ORLANDO, Fla. -- A request to lower a $500,000 bond for the mother of a missing Orlando girl was denied as a search continues for the child.

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AUDIO: Casey Anthony -- July 30 Phone Call
IMAGES: New Photos Of Casey Anthony Surface
IMAGES: Missing Caylee Anthony Photos

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Family attorney Jose Baez wanted an appeals court to reduce Casey Anthony's bond Wednesday.

However, the state stressed that Anthony is a person of interest in the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee, and she should remain behind bars.

The attorney general's response was entered into records Wednesday morning, saying Anthony should remain incarcerated because she holds the key to finding her daughter.

In a motion, they reiterated that the case is bizarre and Anthony's mental state is difficult to describe, Local 6's Tarik Minor said.

Anthony's mental health evaluation was delivered to the Fifth District Court of Appeals Wednesday.

'Ex-Boyfriend' Story Can't Be Verified

Meanwhile, a claim by a former inmate that the mother of a missing Orlando girl told him her daughter is with an ex-boyfriend can't be verified and is possibly not credible.

Travis Nichols, 20, came forward with the information Wednesday in the latest in a series of bizarre events surrounding the case of missing Caylee Anthony.

Nichols said he was near Casey Anthony, 22, in a jail holding cell Tuesday when she talked with him about Caylee's whereabouts.

"I asked her through a holding cell, 'What'd you do with your baby?'" Nichols said. "She said, 'I didn't do nothing. My ex-boyfriend has her.'"

After an investigation, Nichol's story could not be verified and the sheriff's office is discounting the story.

Nichols was in jail on burglary and grand theft charges.

Club Photos Surface

Photos have surfaced showing Casey Anthony smiling with friends at an Orlando lounge apparently five days after the child was last seen by her grandmother.

A photographer snapped the photos showing Casey Anthony at the Fusian Lounge in Orlando on June 20 -- which is five days after missing Caylee Anthony was last seen by her grandmother.

"She was not partying any harder or less than anybody else would but she was at the medium," John Azzilona said. "She didn't seem belligerently drunk or anything like that, she was just out."

Also, about four days after the photos were taken, one of Anthony's friends said he heard Caylee in the background of a phone call.

A national search continues for the missing girl.

Attorney: 'If She's Guilty, Prove it'

Meanwhile, Baez and his new co-counsel Mike Walsh spent almost two hours inside the jail Tuesday, after they lost a court battle to stop the flow of jail correspondence to the media.

However, an appeals court is expected to consider lowering Anthony's bail Wednesday.

"We're actually pinning our hopes on this and hoping to get her out," Baez said. "She's doing her best to get through this extremely stressful time."

Baez and Walsh gave interviews on the national media circuit Tuesday night.

"The worry and angst is clearly visible on her face and her body language," Walsh said. "She does her best to put on a poker face kind of smile and act like things are not bothering her. But that is just a nervous smile."

Walsh also had some harsh words for investigators, saying every day they don't talk to Anthony about her daughter is another day the child could be in jeopardy.

"If she's guilty of something, then by God, prove it," Walsh said. "But if she isn't, stop with this and go out into the field."

Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary said the focus is not on Anthony.

"We need to get family members, law enforcement and the defense attorney all on the same sheet of music," Beary said. "It's all about finding Caylee."

Also, a scheduled visitor for Anthony in jail Tuesday night was a no show.

Judge OKs Release Of Calls

Also Tuesday, A judge denied a motion to suppress jailhouse phone calls and information in the case.

Baez said he wanted to block the public from hearing calls the woman makes from jail or from seeing who visits her because it could hurt the search for her daughter, Caylee.

Baez said if the family can't speak with Casey Anthony freely, it could slow or prevent anyone from finding her. He also told the judge if he denied the motion, he was playing with fire.

"Your position, Mr. Baez, seems to be, 'Just trust us. We are trying to do an investigation here and if get anything we will tell you about it. Just trust us.' Well, it just doesn't work that way," Judge Stan Strickland said.

Lawyers representing the sheriff's office argued that detectives are in charge of the investigation and they decide whether it is for release, Local 6 reported.

Strickland then denied the motion.

"When push comes to shove in a case like this, I'm going to err on the side of the First Amendment every time and I'm going to do so by denying your motion and that is going to be it," Strickland said.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this developing story.