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| Caylee Anthony |
Happy Day 1 of True Crime Week!
Today's story is the disappearance of 2 year old Caylee Anthony. This one is a bit longer than most, so I'm splitting it up into 2 parts, but don't worry you won't have to wait long, part 2 will be out tomorrow!
This is one that I definitely want to hear what you all think.
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| Casey Anthony |
Casey told police that on the morning of the 16th she dropped her daughter off at Zenaida Fernandez-Lopez's apartment, or "Zanny the Nanny" as Casey referred to her as. Casey told police she was an event planner at Universal Studios and went to work that day. When Casey returned to pick Caylee up no one was at the apartment, she tried calling the nanny, but the calls wouldn't go through. She stayed at the apartment for awhile before going off and looking at places she thought they might be before ultimately going back to her boyfriends house when she found nothing.
To give you a little background on the Anthony family, Casey Anthony was 19 years old when she became pregnant with Caylee. It was never known to her family who the father was, but it wasn't important to them, they supported her and she continued to live with her parents over the years, who helped her with Caylee. Her mom Cindy was a registered nurse and her dad George was a retired police officer. They seemed to be your average all American family.
When police asked Casey why she hadn't reported her daughter missing she told them that it was out of fear of something happening to Caylee. They asked Casey to go with them to the Nanny's apartment. She brought them to an apartment complex and pointed out a specific unit to them, saying that's where she lives. When Police go up to the door and knock there is no answer, but soon they realize after peaking into the window that the apartment is vacant. Not a good sign.
A large search is put on to find the missing 2 year old. While the search is on detectives continue to look into Casey's story. Detectives go back to the apartment complex to inquire more information about Zanny the Nanny. They discover that particular unit Casey pointed out to them had been vacant for months, and that they had no record of a Zenaida Fernandez-Lopez ever living in the complex. Surveillance video for the day Caylee went missing doesn't show Casey arriving or leaving the complex at all.
Casey also had told them that 2 of her co workers at Universal Studios were aware of what was going on, she gave them the names. When detectives went to question these people, they discovered that they didn't exist, on top of that they also discovered that Casey didn't actually work there. Police were left confused by these lies Casey had told them. They went to her and didn't disclose what they knew, they asked her to take them to Universal Studios. They go in and the guard up front tells her sorry we don't have an employee with your name, she then gives the name of her so called supervisor and their extension and is told again there is nobody by that name. Eventually a supervisor comes out and gives Casey and the officers the ok to enter. Casey walks down the hall leading detectives and waving at people as they pass by. Eventually they get to a dead end, Casey turns around and tells them that she doesn't actually work there. They tell her they already know and that it's time that they have a serious discussion.
During her interrogation Casey's demeanor is odd. She continues to deny that she knows where Caylee is and is adiment that she left her with the Nanny that day. She shows no signs of emotion during this interview. In my opinion if my child was missing for over a month at this point and I thought someone had taken them I would be an emotional wreck. She wasn't even close to that. Frustrated by Casey's lies they arrest her for child neglect, hoping this would push her to start telling them more.
A phone call is placed by Casey, she calls her mom. Her mom asks her why she's lying and that they can't help find Caylee if she continues to be dishonest. Casey gets frustrated with her and she continues to ask for her boyfriend Tony's phone number. A family friend gets on the phone and asks Casey why she was showing no emotion or concern over her missing daughter, Casey tells them she has to remain composed for Caylee's sake and can't cry like she wants to.
Police hear this phone call and track down Tony the boyfriend. Him and his roommate were surprised to hear that Caylee was missing. When being interviewed they said that Caylee came over with her mother at least 3 times a week, but then it became not at all. When they would ask where she was Casey told them she was either with the nanny or her parents. In the month that she was staying at their home she never once mentioned that her daughter was missing.
Police decided to go back and review the 911 tape, that's when they discovered there was more than one phone call made to 911 from the Anthony household. One from earlier in the day of July 15, again from Cindy, that police found very interesting. She reported that they just got their vehicle back from a tow yard and that it smells like "A dead body in the damn car." The car was in their name, but Casey was the driver of the car.
Police took in the 1998 Pontiac Sun fire and immediately smelled decomposition. They brought in a cadaver dog that led them straight to the trunk, where they found positive evidence of decomp. In addition to the smell they found hairs and a stain that looked to be the size of a small child. Apparently Casey's car had run out of gas, was towed and a notice was mailed to her parents. It had been in the tow yard for weeks.
When they went to question Cindy about the 911 call she made, she changed her story and said that when they got the car back they found a bag of garbage in the trunk, in it was a pizza box that contained maggots. Police knew those smells are not at all the same. They tried to get more out of her, but got no where. Casey's father George asked to speak with detectives alone, he told them that when they got the car back it had "bad vibes."
Police soon find a Zenaida Fernandez-Lopez, who lives about 20 miles away. She is not young like Casey described and when they ask her if she knows Casey or Caylee she tells them no, when they ask if she ever was their nanny, she tells them no. Police were able to verify she was telling the truth about who she was. Casey gets a lawyer, Jose Baez and after that police aren't able to speak with her anymore. All while Casey's parents continue to put together massive searches to find Caylee.
In August she makes bond and is put on house arrest, at this point she becomes the most hated mom in America and people start to protest on the lawn of her parents house.
With the evidence they have they arrest Casey Anthony in October, 2008 for murder.
On December 11, 2008 the case takes another turn. A utility worker came across something odd when he pulled off to the side of the road to relieve himself in a wooded area. He started poking it with a stick when he realized it was a human skull. He called police, at the crime scene garbage bags were found, a canvas bag with bones inside, a Winnie the Pooh blanket and a small skull. Soon they were identified as little Caylee Anthony. A cause of death could not be determined, no flesh was left on the bones and on the bones themselves there were no markings. There was a piece of duct tape that was across the bottom half of the skull, the medical examiner found that this duct tape had held the upper and lower jaw together, even through decomposition. Due to the circumstances of how the remains were found it was listed as an undetermined homicide. Oh let me just mention one other thing about this wooded location she was discovered in...it was only 1/4 mile away from the Anthony's homes, basically in their backyard.
Police obtain a warrant to search the Anthony home, here they discover some pretty interesting things. Little Caylee's bedroom was Winnie and the Pooh themed. The canvas bag she was found in was apart of a laundry hamper set, the other canvas bag was found in the home, they added this information to their list of evidence. Next step was taking her to trail.
It wasn't until May 24, 2011 that this trial began for Casey Anthony. This is what we will cover tomorrow in part 2 of "Most hated mom in America."
Resources:
"Casey Anthony, An American Murder Mystery."
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