ORLANDO, Fla. -- George Anthony opened up in his first candid interview since learning of his granddaughter's death.
Local 6 News reporter Adam Longo joined Anthony on the maiden voyage of the S.S. Caylee Marie on Lake Underhill and spoke with him about his daughter, Casey Anthony, and how he wants to remember Caylee Anthony.
"I think about Casey every single day," George Anthony said. "She's my daughter. I'm going to support her no matter what. I'm not giving up on her."
Casey Anthony is due to stand trial later this year. She is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.
"Casey's a good lady. She's a good mother. She's a good woman," George Anthony said. "I really think what she's going through right now is unfair. She's been tried. I wouldn't want to be tried that way."
George Anthony praised his daughter's legal team, and said he knows how difficult the next few months and the trial will be for his daughter.
"She's got a tough road ahead of her, but I really think the defense team she has, Jose and the people with him, I think they're doing a good job," George Anthony said.
George Anthony also commented on the plans to turn the land where Caylee's remains were found into a memorial.
"I don't want her memorialized down the end of our street," George Anthony said. "It's hard for me to talk about that now. I haven't even been down there."
He said the family hopes to build a park where they and others can pay their respects to Caylee.
"There's not a day that goes by that we don’t think about her," George Anthony said. "The song of Caylee that was sung at our memorial, that's played every single day inside of our cars when we're out."
George said he and his wife Cindy want to assist other families in need. They're planning a foundation where they'll be able to send a group to assist families dealing with similar circumstances.
The Kid Finders Network raised about $30,000 in donations to purchase the S.S. Caylee Marie, which is outfitted with the latest technology, including equipment some police forces do not possess. It will be used as an "extreme" search and rescue vessel.
"You can search a lake this size in just minutes rather than having to send divers in," Dennis Milstead of the Kid Finders Network said.
"We want to be an extension of the sheriff's office that can use the equipment he has here," George Anthony said.
George Anthony said the boat is now his life's work.
"I haven't been working since November of last year. I feel this is what I need to do. It's taken me 50 years to know what I should do with the rest of my life," George Anthony said.
He said the family is proud of the donations raised to fund the boat, but they hope they never have to use it.
Previous Stories: - April 6, 2009: Officer: Casey Sought Sedatives, Talked Football After Remains Found
- April 3, 2009: Baez Deposes Deputy Who Searched Woods
- April 2, 2009: Hoover Says Fellow P.I. Knew Caylee Was Dead, Where She Was
- April 1, 2009: Baez Denied Closed-Door Meeting With Judge
- March 27, 2009: Former Client Calls Baez 'Defective,' Asks For New Trial
- March 27, 2009: Baez To Depose Deputies, Jail Workers
- March 26, 2009: Anthony Tries To Avoid Answering Questions In Civil Case
- March 25, 2009: Anthony Does Not Have To Disclose Defense Payment
- March 25, 2009: Hearing To Focus On Anthony Defense Team Finances
- March 20, 2009: Grandma Wanted Casey Anthony Arrested On Theft Charges
- March 19, 2009: Casey Anthony Turns 23 Years Old
- March 18, 2009: Defense Receives Discs In Anthony Case
- March 17, 2009: Court Hearing On Anthonys' Depositions Canceled
- March 16, 2009: Jail Worker Who Witnessed Anthony During Bone Discovery ID'd
- March 16, 2009: Lee Anthony Attorney Seeks To Block Questions
- March 13, 2009: Experts Discuss Possible Jury Makeup In Anthony Case
- March 12, 2009: Judge: Suicide Note Not Relevant To Casey Anthony Murder Case
- March 11, 2009: Baez Threatens To Sue Over Jail Video
- March 11, 2009: Zenaida Gonzalez Attorneys Want More Answers From Lee Anthony
- March 10, 2009: State Wants To Know How Anthony 'Went From Pauper To Princess'
Copyright 2009 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and
Local6.com.
All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.