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Deputies Not Ready To Confirm Caylee Is Dead

Missing Caylee's Mother Arrested; Crowd Outside Of Home Cheers

POSTED: Sunday, August 31, 2008
UPDATED: 12:45 am EDT September 1, 2008

Orange County sheriff's deputies said Sunday they are not ready to confirm that missing Caylee Anthony is dead or that her body was in the trunk of her mother's car.


IMAGES: Images Of Casey's Arrest
IMAGES: Crowd Waves Signs; Cheers Arrest
IMAGES: Missing Caylee Anthony Photos
IMAGES: Photos Of Casey Anthony Surface

Deputies said hair samples found in a car's trunk belonging to Caylee showed signs of decomposition. But, the tests can have false positives.

There is also air sample evidence indicating that there was a dead body in Casey Anthony's car trunk but deputies wanted to be clear that they cannot confirm that Caylee is dead or that it was her body in the car, Local 6 reported.

Caylee, 3, has been missing since mid-June.

Casey Arrested

Meanwhile, Casey Anthony remained in jail after deputies arrested her at her parents' home Friday night as a crowd outside cheered and waved "baby killer" signs.

A fleet of Orange County sheriff's vehicles drove to the home of George and Cindy Anthony on Hope Spring Drive Friday night and arrested Casey Anthony.

Local 6 showed video of the 22-year-old being removed from the house in handcuffs.

Anthony was arrested on theft charges that had nothing to do with the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee, Local 6 reported.

A crowd that gathered in front of the Anthony home Friday night screamed insults at Casey Anthony and cheered as she was led away by officers.

The crowd was described as "chaotic" and "angry."

"I've been praying for (the arrest) for a long time," a woman told Local 6's Adam Longo in front of the Anthony house. "Caylee needs justice. And finally tonight, justice has been done. She belongs in jail forever."

"When the police came and everyone got excited because everybody was waiting for this moment and it finally happened," a woman said.

Attorney: Arrest Was 'Big Spectacle'

Meanwhile, Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, said he was upset over Friday night's arrest.

"I just have a real problem with law enforcement flexing their muscles just to make a show," Baez said. "And that is all this was -- a big spectacle. (It was) a big spectacle in front of these people and a big spectacle in front of the community and for the media."

Baez was asked if Casey Anthony should have been arrested on the financially related charges.

"They could have arrested her two months ago," Baez said. "But they decided to do it at a specific time and a specific place and decided to leak it to the media. Once they did, and I caught wind of it, I decided to send them a fax -- which I have here with me from my office -- and I told them, 'Listen, let's do this in a professional manner if you plan on arresting her and if you have any additional charges, I'll surrender her. She is not a flight risk. She is here to stand in front of these charges and I'll surrender her.'"

Baez said Detective Allen wanted "his grand spectacle."

"I've held a lot back, and there is a lot that law enforcement has done that I have not said a word about because it is not about me and law enforcement but it's about Caylee and finding Caylee," Baez said.

Baez said if it is in Casey Anthony's best interest, he planned to get her out of jail.

"We don't want to put any more shows for law enforcement to do at her expense and the expense of the Constitution, and I certainly don't want to contribute to their little show any further," Baez said.

Theft Charges Detailed In Affidavit

According to a new arrest affidavit, Anthony allegedly wrote about $700 worth of checks that had been stolen.

Detectives said they have Anthony on surveillance video using the stolen checks belonging to a friend at a Target store and a Bank of America.

Local 6 has also learned there could be more charges to come for Casey Anthony.

In a recently released report, Casey Anthony allegedly used a routing number off a birthday check her grandmother gave her.

Casey Sent Girl E-Mails

Earlier Friday, Local 6 News exclusively obtained e-mails from Casey Anthony that she sent to a 12-year-old girl she befriended since being bailed out of jail.

The e-mails, letters and a bracelet were sent to Dakota Skii, a St. Cloud Middle School student, who helped organize a vigil in St. Cloud earlier this month for Caylee Anthony, who has been missing since mid-June.

"I can't imagine what they're going through, and I just want to help them get through this," Skii said at the vigil.

