Officials Say Items Found in River Have "No Evidentiary Value" to Caylee Anthony Case

November 13, 2008

According to a spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff's Office, items which were recovered by Leonard Padilla's dive team in the Little Econ River around Blanchard Park have "no evidentiary value" in the case of Casey Anthony and her missing 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony.

This afternoon the divers reported finding two separate bags in the river, which reportedly contained bones, and stuffed animals.

No word on why the items were there; however they do not appear to be related to the case.

Related Links:
Full Coverage : Casey Anthony Case

Photo Credits: Carla Lohr

Comments

[Amy]

Please God, let this little girl be found.

[Anne]

Well i wished and hoped that this might be the break this case has desperatly needed..... I kind of getting the feeling Lenorad planted that stuff maybe for publicity.??? I'm just throwing out ideas here. This case is so bizzare!!! SOMEONE FIND THIS LITTLE GIRL

[007]

Any goof-ball could have planted it there, as Leonard P. has been talking about doing this search at this location for a few days now.

[Nicole]

Even though there is the possibility that they aren't connected, I seriously doubt they could come to that conclusion in that small amount of time from the time they arrived on scene to making that annoucement. Maybe they just want people to remain calm and the media to stay away while they really figure out if this is related to the case or not.

[Loretta]

Anne, the same thought crossed my mind about LP, sad to say.

Poor Caylee. What a strange legacy her short life leaves behind.

[caribaloo]

Why is everyone being so hard on Leonard Padilla? It seems to be that he is doing his best to locate Caylee. He seems to be spending a lot of his own money on this, so I don't really understand. Does somebody know something I don't? Why are people mad at him for continuing to search for Caylee?

[Ladysheila]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Now, I feel like the 'stooge' for even looking at any other news outlets having to do with these type of stories. I knew I was wasting my time with FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN but went peeking there today anyway (no offense intended, you all sometimes put on a good show, but I wanted unbiased, accurate journalism, uhm, news). David, did I say THANK YOU?! :)

[mikey gleason]

LP is too smart of a man to plant anything. He could loose his Bounty Hunters license and ruin his reputation. This man is a family man and all he wants is to find Caylee. I'd be looking at Cindy , george and Lee as far as planting anything

[Dixie]

I find it hard to believe Leonard would plant any evidence. I live in the same city he does and have found him to be a great family man who is trying to help find Caylee. He's pretty straight forward. What we need to remember is little Caylee is out there somewhere and she needs to be found.

[R. Smith]

I am greatfull that Leonard and his team are doing everything that they can to find this precious little girl.
This is his show...Let him do it his way.

[Karrie]

What I don't understand is Leonard Padilla came to Flordia to find Caylee. He has never ask for anyone to fund his travel or any of his expenses. He has however asked people to donate to TES. Leonard doesn't need any money and he is so committed to finding Caylee that he has been brought to tears over this bashing. Leonard has been bashed so much that LE and the FBI believe some of it and has asked him to take a Lie Detector Test. Why anyone would want to stop an organization or team looking for Caylee is beyond my understanding. People seem to forget, Leonard was in the Anthony house, his female hunter stayed with Casey for 9 1/2 days 24-7. Anyone who can clearly think would understand they have inside information. After TES left leonard felt he had no choice but to continue the search. He should be commended for that.

[CapeBretoner]

I still think Caylee is in the park area...the bead necklace hanging on the tree, made out of same craft material Casey has in her room...big clue, I think.

[madee223]

Just watched both Tim Miller and Leonard Padilla on Nancy Grace. I commend both gentlement on their efforts to find Caylee. I personally think the differences between Mr. Padilla and Mr. Miller are nothing more than personality.

Mr. Miller seems like a quiet, patient, diligent man who genuinely wants to help families find lost loved ones. This desire resulted from great personal trajedy so naturally he is gravely serious about his search efforts.

Mr. Padilla is a bounty hunter with somewhat a reputation in his field. I don't mean a bad reputation. I would imagine in that line of work you have to be a little loud and possess the ability to take charge of a situation. I'm sure he's also quite familiar with cameras being around when he has helped capture criminals at large.

I believe they both have good intentions...maybe they just don't make a good team. I do hope that this three-ring circus (which I blame on George, Cindy, Lee, and Casey Anthony) doesn't prevent these gentlemen from helping others in need. I hope it doesn't harden anyone's hearts from helping.

[GINNY]

that is so sad that caylee had a mother like her. WHY IN THE WORLD DON'T THEY HIPNOTIZE CASEY AND FIND OUT WHAT SHE DID AND WHERE SHE IS. CAN'T THEY DO THAT???? HER LAWYER CAN BE THERE

[ElleC]

Not sure what's credible or not but the cross with the beads left on the tree in the park, was apparently left for the jogger that died in that park.

As for Leonard Padilla, I commend his efforts to search, though he should have contacted the police department first, not the media. I don't think there's anyone out there who doesn't want that little girl found, except The Anthony's - Casey for obvious reasons, and her parents, simply because if her body is found they have to come to terms with the fact that their daughter DID kill their granddaughter. Tough all the way around.

