Chloroform Allegedly Found in Casey Anthony's Car

September 03, 2008

According to several Orlando media outlets, investigators found "suspiciously high" levels of chloroform in Casey Anthony's car. The same sources also allege that a computer, which was removed from the Anthony home, showed that someone had been searching for information on how to use the chemical.

Chloroform is a chemical compound that was once used as an anesthetic. When inhaled, the chemical's vapors cause dizziness and unconsciousness. Today, the chemical is commonly used in DNA extractions, which might explain why it was found in Anthony's vehicle; however it fails to explain why someone was allegedly conducting searches about the chemical on the Anthony's computer.

Investigators have yet to comment on the alleged traces of chloroform or any information that they have recovered from Anthony's computer.

Discuss The Caylee Anthony Case

Related Content:
Full Coverage : Casey Anthony Case

Photo Credit: Freeimages.co.uk

Comments

[Jules]

Wow, I just poured out my heart in a long message and was told that it is being held as "comment spam"! What the heck is that? I hope I didnt word anything as to offend anyone, I was just "commenting", from my heart.

Sorry it was long, but it was heartfelt.

[Catherine]

So, now that the chloroform was found in the vehicle, does that rule out any possibility that Caylee died accidentally?

[lawzilla]

Julie,
Don't worry. It happens to me too. It will be posted soon - I think there are just a lot of mean spirited folks out there and the moderator does check the posts .

[Waiting on Forensics]

I sure would like to know when and how the chloroform was detected. If it was in the air samples taken AFTER the trunk was processed for DNA evidence it's possible that chloroform was used as a solvent during the DNA sample recovery. It's a very common organic solvent - particularly in DNA testing.

I do wonder why someone would be looking for ways to use chloroform on the web. I mean, it's not something found on the grocery store shelves, but can be found in science lab supply stores. Somehow I doubt Ms. Anthony would be practicing organic chemistry experiments...just not her thing. But I do look up strange things from time to time and I'd hate to be asked why I searched a particular term. Sometimes I just don't know why.

On the other hand, perhaps "someone" was using chloroform to try to "clean up" any DNA evidence in that trunk, knowing it is an excellent solvent and nonflammable. (Sure beats gasoline...whoops!)

I am waiting for the magic words for Law Enforcement - "We have PROOF that Caylee is dead." They talk around it an awful lot, but don't quite close the gate. If there is any hope that she is alive, we should all still be looking for her. If the forensic evidence is conclusive - DNA is Caylee's and the decomposition is from her tissue - then we must look for the body.

I am growing less hopeful, but I can't give up until the evidence is conclusive.

[mary lou]

I can't express how bad it urks me to keep reading or watching this rif-raf about Casey Anthony. I wish there was a way I could get to her. Let me have my time with her, and I'd be willing to put money on the fact that I'd have her not only talking, but pouring out her guts to get away from me. Her mother reminds me of my mom in the regard that she only wants to beleive her child, but noone is that stupid. She is just in denial, not wanting to think Casey would ever hurt that angel. If Casey didn't want to be a momma anymore, she could've just left Caylee with Cindy and George and been gone. The baby would have been better off.

[futonfraggle]

David,

I'm speculating that the chloroform has very little, if anything, to do with Caylee. The first thought that crossed my mind was 'meth lab on wheels.' Gasoline additives, paint thinner, acetone, chloroform, etc--all required to make meth.

What type of cleaning supplies/chemicals did the Anthony's say were in the trunk with the pizza? I don't believe I've heard what these items were.

This new information is very curious, to say the least.

[nika]

casey was watching american psycho--as is stated on her myspace. and she made a refference to basing her actions off of movies she saw--in her innitial interrogation. Partick bateman tortures girls and then parties and doesn't get caught. the presence of chloroform blatantly suggests malicions intent--ie first degree murder. but murder could have been muich easier for casey to commit then whatever she had to do to acquire chloroform. given the movie she was watching and the original uses for chloroform (to make people uncocscious for surgery) and all of the creepy things surrounding the case and the fact that the body is not to be found so far---i can't help wondering if casey damaged the body of her unconscious baby ---like a sicko murderer would.

