TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Clues Link Skull To Caylee

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com and The Associated Press

Published: December 13, 2008

Evidence mounted Friday that a child's skull discovered near Caylee Anthony's home belonged to the missing toddler, although investigators cautioned it could be a week or more before they have conclusive DNA evidence.

A defense attorney said Friday that some characteristics of the remains matched Caylee, while the county sheriff said clues linked the remains to the child's nearby home.

Caylee's mother, 22-year-old Casey Anthony, was charged with first-degree murder months after the girl disappeared in June. She was not reported missing until July.

Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, said Friday the mother is "struggling" with the news of Thursday's discovery. "We're doing our best to keep her focused," Baez said.

One of her attorneys, Linda Kenney Baden, said during a court hearing Friday that "anthropological measurements and hair color" of the remains were said to match Caylee, who disappeared when she was 2 years old.
Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary said earlier Friday that a search of the grandparents' home where the mother and daughter lived had also yielded links to the remains that he would not reveal. There are no other similar missing-child cases in the area.

Asked if he believed it was Caylee, Beary said: "My gut says yes, but I have to wait seven to 14 days for the DNA analysis to absolutely make sure."

Also Friday, a judge denied a defense motion to examine the remains, saying they must wait for positive identification.

But evidence can be altered or damaged during an autopsy, said Henry Lee, perhaps best known for his involvement in the O.J. Simpson murder case. In an interview Friday, Lee described himself as an independent consultant for the attorneys representing Casey Anthony.

"Sometimes, the physical evidence gets destroyed," he said. "Some other times, the physical evidence might be altered, so the first look is the most important."

The recording of Thursday's 911 call reporting the remains, released Friday, highlights an emergency operator's concern the utility worker who made the discovery might compromise the scene. "He's not touching this, I hope," the operator told the caller.

News Channel 8 reporter Natalie Shepherd and Tribune reporters Tom Brennan, Josh Poltilove and Howard Altman contributed to this report.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT