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Anthonys Say They Feel Ambushed By Taping, Release Of FBI Interviews

Missing Caylee Anthony Last Seen In June

POSTED: Monday, November 24, 2008
UPDATED: 8:51 am EST November 24, 2008

The grandparents of Caylee Anthony, who was last seen in mid-June, spoke for the first time since their interviews with the FBI were released, saying they felt like they have been ambushed.
PHOTOS: Possible Caylee Sighting
PHOTOS: Inside Anthony Home
PHOTOS: CSI Checks Casey's Car
PHOTOS: Dive Search, Confrontation
PHOTOS: Prayer Vigil For Caylee
PHOTOS: Casey Baby Photos
George and Cindy Anthony spoke after a prayer vigil was held Sunday night for Caylee, whose mother, Casey Anthony, remains jailed on first-degree murder charges in her daughter's disappearance.

George and Cindy Anthony said they did not know they were being videotaped and had no idea the FBI interviews were being released until they watched local TV news.

The Anthonys said this proves that investigators are not searching for Caylee but instead are continuing to build a case against Casey Anthony.

"That distinct odor, that's something you don't forget," George Anthony said in the FBI interview. "I believe something was placed in the back of that trunk. I don't want to believe it was my granddaughter."

George Anthony also said in the interview that his daughter had lied.

"Is my daughter not telling the truth? Yeah," George Anthony said. "She knows a lot more than what's going on. Has she just completely blanked this out or is she just trying to cover up something that might have went wrong? That's possible."

No Leads In Possible Sighting

Meanwhile, the Anthonys said no one has come forward since a picture of a girl involved in a possible Caylee sighting was released on Friday.

The photo was taken inside the Florida Mall, but the person who took the picture has not been identified.

"We want to continue to get it out there. If she belongs to someone else, we want to know so we can rule it out," Anthony family spokeswoman Michelle Bart said.

Bounty Hunter Search

Celebrity bounty hunter Leonard Padilla said he will return to Orlando in January to search for Caylee's remains. Padilla said he has been given $50,000 from someone who wants him to continue the search. Padilla said he will continue searching Blanchard Park in Orlando, where he believes Casey Anthony dumped her daughter's body.

Attorneys Talk Trial Options

Meanwhile, Local 6 News reporter Tony Pipitone continues his investigation into the case, discussing its merits with a former prosecutor and a prominent defense attorney.

Anthony's trial is scheduled to begin in January.

Caylee's body has not been found, inviting the question: How can the state prove she is dead, much less that her mother killed her?

Pipitone said that after prosecutors finish presenting their case, the defense will likely ask the judge to throw it out, seeking a judgment of acquittal, which means even giving the state every benefit of the doubt, there's no way a jury could properly find guilt.

"How do you prove this child is dead just because her mother won't say where she has been or is, if she knows? You can't prove she's dead," defense attorney Cheney Mason said. "If you can't prove she's dead, you can't prove cause of death. If you can't prove cause of death, you have a hard time proving who's behind it, how it happened."

Former prosecutor Elizabeth Rahter said a circumstantial case could be solid enough to at least get to a jury.

"Is it reasonable for a mother never to report her missing child? Is it reasonable for a mother to be quiet? Is it reasonable for a mother to never call the police? Is it reasonable for there to be a hair in the trunk? Well, how often does her daughter hang out in the trunk of her car?" Rahter said.

Anthony's car reeked of death, and scientists may be allowed to testify that it contained the remains of a decomposing human body, Pipitone said.

If the case did get to a jury, Pipitone asked Mason if he thought her attorneys would put her on the stand.

"Knowing what I know at this time, there's not a snowball's chance you know where I put her on the witness stand," Mason said.

"Why is that?" Pipitone said.

"Well, because there's so much to cross-examine her about," Mason said.

"Do you just say, 'The defense rests.' Don't even put on a defense?" Pipitone asked.

"There's a good chance that would be the case," Mason said.

If that was to happen, a jury would decide Anthony's fate on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter and four counts of lying to authorities, although juries sometimes are given a chance to compromise on what are called lesser-included offenses.

"It doesn't have to be murder. It could be something lesser," Pipitone said.

"It could be murder first-degree, second-degree, manslaughter," Mason said.

Either side could request that the choices be given to the jury, Pipitone said.

"Most likely, the defense is going to say, 'We just want what's charged and nothing less,'" Rahter said.

If the case against Anthony is as weak as Mason claims, she and her defense team may choose to roll the dice.

"The defense would risk all or nothing?" Pipitone asked.

"Some defense attorneys have done that. You come back with murder-one or you have to acquit," Mason said.

If Anthony was found guilty of premeditated murder or murder in the commission of aggravated child abuse, the question would then turn to a sentence of life or death -- if the state even seeks the death penalty, Pipitone said.

To get the death penalty, the state has to show death was heinous, atrocious or cruel.

"How can you prove the death was heinous, atrocious and cruel if you can't prove the cause of death because you don't have a body?" Mason said.

"There's a dead child. How more heinous, atrocious and cruel can you get?" Pipitone said.