[Julie]

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh this case is so horrible! i wish they would just solve it already. What is that family going to do when all the media hype settles. Where is the family spokeperson? Cindy Anthony is losing it all over the place and rightfully so.. but one misword and she may be held accountable in the court of law. This case is not only damaging a family, but a community and all whose life it touches. We as people watching this have to try and put some humanity to this insane and inhumane case. Even if the girl gets the death penalty- it will do nothing to help heal the horrible images that the public has in thier minds about what has or has not happened to little Caylee. We owe it to ourselves and most of all to little Caylee to act respectfully regardless the of disrespect her own mother has shown towards her. I beg the media to keep pounding the pavement and uncover everybit of detail they can find to help solve this case. But i urge the media to just as dutifully remind people that this case is about an innocent child and to encourage people to search. Whether they are looking for a body or an alive little girl, do not turn your heads because the family is acting so irresponsibly. the article about 12 people showing up breaks my heart- this little girl needs more love from the community becasue she is not getting it from her own mother.

[CB]

The police leak about chloroform is bizarre, and without the context of the computer searches, some theory and ruling out any CSI collection faux pas or chemical interactions, it doesn't provide further illumination on this case.

I don't understand why they are showing all of their cards before charges are even filed.

[sherisaid]

This case is so frustrating because DNA investigations don't happen like they do on CSI. There won't be a tiny piece of plant matter from an exotic plant so rare that it only grows in one spot in Florida. There won't be some bizarre circumstance that will narrow the timeline down to only one possible hour when Caylee could have been killed. There won't be some tree test that reveals that gasoline seeped into the soil and absorbed by the nearby trees where the body is finally found could only have come from the car Casey was driving. Real life doesn't work that way.

I expect the chloroform will prove insignificant. The web search is interesting, but it would be more so if we knew what else was being done at that time. Was Casey logged into myspace? Web activity could easily indicate who was using the computer - people have revealing habits. However, regardless, I doubt they will be able to use this information in a helpful way since the DNA testing uses the same compound.

I'm sure Caylee is dead...thought so from the beginning, given the lies, psychotic behavior and cover-ups --don't tell me Cindy washed her daughter's dead-body stink clothing for any reason other than as a cover-up. She may not have known what was going on....but she did her best to mislead the public and the police and to cover her daughter. I don't think she was complicit. I think that she didn't know what to think but she didn't believe her daughter capable of killing Caylee...and so she deliberately destroyed evidence. She was protecting her child. I can't condemn her, because she's in an impossible situation. But she's making herself look involved with the shifting stories designed to back up whatever lies her daughter spouts. I don't think she's stupid and I don't think she had a part in the baby's death, or knew anything until the day she called 911. But I do think she knows her daughter and she decided somewhere along the way to save what's left of her family in anyway she can, even if it means tampering with witnesses (the tow truck driver), destroying evidence, and hinting that she knows more than she does about the mysterious "people" who have Caylee.

Is that better than turning on your own daughter and demanding the truth? I don't know.

I'm relatively local, just north of Orlando. There are many reasons I'm not searching and none of them include "I don't think she's dead". Most of them have to do with economics (I work and can't afford to take the time off), and health - I'm just not sure I would survive a day in the swamps in this heat. We have hurricane worry issues, flooding...and lets face it, the areas they are searching are full of things like alligators, snakes, mosquitoes and spiders. We have a LOT of wildlife in this area. I understand we're even recently infested with killer bees. yay.

[sally]

I really think that the reason no one is helping with the search besides the 12 people is that Casey and Cindy Anthony continue lying to anyone who will listen when in fact Casey knows exactly what happened to Caylee.. Any mother or father that has "misplaced" there child and continues the behavior she did afterwards when her child "went missing" is bizarre in itself> Maybe thats why no one is dedicating time to this!! 2 words come to mind SCOTT PETERSON he had the same emotions Casey has which is NONE!!!!!