Skii, who believes Caylee is still alive, was hospitalized with a severe stress-related medical issue after hearing that sources recently said DNA results and air sample tests from Casey Anthony’s car suggest that Caylee is likely dead, Skii's grandmother, Lois Peter, told Local 6 News.

Peter contacted Local 6 News about the relationship and has since informed law enforcement, saying she hopes the Anthonys do not feel betrayed and that she wants the "madness" to end.

Peter said she called Casey Anthony's mother, Cindy Anthony, after Skii was hospitalized to inform her of the situation.

"I heard Casey in the background, and she was crying. I was like, 'Yeah, Casey. Just tell us what happened to Caylee,'" said Peter, who believes that Caylee may have died accidentally.

Casey Anthony sent Skii an e-mail on Thursday night, saying, "If you need anything, I'll do anything I can, and more."

Skii also received a bracelet with the words "my friend, my sister" from Casey Anthony.

A hand-written note sent to Skii from Casey Anthony said:

"Hey Sweetie! I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for my family. I am really looking forward to seeing you. We will schedule something very soon, I promise. I would love to have you spend the night, and spend time getting to know each other. You are such an amazing girl and already a true friend. We are so blessed to have you and your Mom in our lives. I love you. Thank you for my gift (a stuffed animal), I named him after you. I will see you soon. Love, Casey"

Casey Anthony was charged with child neglect and filing a false statement in mid-July, about a month after she said she last saw her daughter, Caylee. An ankle bracelet is currently monitoring her on home confinement at her parents' house after she was bailed out of the Orange County Jail last week.

Also on Friday, Casey Anthony's father, George Anthony, tossed two chairs and other items and threatened to call authorities after two men were sitting outside his home between the sidewalk and the street.

"Get off my property. This is my property and this is my property," said George Anthony while pointing to his yard and the grass between the sidewalk and street.

A neighbor intervened, holding George Anthony back from the two men, who said they were at the house to take pictures and try to see Casey Anthony.

"I don't care how big you are or how small you are," George Anthony said before placing his hand under the arm of one of the men and pushing him back. "Next time I see you or anyone else on my property, I will file charges."

"I think (Casey Anthony) needs to be re-arrested, and I hope that happens. I want to be here when that happens," the man who was pushed said.

"The person who was in the back of my daughter's car was not my granddaughter," George Anthony yelled.

Shortly after the incident, two Orange County sheriff's deputies arrived at the house to serve criminal witness subpoenas to George and Cindy Anthony and their son, Lee Anthony.

"It's the trial period that was set for the criminal case," a deputy said. "They're from Nov. 17 through Nov. 28. These came from the State Attorney's Office this morning. It's to put them on standby for the trial for a two-week period."

Threats Mount Against Family

Threats of violence against Casey Anthony and her family have escalated after DNA results indicated the child is likely dead and a decomposing body was in the woman's trunk.

"(Callers are saying) kill the (expletive), burn the (expletive) and fry the (expletive)," the bounty hunter who helped free Casey Anthony, Leonard Padilla, said.

The threats have become so frequent and so violent that Padilla said Casey Anthony and her family are no longer safe and are easy targets for people who could harm them.

"Most of (the callers) are nuts," Padilla said. "They are abusive and they are probably out of their minds but you can't pass up the fact that somebody might just do something stupid. Something has to be done and the safety issue is paramount to us."

A group of people were waiting outside Anthony's parents' home for a chance to confront the family about missing Caylee Anthony.

"(Casey Anthony) does not deserve the air she breathes," resident Denise Payton yelled outside the Anthony home. "And her parents, I don't know how they live with themselves."

"They are disgusting people," resident Tamara Silva said. "Anybody with any kind of sense whatsoever knows they are hiding whatever and they know," Silva said. "I knew from day 1 that baby was not alive."

Padilla had said he is throwing Anthony back in jail and revoking her bond for her safety and his peace of mind.

Padilla had said he wants to get Anthony back behind bars now that there is talk that protestors may be planning a demonstration against her.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this developing story.

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