Strait Talk with Texas EquuSearch's Tim Miller

November 11, 2008

Earlier today, I had a chance to sit down with Tim Miller, the founder and director of Texas EquuSearch. The purpose of that meeting was to focus on some of the questions that have been asked about EquuSearch and their involvement in the search for Casey Anthony's missing 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony.

When I asked him why he suspended the search effort, Tim had this to say:

"I feel as though we accomplished a lot. Nearly all of the areas that law enforcement wanted covered have been searched. We generated far more resources than before. We now have 100 local members on the scene. They are capable of doing a good job and they are going to continue looking for Caylee. I challenge anyone to sit in my office and when the family of a missing person calls, tell them that they can't be helped until Caylee is found. Someone else can, cause I'm not going to do that. "

There have been some recent inquiries about the amount of donations EquuSearch has received during the Caylee search, versus how much money has been invested in the search effort. When asked about this, Tim responded:

"The donations came to about $70.000. One of them was a $20,000 general fund donation. We are working on a final accounting, but between the rental cars, tents, hotels, equipment, generators and other resources, we have invested about $100.000 into the Caylee search. We have spent more money on this case than all other cases combined this year. We are a 501 [non-profit organization] and our books are always open. Is it fair to use all of our money and resources on one case, when we have other families who need us?"

In regards to comments he made yesterday about CNN's Nancy Grace, Tim said that he is not specifically upset with Grace only, but that he is disappointed in all of the outlets that have chose to sensationalize the Caylee Anthony case.

"They took the focus off of Caylee and put it on the Leonard Padilla circus. They gave him the power to do what he did. None of what Leonard did was about Caylee. He has his own interests and agenda in this case."

In regards to his recent meeting with Cindy and George Anthony, Tim said: "They respect our search effort."

Tim said that he has been getting a lot of calls and emails recently and that while he would like to address every single one of them he simply does not have the time to do that.

"If I had the time to answer every single question that is asked of me I would not have time to do what I do to the best of my ability. If someone can do this job better than me then they can come take it over."

EquuSearch remains in Orlando tonight and will be leaving for North Carolina tomorrow morning, to conduct joint searches for Kelly Currin Morris, Jennifer Rivkin, Mouy Tang and Jamie Michelle Fraley.

Discuss The Caylee Anthony Case

Full Coverage : Casey Anthony Case

Photo Credits: Carla Lohr

Comments

[Brooksie]

This man should not be defending himself, he has nothing to prove to anyone, ever. He has done more for missing children then most people will ever do. Caylee is not the only child missing, and should not be the only child being searched for. There is a time when you have to move on, and he has done more then anyone else has to help find Caylee. Let the man live in peace, and get off his back.

David Lohr, thank you for always being on the right side of things and not on the most popular side. It says a lot of you as a writer.

[kris]

Hello- I appreciate all Tim has done. He seems very fusterated. I hope he has facts on Padilla and not trying to be judgemental. I understand Padilla is trying to help all he can and always said Tim was the leader. There is a chance her remains will be found. It hurts me to see with all the factual information the grandparents still say she is alive to protect the one who killed her (accident it may be)

Padilla had a right to hold a prayer vidual for Caylee. If the grandparents had any respect for the child they would have already done a memorial service themselves.

It is so obvious the child is gone. It is so obvious the grandparents have no morals and values of their own so someone else has to have the heart, the fight, & the strength to carry this through even if it is not their responsibility.

I think Padilla loves being a bounty hunter - I think he also loves finding people- I can tell from what all i have learned about him- he loves the Lord and he is a good guy.

I also Love Nancy Grace- she is a spectacular woman- very sharp and up to speed- sometimes people are so slow to understand things on her show and even I get fusturated.

Anyhow- Tim is awesome- I hope he gets some peace about all of this and some rest and I pray he finds the other missing people.

CINDY & GEORGE if you read this- please put God before your daughter Casey. You both have acted very wierd through this whole event- not normal at all. I understand this is hard and hurtful but come on! Let little Caylee look down from Heaven and be proud of you guys and stand up for the truth no matter what for her sake.

