Caylee Anthony : Ground Zero : Day 1 Update

September 05, 2008

I apologize for the late update. Today's search took much longer than I had initially expected.

As I mentioned earlier today, Tim Miller assigned me to a team of 12 searches, to search a "high priority" area with a K9 team.

The area we searched was a dead end road near Moss Park. According to a spokesperson with EquuSearch, the area was deemed important by the Orange County Sherriff's Office. They declined to state the exact reason why the area was considered so important; however a search and rescue specialist told me that all of the high priority areas are based on either cell phone towers that pinged Casey Anthony's phone during the time Caylee went missing or areas where she was allegedly seen during that same timeframe.

The particular area we searched today was mostly swampy, with areas of loose sand and dense brush. Two dog handlers joined us in the search, one a cadaver dog and the other a K 9 that had been specifically trained to find bones

Shortly after beginning the search, my team did make two interesting finds, although it remains unclear if either is relevant to the investigation.

The first find consisted of two plastic bottles - bleach and clear ammonia - that had been discarded together next to a dirt trail. On the opposite end of that same trail, another team member found a child size book bag that was blue with a pink heart.

We flagged both discoveries and notified law enforcement of their whereabouts.

Several bones were also found during the search, including a small vertebra but none of them appeared to be human. Regardless, they were all flagged for closer inspection.

The remainder of the search was less productive. Mosquitoes, nats and fire ants could be found throughout the area and no matter how much bug spray we applied it was impossible to keep them off our bodies.

When I returned from the search I spoke with Robert Dummett, one of the search directors with Florida 3 Airboat Search and Rescue. I'll post more about that interview later tonight, along with some video and more photos.

Right now I am off to witness a protest that is supposed to take place in front of the Anthony family home. I have no intention of joining in and am only going in the off chance that Cindy Anthony might choose to make a statement.

Be sure to check back later!

Discuss The Caylee Anthony Case

Related Content:
Full Coverage : Casey Anthony Case

Comments

[Thanks for the update]

They may also be connected to another case somehow?
Good find...

[CB]

Interesting...FYI on bleach & amonia used in concert:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A795611

The Dangers of Mixing Bleach and Ammonia

Often, one looks at a bottle of bleach and wonders, 'Why shouldn't this be mixed with ammonia?' If you know how dangerous chlorine gas is to humans (it was used as a chemical weapon during World War I and later by Nazi Germany in World War II), this will be very apparent. This entry will tell of a few reactions that can occur when bleach and ammonia are mixed in various proportions - the release of chlorine gas is just one of these. In the following sections, the header will be the name of the most dangerous compound produced in the reaction shown. Please, do not try any of this at home.

Chlorine Gas (Cl2)

That warning is there to protect you. Household bleach has a chemical formula of NaOCl - that is, one atom each of sodium, oxygen, and chlorine. Its chemical name, for the curious, is sodium hypochlorite. Ammonia has a chemical formula of NH3, that is, one atom of nitrogen and three atoms of hydrogen. When these two compounds are combined, the following reaction takes place:

2(parts)NaOCl + 2NH3 --> 2NaONH3 + Cl2.

Do you see that Cl2 on the right hand side there? This means one part chlorine gas, made up of diatomic (two atom) molecules. It also means that the chlorine gas has been liberated from the bleach, and is quite capable of causing you harm when inhaled!

[Carol in TN]

Be safe and THANK YOU for all you are doing,,, we who cant get there thank you also !!!

CinTN

[Tea]

Nice work and interesting finds. Does anyone know how large of an area a particular ping might encompass? For instance, could she have been anywhere in Moss Park, or can they narrow it down to a certain area of the park?

Tea
****************

[protectkidz]

Thank you for the updates - thank you for helping in the search for Caylee. I'm really impressed with the way you are covering this case!

[007]

Thx for this update. Everyone talks about finding Caylee's body to give her a proper burier, but if there are swamps, like you mention, doesn't that mean alligators too? What if her little body will NEVER be found because it was disgarded near alligators? How awful to think. I live in Calif and hear about alligators in Florida... Thx for doing what you are doing to help! LOri

[rebecca]

Words can't express how sad this case makes me.

I know the Anthony family is really pushing people away, but it's abundantly clear that they love their granddaughter and are overwhelmed by the concept that their daughter could be capable of doing something to Caylee -- as well as the realization that they'd be losing BOTH of them in this. My heart goes out to them despite their angry outlashes and lack of forcing Casey to cooperate.

Seeing the photos that have been circulating of Casey and Caylee, it's shocking to think this is the same person who is so stoic and uninterested in helping find this little angel...

[janine]

David,
I read on the Orlando Sentinal Blog that it is against ABC news policy to pay for news interviews and that 20/20 stated that they did not pay the Anthony's for their interivew. I am wondering, do they pay them in some other avenue, i.e. for their videos and photos, etc. so as to be able to claim that they did not pay for the interview? I had decided to not give them ratings, and get my news from the interview from you tube or here after the fact, now I am confused. What say you?

[Naomi Hamilton]

Thank you for taking part in the search and sharing your experience with us. I will look forward to hearing whether what you found is relevant to the investigation.

