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Cell 'Pings' Key To Search For Missing Caylee, Tracking Mother

Attorney: Anthony Preparing For Worst

POSTED: Thursday, October 9, 2008
UPDATED: 7:20 pm EDT October 9, 2008

Hundreds of "pings" from the cell phone of missing Caylee Anthony's mother have apparently led to site searches for the child and helped investigators track Casey Anthony's movements.


NEW IMAGES: Surveillance Photos Of Casey Anthony
READ: Documents 10-8-08
READ: Documents II 10-8-08
READ: Documents III 10-8-08
READ: Documents IV 10-8-08

Local 6 tracked the 754 times Anthony's cell phone communicated with a cell tower -- called pings -- and mapped 20 different towers the calls reached.

The pings came during a period from June 16 -- the day Caylee Anthony was last seen alive -- to June 30 -- the day Casey Anthony's car was towed from an Amscot with signs of human decomposition was found in the trunk.

Records indicated that 97 percent of the cell phone pings came at or around her boyfriend's apartment near Winter Park, her parents' home located off Chickasaw Trail and the Fusian nightclub and a friend's house in Orlando.

However, it is some of the other 3 percent of pings that have raised some questions, Local 6 reported.

On June 17, the day after George Anthony said he last saw his granddaughter alive, Casey Anthony apparently returned to the family home at about 2:30 p.m.

Then, around 4 p.m., the phone pinged a cell tower southwest of the family home at Lee Vista Boulevard and South Goldenrod, Local 6 reported. The location was near where detectives directed EquuSearch volunteers to look for signs of Caylee several weeks ago.

At 5:20 p.m., Anthony's cell pinged a tower near Blanchard Park at state Road 50 and Goldenrod, Local 6 reported. That site was also searched in August by EquuSearch.

Records showed that Casey Anthony's cell phone went silent during a time between 5:23 and 8:23 on June 17 -- no text messages, no calls in and no calls out.

Anthony then turned up near her boyfriend's apartment, records showed.

On June 18, a neighbor of Casey Anthony's parents said they noticed the woman borrowed a shovel and backed her car into her parents' home garage. Cell pings showed that Casey Anthony was at or near her parents' home between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.

And after 28 minutes of cell phone silence, Casey Anthony's phone pinged an unusual spot -- along the Econ Trail located south of Lake Underhill, Local 6 reported.

It was again an area detectives in which were interested and and asked EquuSearch volunteers to search, Local 6 reported.

Investigators first subpoenaed Casey Anthony's cell phone records the day after she was arrested in July and have been analyzing them ever since.

Attorney: Anthony Preparing For Worst

Meanwhile, a day after Local 6 News reported that homicide charges are being sought against Casey Anthony, the mother of missing 3-year-old Caylee, her lawyer would not say whether he expects her to be indicted on those charges.

But attorney Jose Baez did tell the "Today" show on Thursday that he and Anthony have been preparing for the worst.

Caylee was reported missing in July, but her mother told investigators that she hasn't seen the girl since June.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said last week that Anthony, 22, is a suspect in Caylee's disappearance, though she has only been charged with child neglect and making false statements.

Baez said authorities are giving up on their search for Caylee by trying to make a case against his client.

State Seeks Homicide Charges

The State Attorney's Office is planning on presenting its case to a grand jury on Tuesday, Local 6 News reported on Wednesday. The grand jury will then decide if prosecutors have enough evidence to charge Anthony, the report said.

It is not known if the state will pursue a murder or a manslaughter charge, Local 6 reported.

Caylee was last seen in mid-June but was not reported missing until mid-July. Even with no body, the state plans to charge Anthony in connection with the death of her child.

Orange County sheriff's investigators -- and Sheriff Kevin Beary -- said they believe Caylee is dead.

Anthony was recently named a suspect in her daughter's disappearance after evidence allegedly showed a dead body was inside Anthony's car.

Air samples taken from the trunk of the car indicated a dead body was present, investigators said. Cadaver dogs also alerted on the car, according to investigators.

In addition, FBI results showed that a hair sample taken from the trunk of the car likely belonged to Caylee, Local 6 News reported. High levels of chloroform were also found inside the trunk, according to the report.

Anthony was previously charged with child neglect in her daughter's disappearance.

New Video, Documents Released

Newly released surveillance videos show Casey Anthony shopping at different Central Florida stores using stolen checks, according to investigators.

Authorities said the video and photos, which were released on Wednesday, prove Anthony is a thief, Local 6 reported.

Investigators said Anthony used stolen checks from her one-time best friend Amy Huizenga, and then spent the money in stores including Target.

Copies of checks Anthony allegedly wrote were also released Wednesday, including one check on which Anthony apparently signed her own name.

When Anthony was initially arrested on charges of child neglect, she was videotaped wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with the number "82" on it.

On surveillance video, Anthony can be seen buying the same sweatshirt at a Target store located on Alafaya Trail. Investigators said she made the purchase using a stolen check.

According to sheriff's deputies, Anthony stole Huizenga's checkbook while she was out of the country on vacation and then illegally went to at least four stores.

Prosecutors said Anthony stole more than $1,300 from Huizenga.

Anthony apparently made grocery and clothing purchases during a time in mid-July -- after Caylee had been missing for more than a month and when Anthony was living with her boyfriend.

In addition to using Huizenga's checks to buy items, prosecutors said Anthony also cashed a check at a Bank of America where surveillance cameras captured her at a teller window.

Anthony allegedly wrote a check to herself for $250, Local 6 reported. Prosecutors said Anthony forged Huizenga's signature on the bottom of a check.

Also, on one of the checks Anthony allegedly spent in a Central Florida Target store, she signed "Casey Anthony" on the bottom of Huizenga's check, Local 6 reported.

In addition to five paper checks, detectives said Anthony wrote an electronic check to AT&T for $574.

If Anthony is convicted of all 13 check fraud charges, she could be sentenced up to 65 years in prison, Local 6 reported.

New Motion Filed

Meanwhile, Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, filed a new motion requesting evidence that may be favorable to his client.

The motion requests a list of any promises the state has made to any witnesses and any fees witnesses may be paid.

It also requests any information investigators have discovered that could be used to Anthony's disadvantage.

There have been several reported sightings of missing Caylee.

Baez has requested reports from any law enforcement agency that has investigated the case.

A national search for Caylee continues.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

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