God Bless
Kristie

[Buzz]

TES deserves nothing but praise. They go in on the toughest missing person cases. I doubt many people could spend a month, much less years, doing such an emotionally charged service. Thank God for TES.

[Mindy from Vermont]

"If I had the time to answer every single question that is asked of me I would not have time to do what I do to the best of my ability. If someone can do this job better than me then they can come take it over."

I stand by what I said. Sarcasm, anger, defensiveness and ego. Even selfless heroes like Tim Miller are still human, and not without ego one hundred percent of the time.

The hype surrounding the greatest search in history ended abruptly after two days. Suddenly, it has been magically remembered there are other missing children. Something is not right here. You don't go to that massive effort, bring all those people down from thirty States, make these sweeping announcements about this huge search, only to truncate the effort in forty eight hours. I don't think the real reason will be known for some time, if ever. It just doesn't make logical sense.

Mr. Miller, nobody wants to dethrone you. You have earned the right to be magnanimous and confident in your actions.

[Typistgal]

Thank you so much David for the personal touch you put on your interview with Tim Miller. He is an outstanding gentleman and I respect him completely. I truly wish, however, that Tim and Leonard Padilla could see eye to eye on this entire matter, but as long as both are putting in such great a effort, time, and manpower into the search for Caylee's remains I'm okay with them disagreeing.

As for the pending motion for a gag order, I'm all for it. If nothing else, it may actually help the Anthony's, specifically Cindy, to stop polluting the jury pool and to lessen their chances of permitting more damaging words from their mouths to be spoken.

Thank you again, David!

[Danna]

I find it hard to believe that anyone could criticize this man or his motives. Tim, you keep doing what you do. I and many others are behind ya all the way!

[Pray4Caylee]

Thanks David, I respect Tim Miller but there is something very wrong with this picture.

Tim announced in a day and a half after searching for Caylee that he was canceling the search after making a statement he would stay until Caylee was found. I didn't expect him for stay forever but I did expect much more than he gave. Point blank, Tim lied and has lost the trust of a great number of supporters. I've donated my last payment to TES due to Tim's actions. Many more feel the same way.

I praise L. Padilla for searching the water at Blanchard Park. I wish it could have been a longer search. I am not a Padilla fan but I do appreciate what he did for Caylee. I also do not believe he did it for recognition. L.Padilla has done nothing but praise Tim Miller and his organization.

I will never believe TES/Tim spent 100K on the Caylee's search.

I wish TES much success in their future searches and hope they receive the funding needed to do so. I have serious doubts. I think Tim hung himself with his own words and actions.

I suppose the Natalee Holloway search cost over 10 Million.

Pray4Caylee

[badboo]

How can anyone who has not participated in the search effort criticize Tim Miller? Someone said in a post that they didn't believe the search cost $100,000. My question to you is how many searches have you conducted? How much of your personal time and effort have you contributed? Can you tell us exactly how much everything cost? Can you tell us how you would even to begin to coordinate an effort such as this? I have my doubts that anyone who hasn't been in Tim Miller's shoes could tell us. How dare anyone pass judgment on a man who has searched for the lost (alive and deceased) for years without the media spotlight focused on him. He and his team have worked on hundreds of cases and have brought many families at least some answers about their missing loved ones.
It is sad that not only do people feel the need to pass judgment on someone they know very little about but to attack him personally is just disgusting. He is out there every day weather it be this case or another trying his best to help these families. What are most of the people that are passing judgment on these blogs and message boards doing other than sitting on their self appointed thrones bashing a good man who is physically out there trying to make a difference in people's lives? I was sad to see that Caylee was not found but it was not for lack of effort! How can anyone put a timeline on how long it takes to do a through search? How would you feel if it was your child missing or another member of your family and you had to wait for your loved one to be searched for? There are many families in need of his help and it just shows me that they are all important to TES. I will continue to give my support to Tim and TES as they have proven over many years that they care about ALL of the families they help and that they put their heart and soul into EVERY search!!
I don't know Tim personally but I will always believe he is one of the few who is the same person with or without a camera in front of his face!

[LindaRose]

Tim Miller, TES and all those wonderful volunteers are on a wild goose chase. Caylee could be anywhere, Casey needs to come clean.