[Mary Ann Lakeman]

MY TAKE ON THIS CASE:
1. HER PARENTS...WHO MADE HER KEEP THE BABY RATHER THAN PUT HER UP FOR ADOPTION...WANTED HER OUT OF THE HOUSE.
2. SHE GOT HOLD OF CHLOROFORM..NOT TO KILL CAYLEE..BUT TO SEDATE THE CHILD...SO MOMMY COULD GO OUT PARTYING.
3. COMES HOME...BABY DEAD. NOW WHAT? HOW DO YOU ADMIT TO CHLOROFORMING YOUR KID SO YOU CAN PARTY?
4. DUMP HER IN THE NEAREST DUMPSTER. AND..SMART AS SHE IS.. KNOW THAT THE LONGER YOU WAIT TO REPORT HER MISSING, THE MORE UNLIKELY THEY WILL BE TO FIND HER BODY. (WHO THINKS TO LOOK IN THE DUMPS FOR A MISSING CHILD?)

I GUARANTEE YOU THAT IF AND WHEN CAYLEE'S BODY IS FOUND, THE PARENTS WILL BLAME IT ON THE "KIDNAPPERS". THE POLICE ARE TAKING THEIR TIME BEFORE PRESSING MURDER CHARGES SO THAT THEY CAN GATHER AS MUCH EVIDENCE AS THEY CAN. AS FOR BAEZ, CASEY'S ATTORNEY, HE COULD FORCE THE ISSUE AND THE POLICE SHOW THEIR HAND IN COURT AT A HEARING, BUT HE KNOWS THAT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THE COPS HAVE LOTS MORE EVIDENCE THAN THEY ARE RELEASING.

HER MOTHER AND DAD ARE ENABLER. ACTUALLY, I THINK CASEY AND HER MOTHER CINDY HAVE THE SAME DISORDER. I CAN PICTURE CINDY HIDING LOTS OF STUFF FROM THE HUSBAND TO COVER FOR HER DAUGHTER THROUGH THE YEARS. AND, NOW LITTLE CAYLEE HAD TO PAY THE PRICE. VERY SAD.

[Kerrissa]

Does anyone remember that Amy H stated in her interview with detectives that Casey would bring Caylee over to her house while several people were also there drinking and partying and the little girl would just sleep through anything? Right on the couch in the middle of it all!! Just sleep right through!!! Seems like Casey had been doing this to her daughter for awhile.

[Marya]

I don't think the information about chloroform was released (leaked)without reason - but outside of the possible unrelated reasons for that to be in the car trunk, the internet searchs could be very interesting. What if they include a purchase of the chemical? What is they include information on how it relates to crime? What about creating it it? Combining this with who had access to the laptop could really start to build a case.

Casey isn't going to "crack" in my opinion - I still hold that she is a textbook sociopath and doesn't function the way people normally do - they can pile on the immunity and the bail bonds and whatever else they want, but she's not going to help one bit, even if she could be grilled by investigators in jail (her attorney is certainly not allowing that to happen).

I've started outright dismissing anything Cindy Anthony says, and not even factoring her into this situation. Ultimately, she's a mom and grandma who is going through a really long, very public grieving process and isn't dealing with it particularly well.

For "Waiting for forensics" - until a body is found, I don't think you'll get anyone to say 100% certain that Caylee is dead - but they need to look at where to best focus their resources based on the evidence. The FBI lab didn't do their air sample analysis, they have so far been performing the biological and chemical analyses, and I believe that is where this is coming from - not an air sample.

[Lee]

CB, I'm not trying to start an argument through blogging, really. I used to live just North of Orlando as well, in DeLand. I understand that you work and all but the heat and the swamps are a reason you do not wish to search? If I was still local I would be out there regardless of the weather and/or alligators/bugs/etc. This poor little girl has the love of the world, not her mother. Any one following this case has pretty much in one way or another takin this child into their lives and hearts. We are what she has left for justice. Get some snake boots, bug spray and bottled water and help find this baby! We are her voice and her only hope!

[Lee]

CB, I'm not trying to start an argument through blogging, really. I used to live just North of Orlando as well, in DeLand. I understand that you work and all but the heat and the swamps are a reason you do not wish to search? If I was still local I would be out there regardless of the weather and/or alligators/bugs/etc. This poor little girl has the love of the world, not her mother. Any one following this case has pretty much in one way or another takin this child into their lives and hearts. We are what she has left for justice. Get some snake boots, bug spray and bottled water and help find this baby! We are her voice and her only hope!