"Well, because people die by accident, of natural causes, any number of ways. No way. No possibility of proving heinous, atrocious and cruel without the body," Mason said.

There also are other so-called aggravators, Pipitone said.

"Is that cold, calculated and premeditated?" Pipitone asked.

"I think you could definitely argue the cold and calculated," Rahter said.

"How do you prove cold, calculated or premeditated, again, without knowing when or how or why?" Mason said.

Other aggravators include a child victim being killed by a caregiver supports a death penalty.

"But on this question, both our defense and prosecutorial sides have some agreement," Pipitone said.

"As it stands now, you can't get there," Mason said.

"So no way you'd see a death penalty in this case?" Pipitone said.

"No, based on what we know now," Mason said.

"I don't think the state would go through with it if they don't have a body," Rahter said.

"That wouldn't ever go to the death penalty, would never even seek it without a body," Pipitone said.

If Anthony is found not guilty on all counts, Pipitone asked the experts if justice will have been served.

"If you believe in the Constitution of the United States, if you believe in the jury system, you must necessarily conclude that that was justice," Mason said.

Family Attorney Quits

Meanwhile, the attorney representing George and Cindy Anthony, the parents of Casey Anthony, resigned on Thursday, saying he didn't have the control over the case or his clients that he needed to be effective.

Mark NeJame had represented George and Cindy Anthony since Sept. 4.

"I won't comment about what they did or didn't do. All I will say is that I need to be in control of my clients. I need to be in control of my cases," NeJame said.

NeJame released a statement about his decision:

"Unfortunately, I have made the decision that it is best not to continue my representation of George and Cindy Anthony.

"George and Cindy have a belief that their beloved granddaughter, Caylee, is still alive. Tips and leads continue to come in. I believe strongly that they should have every right to maintain their hope and faith that one of these "sightings" will miraculously be the one that brings Caylee home to them. What parent or grandparent would surrender such hope?

"Who is one person to tell another parent or grandparent when it is time for them to abandon their faith? When does a stranger have the right to judge another who has endured such a loss? The attacks made against them by some are deplorable.

"Let them be to do what they feel they must to find their beloved granddaughter, Caylee. Knowing this case as well as probably anyone on earth, there is no doubt that they do not know where Caylee is. Allow them to walk their own path.

"I only agreed to represent George and Cindy Anthony, so long as there were no restrictions placed on me whatsoever as to finding Caylee, regardless of where this might lead. Quite simply, this meant that I could do whatever I needed to find Caylee whether she was alive or not. It impressed me that George and Cindy, both believing that Caylee was still with us, had an overriding and primary concern in finding Caylee, even if the result was not as they would hope. The other condition I required was that I would have absolutely nothing to do with representing Casey or assisting in her legal defense.

"Abundant efforts have been made towards finding Caylee. I have worked with so many involved in this matter towards the goal of finding this dear, missing child who has captured the hearts of so many. Some ignorant and judgmental members of the public though have made hateful and inaccurate accusations against me and others, when they had no idea whatsoever what was really going on. As my new, good friend, Tim Miller from Equusearch, tells me 'everybody associated with this case gets body slammed.' However, like Tim, when you know in your heart that you're doing the right thing, you just move forward knowing that right will ultimately win out. Some have falsely accused me and some others of being in this for the money. If they only knew how utterly wrong and misguided they are.

"I had come to a personal opinion and theory for quite some time whether Caylee was still with us or not. However, my opinion was only one like any other … an opinion. The only person without an opinion though is Casey Anthony as only she knows the truth.

"I believe that the singular person out of the 6 billion people in the world who holds the key to finding Caylee is her mother, Casey Anthony. Although I was quite successful in resolving a multitude of matters, I am unable to go further to help George and Cindy find Caylee in my current role. I can only provide my best advice and must respect any client's prerogative to do what they deem is best, whether they choose to follow my guidance or not. However, there is little value or use I can provide to any client if they choose to act and comment at will.

"As someone who has learned and knows the inner workings and details of the case and its various characters intimately, the rampant sensationalism and unfounded accusations must stop. Allow Cindy and George Anthony the respect and decency of dealing with their hope and efforts to find their missing and beloved Caylee as they need to. Allow those with differing opinions on finding and searching for Caylee, whether she is with us or not, to do their jobs without interruption. Finally, the judicial system is in play and justice will be best served by mindless meddlers staying out of something they know little of. There are many wonderful people involved in efforts to find Caylee and there are, unfortunately, many who are exploiting this child. Sadly, most in the public are clueless about who is doing what and what is really going on. The negative actions of some are only counterproductive and hurtful to the cause of those many good people who are doing so much to do something positive with this most sad and tragic situation.

"There should only be one goal and that is to find Caylee Marie Anthony."

George and Cindy Anthony told Local 6 News that they will seek new representation.

They released a statement, thanking NeJame for his work:

"We appreciate the time and energy that Mr. NeJame and his law firm has dedicated to representing us in the last several months. We respect Mr. NeJame's decision to resign as our representative as we agree that he can no longer benefit us in our quest to find our missing granddaughter Caylee Marie. We wish Mark and his staff all the best."

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

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