Tim Miller does not need Cindy Anthony's cooperation, he needs Casey Marie Anthony to come clean.

I don't know how this family look at themselves in the mirror or sleep at night knowing their grandchild is out there not being protected. No way is Caylee a victim of a kidnapping, she is a victim of a narcissistic mother who cared more about partying then she did for that precious baby, Casey Anthony is a murderess whose parents are now in a cover up, no denial, they are covering for Casey. Her parents knew from July 15th, 2008 that Caylee was gone and Casey was the person responsible.

I am hoping those who continue to look for Caylee will find her and end this charade, especially since the grandparents don't want this charade to end. Sadly, Caylee will not come walking home to them, nor will there be this "covert operation" to bring her home, at least not alive.

Leonard Padilla has his heart in the right place, I do not believe for one second there is an ulterior motive other than to make sure Casey pays with her life. Leonard Padilla knows the real deal, as does the world.

Rest in Peace precious Caylee, may God light the way for the searchers and may Caylee whisper to those searching for her, when they get close to you! They will find you baby girl, you will be found.

[Anna]

Tim has done a wonderful job looking for Caylee, but I don't understand why he would bash the media or Leonard, the common goal is to find Caylee, if the media wasn't involved we wouldn't have any idea this little girl is missing, its people from all over the U.S. that came out this weekend to help search. Casey and her family are the ones to blame for the circus,we don't understand how a mother doesn't report her child missing for 31 days, we don't understand how Cindy, George and Lee can protect her instead of Caylee. We don't know everything I'm sure, but what we do know, isn't very good.Casey has bullied her family for quite sometime now, so they don't know whats true anymore, I for one believe she took the baby close to Gators and no one will ever find her, thats why she keeps saying she is close. The Ants will have to live with themselves for the rest of their miserable lying days,they want to protect that monster instead of getting the truth from her, they deserve each other and Caylee is in a better place, God is taking care of her now and she will never hurt again.

[BeckyM]

Unfortunately, these types of efforts require a huge amount of money. When you consider the amount that needs to be paid for in equipment, travel, food, beverages, copies to be printed etc... Anyone that has been involved in a Public Relations event knows that even if things are donated, there are many other costs involved.

In regards to calling off the search "early" - I think TES had been given a protocol by the police on areas they wanted searched. When that was completed (and with the amount of volunteers it was done quite thoroughly in a short period of time) what else was there to do? Wander around the swamps of Florida looking for Caylee? C'mon...

JMO but Padilla is looking for his own show, like Dog. You wait and see if you don't start hearing about a TV offer. It's flies around rotten meat... just like Baez emerging from obscurity to be at Casey's side.

[Lorry]

I don't know what's so difficult to understand about the search being cut short. Yes, Tim spent the money to accommodate 3 to 5 thousand people and how many showed up in the 2 day weekend? 1500!!! You can't do the kind of search that was anticipated with that amount of people. You're talking about miles of territory. In the 2 days I was there, the only thing I saw Leonard do was pose for pictures, do interviews and gab. He wasn't out on the searches! So from that angle, LP was there for the media. TES people were working on the search!!! Now, it's LP's dog and pony show. Let's see how well that goes.

[kristie]

Another false sighting of Caylee today at windixie

I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION CASEYS PRENTS ARE JUST LIKE HER - THEY LIVE IN A FALSE WORLD OF LIES.

[D Smith]

I think this is so sad and it hurts me deeply to know that this baby was just dumped like garage.
I too,am very disappointed in TES for calling off this search.Little Caylee deserves better than this.I was so excited when I heard TES was coming back to Orlando to search for Caylee and wasn't going to leave until she was found.Then they pulled out 2 days later.I have followed this story from the being and I watch Nancy Grace every night and I think she is a wonderful person and I praise her for what she does.As far as Padilla I think he is a good man and he is trying to help find Caylee too.I think Padilla should wait and let TES do there search first.Since they can't work as a team.After all it's not about them. It's little Caylee.
Also I'm a mother and a grandmother and I'm having a hard time with Cindy Anthony taking sides with her lying daughter if her father knows she is lies about everything maybe Cindy is on to much medication.
Bottom line I'm very disappointed in Tim Miller.
RIP Caylee

[Lola]

What did it hurt for Padilla to search that river? As someone else said - the common goal, FIND CAYLEE.

