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Missing Girl's Mom Lied, Stole From Family, Friends, Document Says

Caylee Anthony Missing Since Mid-June

POSTED: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
UPDATED: 1:45 pm EDT August 26, 2008

The mother of missing 3-year-old Caylee Anthony met with her attorney in Kissimmee on Tuesday, a day after more than 400 documents were released by the state in connection to her case.
VIDEO: Casey Released From Jail
IMAGES: Casey Leaves Jail
IMAGES: Caylee Photos | Casey Photos Surface
IMAGES: Items Found By Bloggers
Casey Anthony, 22, met with her attorney, Jose Baez, who was given access to the documents a few days ago in the discovery phase of the child neglect case against his client.

Baez told Local 6 News that he tried to prevent the documents from being publicly released, which is standard procedure under Florida's public records law.

"I tried to put a stop to it. I made a last-minute motion for an injunction, but it was denied," Baez said.

Among the released documents was a signed statement from Casey Anthony which said she left Caylee with a baby sitter named Zenaida Gonzalez and also stated, "I have lied and stolen from my friends and family to do whatever I could by any means to find my daughter."

Another document said that an employee of Johnson's Wrecker Service, which retrieved Casey Anthony's vehicle from an Orange County Amscot parking lot where it was abandoned, said when Casey Anthony's father, George Anthony, opened the trunk of her car, flies came out and it reeked of a smell that reminded him of when a man committed suicide in a car.

Ryan Pasley, a friend of Casey Anthony's, said in a statement that her mother, Cindy Anthony, told him "basically (Casey) was a sociopath."

When asked how he would combat the seemingly unfavorable statements, Baez said, "How can I say I don't want this case tried in the media if I'm going to tell you what my next move is?"

Casey Anthony was arrested on charges of child neglect and filing a false statement in mid-July, about 31 days after she said she last saw her then 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.

She was released from jail last week when a celebrity bounty hunter helped post her $500,000 bond. Casey Anthony is now on home confinement and is being monitored by an ankle bracelet at her parents' house.

Documents Released

Casey Anthony also wanted to give her unborn daughter up for adoption, according to documents released on Monday.

A high school friend said Casey Anthony was interested in adopting her unborn child, according to a document.

The released documents also include an arrest report and notes from detectives of interviews with Casey Anthony's friends and neighbors.

According to the documents, detectives said Casey Anthony provided many details about the day she said she last saw Caylee, but Casey Anthony did not give specifics, including cell phone numbers, on how to reach friends whom she said could vouch for Gonzalez's existence, according to the documents.

The documents also stated that before detectives arrived to perform a search of the back yard of Casey Anthony's parents' home. Cindy Anthony checked inside the sheds and George Anthony moved a playhouse and looked underneath concrete pavers for "any evidence of foul play," documents stated.

Detectives said they also noticed a strange, suspicious depression near the swimming pool, the documents stated.

Deputies have also searched for Caylee after receiving tips of possible sightings of the missing girl, including going to a Chuck E. Cheese's in Altamonte Springs and a bank near Apopka, documents said. Detectives seized videotape from the locations and confirmed Caylee was not present during the alleged sightings, according to the documents.

Casey Anthony provided an e-mail to detectives that she said she received from her boss at Universal Studios, the documents said. The e-mail was signed by Thomas Frank, whom Casey Anthony said was her boss, but investigators said he does not exist.

Casey Anthony, who is being monitored by an ankle bracelet while on home confinement at her parents' house, made a scheduled visit on Monday to her case manager, who will verify that she is meeting the conditions of her bond.

New Theory Presented

The celebrity bounty hunter who helped orchestrate the release of Casey Anthony from jail said he believes she handed Caylee over to friends to get away from her parents' overbearing supervision.

Leonard Padilla, who helped post Casey Anthony's $500,000 bond, told Local 6 News that he believes Casey Anthony and her friends are now caught in a web of lies.

"She can't go to law enforcement and tell them the truth because she doesn't want to get her friends in a jackpot because they've already lied to law enforcement," Padilla said.

Padilla said that he intends to follow leads and tips -- without the assistance of law enforcement -- in the search for the missing girl, Local 6 News reported.

"The issue is (to) get the little girl back, call law enforcement, get immunity, tell them you lied (and say) 'Here's the child, go get her,'" Padilla said.

Padilla said he plans to prove within five days that Caylee is alive.

Spokesman: Mom Trying To Help

A spokesman for the Anthony family said Casey Anthony is trying to help her family find Caylee.

However, Casey Anthony's parents, George and Cindy Anthony, are upset with continued media coverage focusing on their daughter's possible role in Caylee's disappearance.

It has been a circus outside the Anthonys' Orlando home since Casey Anthony got out of jail on Thursday.

Cindy Anthony, Caylee's grandmother, said the frenzy is affecting the whole family.

Casey Anthony is confined with an electronic ankle device to the home. She faces charges of child neglect, making false statements and obstructing the investigation to find the girl.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

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