JOSE BAEZ: FROM HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT TO BIKINI SALESMAN AND HIS STRUGLES TO PASS THE FLORIDA BAR -- THE INFAMOUS ATTORNEY'S WINDING ROAD TO CASEY ANTHONY'S ATTORNEY AND FAME

Three years ago, Jose Baez's name was barely a blip in the legal community.

This was a lawyer who made his way to the profession after dropping out of high school, getting a GED and going into the Navy. He tried several failed businesses — including two bikini companies — before he eventually enrolled at Florida State University and St. Thomas University School of Law. It took another eight years for him to be admitted to the bar.

Now he's arguably one of the most recognizable attorneys in the country after his client Casey Anthony was acquitted in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, in a case marked by a captivated national audience and searing scrutiny of every legal twist.

For the last three years since, Baez faced questions from other attorneys and TV commentators about his lack of criminal law experience and tactics. Now he's a legal celebrity almost certain to be offered interviews, book offers and possibly movie deals that could bring hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"I think this is obviously life-altering for Jose Baez," said Terry Lenamon, a former member of Anthony's defense team, who left the case in 2008 after a disagreement over strategy.
 
Video: What’s next for Casey Anthony? 

"It's not as big as (the) OJ (Simpson verdict), but close to OJ and look at all what happened to those lawyers ... I'm sure he's going to capitalize on it. The issue is: Was that always the plan?"

A winding path into law...

Baez, 42, took Anthony's case pro bono in 2008, after getting a referral from a former client who shared a cell with Anthony following her initial arrest. He has handled the case since then, operating on state funds available to Anthony because of her indigent status, and from an early $200,000 she received from licensing photos and videos to ABC News.

The Associated Press attempted to contact Baez for this story, but those inquiries were not immediately returned.

Verdict: Casey Anthony holds hands with attorney Jose Baez

In an interview with Fox News' Geraldo Rivera the night of the verdict, Baez shrugged off a question about whether his success in this case will silence his detractors.

"I think their competence argument has fallen," he said. "What they want to say about me, well, you know, they can say what they want."
 

Story: Casey Anthony trial: Who's 'Lawyer Gaga'?  

Baez, who was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York and Florida, had to take a winding path to becoming a criminal lawyer, even after he graduated law school. He passed the written test for the Florida Bar, but he was denied admission by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners because of a list of complaints about his personal and financial conduct.

The Florida Supreme Court upheld the bar's decision in 2000 for not paying child support for a daughter he had with his first wife and for what it called "very serious doubts as to his respect for the rights of others and for the law," like writing worthless checks.

He eventually was able to prove to the bar he was rehabilitated and he was admitted to practice law in 2005. He has had no disciplinary action taken against him by the bar since then.

Facebook video of Anthony 'confessing' is fake

Alfredo Garcia, the former dean at St. Thomas, didn't know Baez when he was a student at St. Thomas and prior to his graduation in 1997. But he said he got to know him shortly after he took on Anthony's case.
Garcia said the school gave Baez, who also ran a pair of non-profit organizations before he began his law practice, an alumni award in 2008 for providing disabled children in foreign countries with prostheses.

He said at the award dinner Baez showed him a yellowed copy of his acceptance letter to the law school. The letter had been signed by Garcia, ironically a law school classmate of Anthony prosecutor Jeff Ashton at the University of Florida.

"(Baez) said, 'I've held on to this since I received this. This is the letter you wrote when you were associate dean and chair of the committee that admitted me into law school.' He still had that with him," Garcia said. " ... Obviously, that meant a lot to him because he took time to show it to me and had it with him."

Garcia said he also had lunch with Baez in Orlando last August as Baez was preparing for the trial.
 

Story: Casey Anthony attorney: ‘She did not kill her child’  

They talked about the "emotional, personal and professional toll that the case had taken on him."

"I think it was a rough emotional toll, to the extent that you get identified with your client typically by the members of the public," Garcia said. "I gathered he wasn't the most popular person in Orlando at the time. I think that was pretty tough."

'I really think people underestimated him'

During his closing argument, Ashton likened the theories presented by Baez and the defense of how Caylee Anthony died in part as a fantasy "trip down the rabbit hole into a bizarre world."

Ashton and Baez constantly sparred throughout the three-year case. Each accused the other of questionable legal maneuvering, and once during a pretrial hearing, Ashton even asked Judge Belvin Perry to hold Baez in contempt of court for what Ashton claimed was a blatant disregard of a court-ordered deadline.

Then there was the incident during Baez's closing arguments, in which he angrily referred to Ashton as "this laughing guy" when he observed him chuckling behind his hand in full view of the jury.
 

Story: Casey Anthony refuses jail visit from her mother

But in his first comments after Anthony's acquittal, Baez seemed to have put that bad blood behind him.
He referred to the prosecution team as a whole as "a fine group," called Ashton "a fierce opponent" and lead prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick "an incredible adversary" and "one of the best lawyers I've ever seen."

