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Disturbed Evidence At Caylee Anthony Site Could Hurt Defense

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2008

By the time investigators working for the Anthony family were allowed to visit the site where 2-year-old Caylee Anthony's body was found, it was too late to gather any "virgin scene" evidence, says forensic scientist Henry Lee.

That's one reason why the defense team, which had been seeking access to the crime scene since the bones were discovered, on Saturday declined the chance to visit the site, says Lee, working as part of a team on behalf of lawyers hired by the Anthony family. The bones, determined to be Caylee's, were found about a half-mile from where Caylee lived with her mother, Casey and grandparents.

"Ideally, we would have been out there the first day, before there was any disturbance," says Lee, perhaps best known for his work on the O.J. Simpson case.

Caylee's mother, Casey Anthony, has been charged with first-degree murder in the toddler's death.
After a grueling 10-day sweep of the crime scene, Orange County Sheriff's Office investigators concluded their search Saturday morning and offered the defense team a chance to visit the site. The team declined.

Lee says at this point, defense investigators are relying on media reports for information.

"We want to know the location of the plastic bag and skull," he says. "How many bones were inside the bag? How many bones were outside. We don't know anything directly from the sheriff's office. As an expert, you can only look at the original crime scene or original evidence. Once it is altered or changed, it is very difficult to put together."

Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. Angelo L. Nieves declined comment.

Hours after the sheriff's office finished the crime scene investigation, the office obtained a warrant to search the home of George and Cindy Anthony, the parents of 22-year-old Casey Anthony.

Lee surmises investigators found evidence at the scene they believe is linked to the Anthony house but said he does not have any direct knowledge.

Defense investigators, says Lee, will eventually visit the crime scene.

"I will be looking for trace evidence and DNA evidence," Lee said. "Hair. Fiber. Any forensic evidence. Another area we will need to do work on is crime scene reconstruction."

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