[Abby]

Do you think it was Casey's laptop or was it a stationary computer that all members of the family could log on to? There has got to be a reason why Cindy Anthony is talking her fool head off against the wishes of that poor unfortunate attorney. This is a "helmet" case and he has been dodging a lot of rhetoric from that woman. She's Casey alter ego-she never shuts ups and Casey never speaks. I wonder if Juan takes the F bombs that Cindy has become accustomed to? The more we hear about chorlaform (sp?) the more I think of Mrs Anthony-maybe she had access to it as a result of her job and is talking trash to cover her tracks.

[jerry]

Padilla said that he believes something didn’t add up about the preliminary DNA test results that came back last week from the trunk of Anthony’s car. Officials found strands of hair that they ruled could have either been Casey’s or Caylee’s.

“The Feds released information that the hair was either the mother’s or the daughter’s; they didn’t distinguish,” Padilla said. “Why would they not know whether it was the daughter or the mother? They didn’t say it was Caylee’s.”

Padilla said that officials ruled it was Caylee’s hair just by a process of elimination because the hair had a death ring around it and they know Casey is alive. The fact that the DNA is identical has something to do with who the father is, Padilla said.

“Would the DNA from a child resulting from a union from Lee and Casey have basically the same characteristics? Making the preliminary DNA check not definitive as to who the hair samples are from,” he said.

[Sweet Mama of 1]

I dont think that casey is smart enough to figure out how to use chloroform even if she Quote looked it up online unQuote.
she doesnt seem like a science girl..but after reading these comments it is possible that she had a meth lab on wheels, and again with these dogs and her parents backyard? why havent they started digging? something is just so weird about this all..it makes no sense at all.

[emma]

either she was trying to clean up evidence, OR she would use this to knock her kid out so that she would "sleep" while casey partied and she would leave her in the back of the car or bring her inside with her and put her on the couch and this time, it made the kid overdose or vomit on herself and she choked??? this was rumored to have been how madeleine mccain died in portugal. the mother would give her sedatives to get her to sleep and the kid possibly od'd. of course this is speculation.

[emma]

never thought of the meth lab thing! very good mary lou! i didn't even consider that. she does look like a user a little bit and who knows if she carried a meth lab in her beat up car in the back and the fumes were inhaled by caylee accidentally and she overdosed? the kid is dead. but how she died? we need to waterboard casey until she just talks cause this is getting frustrating.

[Deb]

Speaking of chloroform, isn't Cindy a nurse?

[millie]

Remember that Cindy is a nurse And she works in a clinic or hospital , also remember Gorge use to be a cop . also remember they had the car before the car was taken for dna need to know if Casey lop top cumputer was at parents house if so it could have been Cindy cleaning the trunk with chlorform to clean out the dna remember she got shoes and boots and some pants in the truck and watch them . and they also had the gas tanks . everything could have been clean .they need to check boots bottom to see if they have chloroform if so someone clean them . They need to check if computer information on chloroform was before or after Casey was in jail . Cindy keeps saying the girl is alive for people to think that but I'm very sure they all know she is dead . I feel they are getting an attorney cause they are in some kind of troble too. It sounds the way Cindy is fighting with everybody like she does not want anybody to find the body she keeps saying find a live body for people to stop serching for a dead body like it is . I think Casey had to do with killing Caylee but her family has cover alot . I understand Cindy lost Caylee and does not want to lose Casey two but they are going to end up in Jail too. trust me they have something to do with hideing evidance thats why Gorge and Cindy are getting an attorney.

[Laura]

Chloroform is illegal for an average citizen to possess, is it not? It's fairly easy to manufacture by mixing bleach and acetone or rubbing alcohol, though.

And I'm confused, if it's used in the DNA extraction process, that would be in the lab, right? Isn't the process that the forensic investigators take a sample from the car, send it to the lab, and THEN use chloroform *in the lab* to extract the DNA for analysis?

If so, DNA extraction for analysis would NOT explain the presence of chloroform in the car itself.

Could someone please clarify at what point in the sample chain of custody they use the chloroform; do they use it in the sample collection process or is it only used once the sample arrives at the lab?

[Momsy]

Agree with statement that Caylee is in dumpster...Casey is way too lazy and self-involved to actually use a shovel. I am pretty sure her manicure wouldn't hold up.

