ORLANDO, Fla. -- The father of Casey Anthony, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee, had alcohol in his motel room and took several sleeping pills prior to being found by authorities after he sent suicidal text messages to family members who reported him missing, sources told Local 6 News.

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VIDEO: Local 6 Team Report | PHOTOS: Suicide Threat

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George Anthony was hospitalized Friday after undergoing psychiatric evaluation. He was reported missing late Thursday night from his Orange County home but was located a few hours later at the Hawaii Motel on U.S. Highway 1 in Daytona Beach.

"He had text-messaged family members that he wanted to end his life," Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said.

Local 6 News reported that an unfinished three-page suicide note was also found in George Anthony's car.

"I'm being told by sources close to the investigation that the note included wording like 'I want to go be with Caylee,'" Local 6 News reporter Jessica D'Onofrio said.

Local 6 News showed video of the motel room in which George Anthony was staying. A cardboard container of a 12-pack of beer was in the room with four unopened bottles in the refrigerator. A brown blanket apparently belonging to the Anthony family was also shown atop the hotel room bed.

George Anthony's wife, Cindy Anthony, and their attorney, Brad Conway, reported him missing after he failed to arrive at a 4 p.m. Thursday meeting with them, officials said.

On the 911 call Conway placed Thursday, he said he was worried that George Anthony had "done something to himself."

"George has been gone since 8:30 this morning, and he has several bottles of medication from his house as well, and some pictures. We're worried that something ... that he's done something to himself," Conway told the 911 dispatcher.

No weapons were found with George Anthony, who is a former sheriff's deputy in Ohio. He also had his blood-pressure medication with him.

Conway insinuated that authorities helped save George Anthony's life.

"George has been through a lot. The entire Anthony family has been through a lot. George is OK. Thank God," Conway said. "Had it not been for a cooperative effort between Orange County and Volusia County, I don't know what the outcome would have been."

At a Friday afternoon news conference, Conway asked the public and media to respect what the Anthonys are going through.

"This has been nothing less than hell," Conway said. "The loss of their granddaughter has been difficult."

Conway reiterated that his clients have not profited in any way from Caylee's death and they have not been accused of any wrongdoing by authorities.

George Anthony was taken to Halifax Medical Center under Florida's Baker Act, which provides for involuntary hospitalization for those considered serious threats to themselves or others. The hospital can hold Anthony for up to 72 hours.

"Currently, he has been stabilized. He has been moved up to a room and admitted here at Halifax Health," hospital spokeswoman Salina Wang said on Friday afternoon. "Right now we're not commenting on any mental issues that he may or may not have. He is undergoing medical evaluation."

Authorities said they used cell phone pings to track George Anthony to the Bethune Point area of Daytona Beach, and his car was later found in the motel parking lot.

Chitwood, who drove George Anthony to the hospital, told Local 6 News that he had expected to find him dead. He also said that George Anthony did not want to leave the hotel but did so after being issued an ultimatum.

Chitwood said that George Anthony told him he went to Daytona Beach because he was "broke" and said, "You don't know what I'm going through."

"It's a sad story. It's sad for everybody involved," Chitwood said.

Conway said Cindy Anthony was OK when he was asked about her well-being.

"I think I've said this a lot of times. (She's doing) as well as can be expected, but she's good," Conway said. "George is safe, and he's with us, so it's all good."

Casey Anthony, 22, who remains jailed on first-degree murder charges in the death of Caylee, was informed of the situation involving her father by health staff members at the Orange County Jail.

Her attorney, Jose Baez, visited Casey Anthony at the jail Friday morning but would not comment about her reaction to the news.

"I've been strict about not commenting about her reaction to things like that while she's going through this process," Baez said. "She's holding up. That's the best I can say right now."

Baez said he would get her help if it was determined that she needed any psychological assistance.

Also on Friday, Orange County Circuit Judge Stan Strickland ordered Casey Anthony to attend all future court proceedings. The next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30 at 8:30 a.m.

Duct Tape, Trash Bag Link?

Meanwhile, Local 6 News learned Thursday that a gas can with apparent duct tape on it that was seized from the home of George and Cindy Anthony, where Casey Anthony and Caylee lived, is being compared to duct tape found over Caylee's mouth because the tape appears to be identical.

Caylee's remains were found Dec. 11 by an Orange County meter reader in some woods less than a half-mile from the Anthony home.

The gas can was seized by investigators Aug. 1 from the Anthony home. Local 6 News showed video of the metal gas can, which appeared to have silver duct tape on it.

George Anthony told investigators that Casey Anthony had his gas cans in the trunk of her car in mid-June after he reported them stolen. The gas can would have been in the same trunk where detectives believe Caylee's body was for at least two days, Local 6 News reported.

Documents released by the state attorney's office this week revealed that the Caylee's mouth was covered with silver duct tape that had been adorned with a heart-shaped sticker.

The reports also showed that duct tape was attached to her hair, and the girl's remains were placed in a laundry-hamper bag and then secured in a plastic garbage bag before they were left in the woods.

Also, shortly after the discovery of Caylee's remains, detectives twice searched the Anthony home for any evidence connected to the crime scene. Local 6 News has learned that investigators took plastic bags that look the same as the black trash bag with yellow handles in which Caylee's remains were found.

The trash bag in which Caylee's body was placed is also identical in appearance to a bag Cindy Anthony gave to detectives in July, Local 6 News reported.

Local 6 News has learned that investigators are confident of the connection between the home and the crime scene, but it will take laboratory tests to conclusively link the bag to the one found in the woods.

Caylee was 2 years old when she was reported missing in mid-July, a month after she was last seen alive.

Months ago, a woman was seen taking trash from the curb outside the Anthony home. The trash was in a black plastic trash bag.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.