicated to the Judge they wanted Baez to continue with his statement.

Baez continued with more explanations of what really happened according to his client, casting dispersions on the state's evidence and witnesses who may be expected to testify later. As a defense attorney his job is to create doubt in the jury's mind, and he's certainly making a lot of claims that contradict what the prosecution claims.

Attorney Baez concluded his opening statement at 2:52 p.m.asking the jury to consider how Caylee Anthony really died. The official death, according to the state is from undetermined causes but classified a homicide. Baez claims the child's death was not a homicide but an accident.

Convincing story by Baez and Casey Anthony? That's for the jury to decide at the conclusion of this trial, expected to last six to eight weeks, but after they hear all the evidence collected by the state and it's investigators.

Casey Anthony's Opening Statement - Why I Am Not Guilty

What Could Anthony's Attorney Jose Baez Say?

9 A.M. Tuesday morning, May 24th is scheduled to be the start of the 1st Degree Murder trial of Casey Anthony in Courtroom 23 of the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, Florida.

Chief Judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Belvin Perry, Jr.will preside over the trial, guiding 12 jurors to what must be a unanimous decision at the conclusion of a possible six to eight week trial.

Lead Defense attorney Jose Baez has indicated he's going to explain Anthony's innocence in the first minutes and particularly why it took 31 days for Anthony to announce her daughter was missing. 

Just what could Baez say to prevent a death sentence or secondarily, life imprisonment if his client is convicted of killing her 2-year old child Caylee Anthony?

Anthony will be defended by Jose Baez, who some say is too inexperienced for such a high profile murder case. 

Baez, a high school dropout, leaving school after ninth grade, joined the armed services at 17, got his high School GED, then eventually graduated from St. Thomas Law School in Miami. The school is ranked near the bottom of U.S. law schools. 

Coincidentally, his co-defense counsel Cheney Mason was also a high school drop out and also joined the military at 17 years of age.

Baez became the lead attorney in this case only three years after becoming admitted to practice law in Florida, leaving some to say he's just not experienced enough in death sentence cases.

Another defense team member with a quirky background is Rosalie Bolin, a non-lawyer trial mitigation expert.  

Bolin is married to 49-year old serial killer Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr., a current resident of Florida's Union Correctional Institution in Starke, Florida, serving three sentences for murder, one life sentence and two death sentences. 

Speculation on Casey Anthony Opening Statement:

What Baez may say to explain the 31 delay in reporting the missing Caylee will be the most wanted statement. Maybe he will tell the jury Anthony was too distraught to think clearly after the child went missing, and finally Casey's mother Cindy reported the missing child after 31 days. Certainly some mention will be made about Anthony being the victim of abuse.

After that explanation, opening statements may then move on to these items:

1. There are no fingerprints

2. There is no murder weapon

3. Someone else took the child

4. Someone else killed the child

5. There is not enough evidence to convict Anthony of any of the State's charges

Jose Baez Fizzles In Casey Anthony Trial

Defense Rests In Ho-Hum Ending

Casey Anthony's attorneys ended her murder defense case Thursday morning, electing to not take the stand in her own defense. Speculation had it she would have to be put on the witness stand to provide explanations for what defense attorney Jose Baez told the jury in opening statements, about an "accidental" death of 2-year old Caylee Anthony.

Baez made astounding claims that 2-year old Caylee Anthony died by accident in the family swimming pool in June 2008, and alleged Casey's father George covered up the accident, while an Orlando meter reader somehow took the child's body, kept it for several months and put it in a wooded area near the Anthony home, later telling authorities he "found" the dead child's skull in a plastic bag in the woods. 

Final defense witnesses included George Anthony's alleged lover, and George, Cindy and Lee Anthony testifying about burying family pets. A courtroom spectator was found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to six days in jail, and a monetary fine for a middle-finger rude gesture during the assistant state attorney's rebuttal argument.  

Judge Belvin Perry, at the conclusion of the defense case, and after all witnesses were produced, asked Casey if she was going to testify, and posed a series of questions to show she was not being forced or coerced to not testify. Attorneys generally say it is not good to have a defendant testify in a criminal case because of presumed innocence, while the state has to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

However, in the unusual trial of Casey Anthony, Jose Baez made extraordinary opening statement claims about what happened to Caylee, and yet he produced no evidence during the trial of the claims. 

Left in the 12-member jury minds is just how effective Baez' trial tactics were to provide some doubt about Casey's guilt.

The state is expected to finish their rebuttal case Friday morning before noon, and the jury will be excused until Saturday morning. The judge and attorneys for the state and defense will hammer out jury instructions all day Friday, which will be later read to the jury, explaining just what they are to consider in their deliberations in the jury room.

Final closing statements by both sides are expected on Saturday. Attorneys will only be able to use evidence and testimony produced during the trial in their statements. Baez will not be able to use any conjecture as during his opening statement.

Update: Trial delayed indefinitely. Friday morning,  Jose Baez was battling again over proposed witnesses, this time for the state's rebuttal arguments. Baez objected to a forensic scientist set to testify on the necessity of opening Caylee's skull for examination, as well as employees from Cindy Anthony's former job testifying on whether was at work or not when Cindy claimed she was at home making a Google search of "chloroform" on the home computer.

Judge Perry allowed Baez to delay the testimony to depose the state's anthropologist witness. Perry warned Baez that this latest witness objection better not be an "imaginary problem" and sternly explained the jury was waiting, and the court would resume throughout the holiday weekend if necessary, including Saturday, Sunday, and the 4th of July.