What about the clothing from Casey's trunk that Cindy washed because they smelled like "death"? Can those be analyzed?

How could Cindy innocently just happen to wash that clothing and not have alarms going off in her brain? Cindy is a nurse...clothing smelling like death and she decides to just chuck them into the wash? Not buying that one.

[db]

I agree with "Waiting on Forensics" - is there any chance the chloroform could've come from someone trying to clean blood stains out of the trunk?

[Fed Up]

Ok, enough with the speculation, guesses, lies and denial of all parties involved!!!!! Time to put-up or shut-up. Why does this monster get so much consideration? How about the truth, how much will that cost? Cindy should for once in her parenting, teach her daughter the concept of "doing the right thing", instead of bailing her out! I mean come on, we're talking about a three-year old child. If she's alive spit it out already, WHERE???? If she's not, then stop all of this and accept responsibility. Protection for your family and self doesn't matter anymore Casey, only Caylee should matter, dead or alive, she deserves better from the woman who gave her life. And after the truth comes out I hope someone throwing those threats around makes good on them, because you have put your daughter (god rest her soul), your family, friends and the rest of us out here in the world through hell, and that's where you belong!!!!!!!

[Penny]

I agree with Mary Ann Lakman's posting. I recall the friend telling about Casey plopping Caylee down on the couch while they partied! And...in the news I have heard reference to maybe the death was accidental - so maybe her story will be that she had used chloroform for a while and then used it too much one time - or even maybe she had put Caylee - sedated with chloroform - in the trunk and left her too long and she died. This is all so sickening to think that it most likely is ALL ABOUT wanting to be partying and not tied down - so why not leave her with the grandparents who seem to have loved her so much! Please just get her the death penalty - soon! Justice for little Caylee!

[glynne]

One thing that came to my mind. How long might chloroform stay in the human body or does it? Cause IF Casey was using it to sedate Caylee so she could go out & party it might be harder to trace. Friends/family/authorities might look for more "common" chemicals to make her quiet/sleep. Cold medicines, alcohol or myabe other illegal drugs.

I just can't believe she is back out. She DOES NOT LOOK for Caylee. She DOES NOT HELP in the investigation. She DOES NOT TELL the truth about a single (edit) thing. She DOES NOT COOPERATE with authorities in any way, shape or form.

I have looked up A LOT of things on the internet. I'm sure a big percentage of us have. But to be totally honest...unless we are looking it up to understand something more about a case or whatever...is it not to put into use? Do you not look up a recipe to MAKE SOMETHING? Do you not look up an actor/actress to see what else they have done that you MAY WANT TO WATCH? I have NEVER looked up chloroform or ANY POISONS for that matter & I read true crime novels ALL THE TIME.

I can honestly see Casey drugging Caylee. Her death? Accident? No. You don't give a child drugs (unless prescribed by a dr. or especially made for children---child's asprin,etc). PERIOD!!

[Susie in Texas]

Cindy Anthony is in denial mode, we all figured that out. But, I have a theory why she is so adamant about Caylee still being found, and alive:
Casey never wanted to keep the baby, and wanted an abortion.
Cindy is domineering over her daughter, and insisted she have the child and keep it, probably offering her help in raising the child.
Now I am all for trying to help your child, if she is in this predicament, not an ideal situation, but it is understanding that Cindy would feel this way...
Result: Since the poor little Caylee was obviously murdered by her mother, maybe not intentionally, but an almost fact; I believe Cindy is behaving this insanely, crazy, out of reality way because she feels a tremendous amount of guilt in forcing Casey to keep Caylee,
and this unfortunate end of the little one is something Cindy does realize as probably true, she doesn't want to face it because of her own guilt, and it would make her face the fact she was an incompetent, over-bearing, domineering mother!