With constant objections that were overruled and motions denied, Baez's legal skills were often maligned on cable television programs that sometimes depicted him as a sort of Barney Fife, the bumbling deputy on the 1960s TV sitcom "The Andy Griffith Show" who was only allowed to carry one bullet. Lenamon said any of those sentiments that the jury saw in court via the judge or prosecution — however small — could have played a role in the case's outcome.

"They see things like the prosecutor snickering during the defense's closing argument," Lenamon said. "And little things like that can change everything. What they see is a lawyer that may not look to be super-experienced, fighting hard to save his client. That plays into the final formula. It's not as simple and easy as everyone tries to make it out to be."

Lenamon said he expects Baez's star to continue rising.

"The bottom line is he pulled it off in a very favorable way," he said. "I have to tip my hat to him on that and congratulate him. I really think people underestimated him."

Casey Anthony: Baez, Videotapes, and Private (L)eyes?

Deputies want know what a private investigator was doing in the area where Caylee's body was found. They've been told he was videotaping the area a month before Caylee's body was discovered.

The private investigator was apparently working with the Anthony family at the time. It raises questions about whether the Anthonys knew the remains were there a month before they were found.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIDEO REPORT: Private Eye's Video Being Investigated
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The private investigator who works with the Anthonys states he came to the area the month before Caylee's remains were found and videotaped the area. He says the tape shows Caylee's body was not there at that time, but now investigators want to know why he was there with a camera in mid-November.

Private investigator Jim Hoover says he recorded the wooded area where Caylee Marie Anthony's remains were found about a month before they were found.

"We will definitely look into that, absolutely," said Carlos Padilla, Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Hoover briefly showed an Eyewitness News photographer a short clip of the videotape, which appeared to be authentic; the fence was recognizable.

"They know the existence of the tape and want to look at all evidence that's available," Padilla said.

Investigators also want to talk to the Anthonys' private investigator who works with Hoover, Dominic Casey. The defense wants to intervene, because Dominic Casey used to work for the defense and attorney Jose Baez doesn't want him to divulge privileged information.

Baez said investigators won't let him sit in on the questioning, so he's asking the judge to appoint a special master to protect defense secrets if the private eye agrees to talk.

"Investigators have tried to make arrangements with Mr. Casey to speak to him and he's not responded," Padilla said.

The defense's spokesman said they don't want their former private eye to divulge privileged conversations they might have had about where Caylee's remains might be.

Jose Baez Files New Motion; LE: Anthony's Gave Casey "Too Much Credit"

Casey Anthony's lawyer Jose Baez has files a new motion Monday



Jose Baez

Jose Baez was back to work on behalf of his client, Casey Anthony, Monday. After a short hiatus from the Christmas holiday, Baez was filing motions Monday afternoon to safeguard privileged attorney client information regarding the case.

Baez is worried detectives are trying to obtain privileged information about the case from a private detective who used to work for his defense team, so he's asking a judge to intervene.

Baez is asking the judge to appoint a "special master" to oversee any questioning of the private investigator by law enforcement.

The private eye is a familiar face to insiders. His name is Dominic Casey, who, early on, worked for Baez. Then in October, George and Cindy Anthony hired him to follow up on "live sightings" of Caylee Anthony.

Also, there is a video tape that has surfaced. A video of the the area in which Caylee's remains were found December 11, 2008. Sources close to the case say that Dominic Casey, an ex-employee of Jose Baez and Company, had Jim Hoover video tape the exact area in mid-November. In October, 2008, Dominic Casey left Baez's firm and was hired by George and Cindy Anthony as thier own private investiagtor.

Baez said law enforcement is now showing an interest in questioning Dominic Casey and he (Baez) wants to make sure LE does not obtain privileged information Dominic Casey may have learned while working for Baez.

Anthony's Expected To Be Candid With Investigators Regarding Casey

Cindy and George Anthony

The Anthony's face the wrenching task of burying Caylee early in the New Year, but then, sources tell said, George, Cindy and Lee Anthony will be asked to play a pivotal role in holding Casey Anthony accountable or else.

As one investigator put it, "They're going to be asked to help convict her."

If the Anthony's are not candid and truthful, sources said, it may come to obstruction of justice charges against one or more of them.

Medical examiner Jan Garavaglia said it's unlikely they'll ever be able to determine a definitive cause of death, but sources said toxicology tests done on Caylee's hair will "give us clues in that direction." Remnants of certain drugs and toxins can still be present in hair. Also, amount of drug or toxin and the length of time they were present in the body may also be able to be determined by hair.

However morbid, the duct tape helped the case by preserving the hair for toxicology.

The duct tape found on Caylee's skull proves what some sources close to the investigation have suspected about her death all along -- "It wasn't an accident."

Another aspect some insiders find haunting, is how close to the Anthony home Caylee's remains had been dumped.