[ElleC]

Congratulations to you and your team on the finds! I hope they pan out to be evidence! Glad you're safe! :)

[tony johnson]

I just finished reading the four hundred plus pages of friends and boyfriends accounts for the past month and a half. I have found so many holes in Tales stories. Has anyone found out where Caley was when the real Zenaida was at the Sawgrass apartments. How did she really get her name?Was it in a dumpster where she might have left Caylee? Why are the locations so close but reveal nothing! Why are the dates when Caylee was last seen so different. Mom and grandma say it was June 9th, but really the last know date was the 15th with a photo with the grandfather Alex. Was the mom involved and they got their stories mixed up? The new story is it was scripted . I think it is all scripted by Casey in her own mind. If anyone has read the report it couldn't have been written any better. I've have read so many murder thrillers that haven't caught my attention as this has,and I know the answer has to be right under all of our noses.

[momswhocare]

why did god even girl her this little girl
Casey Anthony is the worst excuse for a mother
she has not a care in the world about her own born child!
how pathetic can a person be!

[Dave]

Thanks for the updates, best ones Ive found on the internet. Keep them coming!

[tammy]

God bless and protect all of you searching, i hope and you can has bring caylee home to be laid to rest and let the world have closure, and casey pay for what she has done, and her family too,

[Patti]

If you take Moss Park Rd south,you come to a bridge and the road soon dead ends. This area is a bit north and west of where you were searching, between Lake Hart and Lake Mary Jane. Has anyone directed the search toward that bridge?

Stay safe and keep cool

[Allie Laude]

This case is overwhelming to me. I have a 3 year old granddaughter that looks a lot like Caylee, Everytime I see that sweet picture of the close up of her face it breaks my heart. My daughter is also a single mother and they both live with me, I would just die if something happened to either one of them. If I lived in the Orlando area I would try to help in either search that I was able to. The search of following up tips in the hopes of finding her alive is how I really hope this ends. I feel so sorry for the whole family, I know I wouldn't want to be thier shoes.

[margaret]

you mentioned a backpack found, the grandfather stated the last time he saw the little girl she was leaving with the mom and she had her backpack. Do we have a description of that backpack?

[Waiting on Forensics]

Great to read your report! Thanks for updating us and giving us a more "up close and personal" view of the search.

Hoping on one hand that Caylee's body is found soon - but on the other hand, I can't seem to shake the hope that she is alive. (Costs me nothing to keep on praying...)

Good job and take care.

[oldgraydog]

Well -- as the worm squirms -- things are not always as they appear to be now are they? Everyone lies, everyone dies. Cindy borrowed the 121,000 against the house and it is only in her name -- Casey runs up Cindy's credit cards -- Lee leaves the home -- whose DNA does Caylee have -- divorce papers filed -- Casey does not have a degree in aeronautics, someone is masterminding her sending her friends in 3 different directions Texas, PR, Mexico on Cindy's dime too. I dare say we have a real barnburner here folks. With an O'Henry twist at the end. I would love to have been a fly on the wall over on HopeSprings Drive. Stay tuned.

[sunnycalirornia]

Thanks for the info. I was in Clearwater Beach FL. when the case broke and it seems to have followed me back to CA. I can't seem to quit thinking about this case. I'm glad to know so many people are searching for caylee. Casey and her family make me SICK to my stomach!

[Jackie]

I personally think the entire family is in on it. Cindy and George know what Casey did after the fact and now they are going to do whatever they can so they don't lose there crazy daughter to. They all make me sick. Justice must be served.

[LindaOz]

I just discovered this site. Thank so much to everyone who is volunteering to search. These updates are really appreciated!

Waiting on Forensics:

I've never heard about Casey sending 3 friends to TX, PR & Mexico on Cindy's credit card. Did they all go together? I do recall Casey going, but didn't know she used her mom's card! I was wondering where she got the money. Also do you know the dates she was there?

[Spastic Monkey]

Keep up the good work! SM

[Lori]

Thanks for searching for little Caylee. I pray for her to be found so she can have a proper burial and respect she deserves. I can't stop thinking of her being dumped somewhere without ever being found. Thanks again and God bless you.

[Sherry C.]

Looking at the pics and hearing about the bugs and gnats and alligators, I just can't picture Casey wanting to go through all that to be rid of her daughter's body. She seems too hung up on her looks for doing it herself. So, I think she didn't get rid of the child in swampy areas where she'd be bug-bit. I think if she got rid of Caylee herself she did it in a "cleaner" way. Or she had help by someone who did the dirty deed for her. And I am not thinking of ex-boyfriends or friends. Forgive me, but I am going to leave it unknown who I think helped her since it is my speculation. Praying for Caylee to be recovered.

[Jackie in Ohio]

I pray everyday for litle caylee to be found. I get so angry and sad watching Casey, Cindy, George and Lee on tv, wearing T-shirts depicting little Caylee...they know what happened to this precious child.
One thing I know for sure, regardless if Casey is charged with murder, her life will never be the same. Look at OJ, most people to this day believe he is a murderer.
Casey will not be able to frequent the fantastic clubs she once enjoyed, see Tony or the other boyfriends she had, or continue to steal from everyone.
I sincerely doubt Tony wants to "date" her anymore. And as far as going to college, getting a real job, Casey has ruined her entire life. Do you think she actually believes her life will go back to normal?? Maybe she is so disturbed that she thinks she will get away with all the lies and theft she's accused of.....Karma...Karma, God bless Caylee and the volunteers who are working everyday to give this little girl a proper burial.

[Brandy]

My office has been following this case very closely and I am just astonished that a mother can be soo careless with a child. I pray that Caylee is found so that she can get the respect that she deserves and get a proper burial.