[gailann]

It is beyound me why they are asking lp to take alie detector test. They ought to make Casey and push for it till they get one, she knows where little Caylee is, and it needs to come out. Why blame the man that is spending his own time and money , He didn't put that little angel in harms way. Casey did. And those awlful attorneys on Nancy Grace calling this a media circus ,this is not a laughing joke ,if this happened to be one of there own children maybe they would be there doing the same thing. They need to join the searchers in waters to see really how funny this is.

[Ladysheila]

The difference between fiction and non-fiction is that fiction is NOT true, and non-fiction is, well, TRUE. The only way anyone is known is by their ACTIONS. Mr. Padilla has been guessing or speculating in this case, (unscientific, dangerous). He has been airing his opinions openly BEFORE knowing or having access to evidence,(and then, especially being a professional, you shouldn't want to hamper a case and comment before court). He has also broken his word (with good intentions, I'm sure, but then I'm only "speculating", maybe he has bad intentions). Consequently, anyone from a judge, to a jury, or a common person with an average I.Q. just looking at the facts, and not looks, power, color, money, or other UNRELATED issues people base their opinions on, would agree that as it is not fact based, it can't be trusted. There is plenty of evidence of this available if you would like to research. There isn't enough room here. I personally like him. He's animated, and draws ratings, like a psychic does. But that doesn't have anything to do with the FACTS. And like I said before, yes, it is his show, but this is the news. I know, sometimes, boring, huh?

[LeeAnne]

I'm happy that Leonard Padilla is still searching. Even when TES has given up AGAIN, Leonard is still determined enough to do whatever necessary to find baby Caylee. I think at this point he is our only hope. I don't understand why people are discrediting his efforts regarding this bag of bones found. At least he found something and that means whatever he's doing is working... And people who think he's doing it for publicity...in my opinion any publicity that keeps this case alive is good publicity!

(All I can do on my part is continue to hope and pray for them to find Caylee...)

[glitter]

i cant seem to figure out are they gonna test what they found or just throw it out? and padilla? he just wants just for caylee!! is that alot to ask? casey should pay for what she has done if she did something fess up!!stop being a coward!!!

[SheAbsolutelyDidIt]

Gosh! Not only days, weeks but MONTHS have now passed since Caylee was last seen. The more days go by, the more I'm sure that she would never be found. And that her suspected killer mom would get away with murder.

Casey wasn't smart like some people give her credit for. Look at all the lies being busted the minute they came out of her mouth. Look at all the obvious traces she left in her car, her computer and cell phone records. It's premeditated, no doubts. But she didn't cover her tracks after Caylee was gone. Party wholeheartedly. Stole. Never once shown signs of distress/worry/concern for her supposedly kidnapped daughter or pretend to find her. She was so cold she never once shed a tear for Caylee or begged her to be returned. Yet she managed a couple crocodile tears twice. First at the very first hearing she was denied bail. At that point, the not-so-sweet thought of being in jail with the general population came to her mind, I guess. The second time she manage to squeeze a tear is to learn about the murder charge and to make a scene in front of the cameras. A couple notes about that moment, though. She changed her looks 180 degrees from a callous soul, a party girl and thief to an image of an innocent girl in casual pants and white blouse - or as a paralegal like some tend to think. To sway the public, no doubts. One tear actually came out from one of her eyes, yet she rubs both. And each time did not forget to check her fingers for smears of make-up. That's pathetic.

It's not that she was so intelligent to plan and successfully carried out a perfect murder. It's not that law enforcements and investigators have not worked hard enough. (In fact, they have lots of strong evidents and some that yet been released.) It's simply called dumb luck! Her mom washed the dirty clothes and shoes she left in the car. Who knows what else her parents did with it in the approx. 24hrs the car was in their possession before LE took it to their lab. She wasn't in general population but being protected behind bars. That's even better living at home with an equally crazy, multi-faced person like Cindy. Her defend lawyer seems so dumb a lot of times but still manage to keep her (and himself) in the spot light. Every time some damming evident came up, he tries to discredit it in a very stupid manner. Her family backtracked and turned so many times, and now side with their daughter. Together with her lawyer, they cry out loud that LE and the public are not being fair to her.

In addition to being dumb luck, it's confident. Must have thought that if she sticks to the kidnapping story and denies her involvement, they cannot convict her without a body. LE went out so many times to look themself and with the aid of Texas Equisearch and volunteers. She's never once worried. As if she knows for sure that the body as disposed of in a way that it would never be found. Gators, I bet.

I wish LE the best in building their case against this callous mom. At the same time, I'm losing hopes that justice will be ever be served for innocent Caylee.

