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Deputy failed to follow 2nd tip on Anthony case: documents

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By The Associated Press

Published: May 1, 2009

Updated: 05/01/2009 05:20 pm

ORLANDO - The sheriff's deputy who was criticized for his poor response to a tip that eventually led to the discovery of Caylee Anthony's remains had failed to follow up on a call from another tipster who thought the missing toddler's remains would be found in woods near her home, according to documents released today.

Tipster Keith Williams told investigators that former Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Richard Cain "kind of brushed me off" when he called authorities last August asking them to examine stuffed animals he discovered near the woods where Caylee's remains eventually were found.

Williams' call came several days after meter reader Roy Kronk called authorities to report what looked like a skull in the same woods near where Caylee lived with her grandparents and mother. Cain responded to Kronk's call but brushed off the meter reader's suspicions, according to the documents.

An internal investigation found the deputy's response to be negligent. Cain is appealing his firing. In both cases, he said he searched the area and saw nothing suspicious.

Kronk called authorities on three consecutive days last August to report the suspicious items. Caylee's remains were not discovered until five months later when the meter reader returned to the woods last December and found them.

Caylee's mother, Casey Anthony, has been charged in her daughter's death. She has pleaded not guilty and said that Caylee was kidnapped by a baby sitter.

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