[Susie in Texas]

Cindy Anthony is in denial mode, we all figured that out. But, I have a theory why she is so adamant about Caylee still being found, and alive:
Casey never wanted to keep the baby, and wanted an abortion.
Cindy is domineering over her daughter, and insisted she have the child and keep it, probably offering her help in raising the child.
Now I am all for trying to help your child, if she is in this predicament, not an ideal situation, but it is understanding that Cindy would feel this way...
Result: Since the poor little Caylee was obviously murdered by her mother, maybe not intentionally, but an almost fact; I believe Cindy is behaving this insanely, crazy, out of reality way because she feels a tremendous amount of guilt in forcing Casey to keep Caylee,
and this unfortunate end of the little one is something Cindy does realize as probably true, she doesn't want to face it because of her own guilt, and it would make her face the fact she was an incompetent, over-bearing, domineering mother!

[Susie in Texas]

Emma, I second your idea,...waterboard Casey. And I despise police brutality, torture for prisoners, but in this case!!
Nothing is too taboo for the liar and murderer.
I also, am convinced now that Cindy is a liar.
For one, George was seen in an interview/video earlier in the case insisting that Casey is not talking because of threats, and he insisted that they 'all' were receiving threats .
Just a day or so ago, Cindy was being videotaped hammering stakes into her yard w/reporters watching and asking questions,and she was so indignant about her answers, she inadvertantly lied about "Who is receiving threats? We are not receiving threats..."
Okay, the family is either like Casey, telling untruths and stories just to get attention, or confused about the stories they lied about, and forgot their own lies?

[V.S.]

Which day did someone look up chloroform? Timing would go a ways in suggesting whether it was used as a cleaning solvent or an anesthetic.

AFAIK it's legal to posess chloroform. It's still being produced as a household refrigerant, though it's being phased out.

Also, was only the mitochondral DNA of the hair only compared? If so, that would also explain why they couldn't tell via DNA comparison whether the hair was Casey's or Caylee's.

[Mel]

Why is everyone trying to place blame on the Cindy and George. They haven't done one thing against the law. I think it's an easy excuse for people to blame the parents of Casey. Did you think it's possible, Casey was tired of having to abide by rules in their home, and so in her mind they became the "controlling ones!" I think she knew it would cut deep in their core, and she wanted them to pay for her own irresponsible actions. Maybe she hurt Caylee to hurt them, because she knew the love they felt for Caylee. Stop blaming the grandparents, they loved that baby, and if Casey is screwed up it's because of her and only her that chooses to be that way, not because of her parents, get off your high horses and realize it's about what Casey did to Caylee, it has nothing to do with the grandparents in my opinion. It's a lazy excuse for these people to post judgement upon them, the person to look at is Casey, and why and how she could behave this way.

[Rosalee]

I have always thought what if CINDY was the one that lost Caylee or that some accident happened that SHE is covering up. Then, she could be using her own daughter as a cover, knowing how she lies, partys, etc. It’s no secret that Cindy wanted Caylee, and that the two of them (Mom and Daughter) were at each other’s juglar all the time. For one, I don’t understand why Cindy would not have ever bothered to meet the so called “Zenaida”. After all the times Casey supposedly had her babysit her?? Don’t add up to me. I would DEMAND to know who Casey was leaving her with, if I had to follow her and meet her myself.
Thats just one of many mysterys with this case. What keeps ringing in my mind, was when Casey said in the one interview…I saw your little cameo’s today…and then went on to say “What did you mean you didn’t know what MY involvement in this was”? Almost as if to say, YOU are the one that did this and now your blaming me? Perhaps Cindy and George gave Caylee to someone to take out of state for awhile, to teach Casey a lesson, and something tragic happened in the process? Then they tell Casey that she needs to do this FOR her/thier sake, until they can get her back safely? George did say once on tv that he KNEW they were being watched by the kidnappers?? Strange…anyway, just a thought..
I do hope this precious little baby girl is alive somewhere and safe, although I highly doubt it.
We need to pray she is found one way or another, so she can rest in peace. This case breaks my heart, if it were one of my Grandchildren, I would be in a coma from fear and worry. This family is hiding MEGA things, I hope they get whats coming to them. That poor baby seems to have gotten more then she ever deserved, God rest her little soul. My prayers are with you Little one.

[Mr. Richard F. Chase, Esq.]

@Jules thanks for the heads up, this obviously isn't the place to follow the trial, I am outta here!

Mr. Richard F. Chase, Esq.
Criminal Defense Attorney
Serving the Upper Midwest since 1973