[motherof5]

Not so sure that Casey would leave the cross on the tree at the same place she got rid of her daughter. Sounds more like a sick attempt of going to Jay Blanchard Park where they often went and performed some sort of mentally disturbed "goodbye my daughter" at a location where they often went. Her sick way of her own memorial for her daughter. Kinda like throwing cremation ashes in the water...only with Casey it was toys, etc. (weighted down so not to be found) and then hanging a cross around a tree. After all and remember....she also took police to an apartment and work location that didn't exist. It just seems to me that this was definitely put their by Casey....but as a sick memorial from a mother who didn't want her own daughter, nor did she want to share her with anyone. I believe she buried Caylee somewhere else, but maybe not too far....then went to Jay Blanchard to say her "good-byes" in a very sick sort of way. Casey is just like her own mother....Cindy is very controlling and now believes her own "my daughter is innocent" theory....just like Casey. GEESH George Anthony....who wears the pants in your family? And who is really willing to step up in the family on behalf of Caylee? Pretending and pushing your feelings of truth deep down inside will never change the fact that I believe with all my heart....your daughter whom you have raised all these years, has now killed her own daughter. Nothing I believe will ever change that. It is how you (Anthony's) will ever come to grip with yourself once it's out in the open, court is over, the truth is out, and the bars close permanently behind your daughter.

[SheAbsolutelyDidIt]

It's a rolercoaster to see how Leonard Padilla has played in all this. First, he stubbornly went against everyone's advice and ignored all the lies, evidents to bail Casey out the first time. He went on national TV, argued with anyone who did not buy Casey's the-nanny-kidnap-my-child story. After LE released confirmation of a dead body once was in the trunk, Padilla yanked the bond. His take of what has gone on inside the Anthony home during the short time his team was there could take probably an hour to tell. Yet he manage to spill little by little on Nancy Grace every night. Mostly speculations than facts, one piece at a time, enough to make them keep bringing him back show after show. Some believed he's bruised after seing the many facets of Casey and Cindy so he now determined to find Caylee's body. Some think under the cowbow hat there is a man with a good heart, to spend his own money to find this girl.

I used to think so, too. Until this weekend when he showed up in Florida, giving Tim a suggestion of possible searching sites based on cellular pings. How pathetic! That piece of information has been out there for a while and he makes it look like he's constributing something. Tim has been working closely with LE since the first search, combining his resources with LE insights to zoom in on specific areas. LE might have shared far more details to Tim than what has been released to the public.

Padilla's good intention is questioned furthermore after I've read David's reports, quoting Tim Miller why it wasn't neccessary for Padilla to search that part of the Econ river. TES had thoroughly scanned it with sonar scanner, even spent more time to do it than they needed to just to make sure that there wasn't anything related. Tim could tell Padilla where every tire or bucket is at, and what the temperatures or depth of the river at any given place.

Yet Padilla carried on with the search and made so much noise. David Lohr's reports and many volunteers at the site stated that Padilla had not really participated in the search. He and his team of a couple guys only hang around, handed out business cards and posed for the media. TES has never received any donation money Padilla said he helped generated, or aid from 500 bounty hunters he promised to bring. He has bloated so much to bring this girl home so when TES decided to stop, Padilla has to go on. To save face and to make it look like he's the only one left who's really care while everyone else, including Tim Miller and LE already gave up. He even made a big splash with what the divers found by notify media crews first instead of LE and the FBI. He even hinted it might be related to Caylee, pointing out similarities in the material and toys. It's interesting to know whether those items ever showed up on TES sonar scan of the river prior to Padilla's search. Might be that was why FBI asked him to take the lie detector test. That's all.

Some gave him credit for using his own money for the search. I see it all paid off for all the attention he received from news networks and public. Before this, he was little known of. Now his name is part of a high profile case. Who knows what else to come down the road. Kudos for Tim Miller, his organization and all the volunteers who did participate in the search. Especially those who flew in from all over the country, paid their own airfares and hotel, sacrified what could have been a weekend getaway/vacation in order to search for this girl. Some of them came with a story but only David Lohr cared enough to tell, while the rest of the reporters seemed to focus on all the wrong sources. The Anthonys, Jose Baez and Padilla, that is.

[niki]

I know the DNA can be questioned in this case. However could
the biological's father DNA help narrow it down.
I do not believe he is dead as Casey claims.

[StacyC]

Yes it is true the DNA could be questioned! Because they tested mitochondrial DNA which only comes from the mother. Cindy is obviously alive, as is Lee and Casey. Caylee is the only person with the matching mitochondrial DNA the others share. She is missing! There is no question what decomposing body that DNA came from. Unless Casey killed some other family member and locked them in the trunk and we all know that is ludicrous!

[Tracy]

If it is true that Casey threw those bags in the water with toys, etc in them, then why didn't she throw the doll (that Caylee would not go anywhere without) away in the same bag? That was left behind. So I think that would have been an obvious sign that the bags were not put there by Casey.
This whole story really makes me mad! The police have evidence of death, but can't find the child. The Anthony's claim she's alive, but won't produce the child. If she's really alive and they are sure they know where she's at, then get off your lazy butts and go get her! PROVE LE WRONG! Show everyone that you know what you're talking about!

[bobbie]

i do notknow if caylee is alive or not. but the only thing I do know is I realy hope so. butshe could have been sold by her mother and taken out of the country or she could have been eaten by an aligator but I really belive her mother knows wher she is. I feel so sorry for her mother and father because they have lost their grandaughter and their daughter.I really thank Padilla is great and so is Nnancy Grace. and since we have owned a bonding company I personley knot doing it for publicy he is losing a lot of money that he could be making in his job EVERONE PRAY FOR CAYLEE