I do believe his intentions are true. I heard him say at the prayer service (while, IMO, choking back emotion) that even if Caylee is not in that river, that setting is what he wants to think of when he returns to California, long after this book is closed and he recalls Caylee, instead of a landfill. If she is never found, this community has poured its heart out over this child. THEY deserved the prayer service. THEY deserve closure and peaceful memories of this time and their efforts on behalf of Caylee. Tim had said he was leaving. People were heartbroken over the failed efforts to locate Caylee.

Any talk of a TV show for Padilla was in the works before he ever set foot in Florida.

I heard very clearly with my own two ears, Padilla was point blank, asked directly "Do you need anything? Any donations?" His very direct answer? "NO."

He paid to put those divers in the water.

I won't defend Tim; he obviously has plenty to do that for him. I respect Tim. I donated Saturday to TES.

Cut out the pi$$ing match and refocus on Caylee and the REAL bad guy(s) here.

[Pray4Caylee]

TES is very unorganized. We got there at 7:15, no organization at all. Standing around twiddling thumbs until after 10am. They were not able to handle 1500 people yet Tim fussed because this massive search only rendered 1500 and he spent 100k. Sorry, just not so at all, IMO.

All the food and drinks were donated.

I wish TES all the best in the future. My advice is, don't promise something you can't keep.

[amoofl]

I think most of the people involved with this case are having some serious communication problems.

Starting with Casey Anthony and on top of that then, George and Cindy.

Found a link posted on the forum today.
Makes for some very interesting reading.

http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3581916879/m/6031904199?r=4271944199#4271944199

Here is the link directly to the file that is mentioned there about Cindy Anthony owning Caylee Marie Anthony Foundation.
I guess she is planning on starting her own missing childrens organization but I get this feeling though that none will ever be found.

http://fic.sunbiz.org/pdf/417002D4.pdf

Per what I have been reading in the media Cindy has money but has not donated anything in the search for Caylee.

Now that to me is something to be disgusted about.

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/nbc/more_caylee_anthony_photos_more_licensing_98181.asp

The Anthony's are profiting from their daughter having murdered Caylee and then they do not give anything what so ever in the search for her???

You know people are not perfect and becoming less perfect everyday and I know this to be a fact because I am one of those less than perfect people.

BUT...

Tim Miller, Padilla and all the Searchers have been the only light at the end of the tunnel.

[Dawnni]

All I have to say is anyone who is willing and able to help find this child should not be criticized!!! We are all forgetting what the main objective is here and that is "FINDING CAYLEE"!!
Obviously we cant trust nothing that is said by the Anothonys because its all LIES!! Every one of them has LIED to protect either Casey or themselves.
Just Bring this child home!!!! and let justice be served!...

THANK YOU TIM MILLER, PADILLA AND ALL THAT HAS SEARCHED FOR THIS CHILD AND ALSO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED EITHER TIME MONEY OR JUST PRAYERS!! =)

[michael]

the anthonys are are morally srippled and repulsive family of liars. Once law enforcement proves that no Zenida existed in the world of casey anthony, the chips will fall into place and no reasonable juror will ever find this vile woman anything but guilty.
do innicent people lie 70 times to law enfoircement if their child is missing?
ask yourself that question.

[kris]

I think about this case alot...
GEORGE - CINDY -AND ANYONE ELSE TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK IN VAIN!
ANYONE MAKING ANY KIND OF MONEY OR FAME OFF OF THIS CASE INCLUDING THE "ANTHONYS" WILL DO SO IN VAIN!

DO NOT MAKE ANYTHING FROM THIS FOR GOD FIRST - AND THEN FOR CAYLEES LIFE WHEN SHE WAS HERE- LET IT MEAN SOMETHING.

[kris]

the guy helping the Anthonys with Kid Finders is a phony! what are they doing with all that money collected?

The Anthonys are Aweful people!

[Mary Sandage]

Mr Miller, Your team has done some fabulous work and I only wish the outcome of the trial would have been less bias, she did it!!!
Is there anyway we can donate to your Equuasearch?
Mary Sandage