Sources say the Anthony's simply gave Casey Anthony "far too much credit" that she would have done something more elaborate with her daughter's body.

Meter Reader May Receive Reward For Findings

Meanwhile, a new reward is being offered to meter reader Roy Kronk for finding the bag of skeletal remains that were determined to belong to missing Caylee Anthony.

According to Kronk's lawyer, David Evans, George and Cindy Anthony's one-time representative Mark NeJame has contacted Kronk regarding a $5,000 reward, which represents the amount of money NeJame made while serving as the Anthony family's representative. For now, it's unclear whether Kronk will accept the offer.

Initially, Crimeline said Roy Kronk was not eligible for a cash reward from them because he called 911 the day he found Caylee's remains instead of Crimeline.


Roy Kronk

A source within Crimeline now said things could be different. They're checking to try to confirm that Kronk called them during the same three days in August he called sheriff's headquarters to report something suspicious along Suburban Drive.

More than two weeks after Kronk discovered Caylee's remains along Suburban Drive, a memorial still draws people by the dozens.

Those who have followed the case closely have different opinions on whether Kronk deserves a reward.

"I think he should be rewarded, definitely," Aida Ramos said.

"If they think they found something, they should call it in," Jennifer Tice said. "That's all there is to it." Tice said doing a good deed should not include an expectation of a cash reward.
"I don't think somebody should be rewarded for that," Tice said. "I mean, that's a child who is missing. That's common sense."

In his only statement to reporters, Kronk confirmed that he reported his suspicions four months before discovering the remains.

"I had previously reported to Crimeline and the sheriff's office that I had spotted something suspicious -- a bag in that same area," Kronk said.

Kronk's lawyer, David Evans, states that "..money is not Kronk's main motivation. But if he qualifies, at the very least, Kronk should receive a Crimeline reward."

When asked why Kronk deserved the reward, NeJame said, "I think Kronk is beyond deserving. Without him, who knows when Caylee would have been found."

Sources confirmed they do not suspect Roy Kronk, the meter reader who found the bag of Caylee’s remains, of playing any sort of sinister role in the case.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: The original reward posted after Caylee was first reported missing was $250, 000. It was issued in July, 2008 and was to expire after 90 days. (October 2008) The amount was contributed by individuals, both private and public, as well as businesses in the Orlando area. I have yet to hear anyone mention this "expiration date" of the reward. More research to continue...

Also, in one of the jail house video visits between Casey and Cindy and George, Cindy asks Casey if she has heard of the reward for Caylee's return. Casey, trying to not make much of the subject, says "No." When Cindy tells Casey the amount of the reward is $250,000, Casey's only remark is "Whoa, that's half my bond." This was before Casey was bailed out the first time by Leonard Padilla on a $500,000 bond.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I believe further investigating should be conducted regarding Kronk before any reward is paid. I agree that finding "remains" should not require a monetary reward. There is, at the least, something coincidental about the entire Kronk link" to the case. If the remains had been investigated on Kronk's first call, and identified as Caylee at the onset, I may be a little more lenient. However, with the turn of events, the "three consecutive calls", Kronk's adamant need to remain anonymous, and his immediate hiring of an attorney, I have speculations of my own. Until those circumstances have been totally cleared by LE, then, I may entertain the idea that Kronk deserves this reward. Then again, it is not up to me. ...my two cents

some content courtesy WESH/some photos courtesy FOX35

Judge Orders Photos and X-rays of Caylee's Remains To Be Turned Over To Defense

A judge ordered prosecutors Tuesday to turn over photos and X-rays of the remains of Caylee Anthony to defense attorneys for her mother, who is charged with murdering the toddler.

Orange County Circuit Judge Stan Strickland granted the request by defense attorneys who say those and other items, such as microscopic slides and autopsy reports, are needed so defense experts can conduct their own autopsy. Last week, the chief medical examiner in Orlando ruled the death a homicide, but said how Caylee Anthony died may never be known.

Caylee was two when she went missing in the summer, but her remains were not found until this month. Her mother, Casey Anthony, has been charged with the murder.

Click HERE to read emergency motion

The attorney for the toddler's grandparents, George and Cindy Anthony, said a public memorial service will be held for the little girl. The grandparents planned to hold a private service and a public memorial for Caylee, said attorney Brad Conway.

Conway said the service won't be held until after a second autopsy on the remains is conducted.

A jail spokesman said Casey Anthony will not be able to attend a funeral or viewing for her daughter, due to her charges and the associated safety and security risks.

Caylee's remains have been moved to a funeral home according to reports on Tuesday afternoon.


some content courtesy Fox Orlando

Casey Anthony Tipline; Casey Banned; George and Cindy Beg, Again...

Now that the remains of Caylee Anthony have been found and identified, the Caylee Anthony Tipline is being replaced with the "Casey Anthony Tipline"

Todd Black, the spokesman for Casey’s attorney Jose Baez, said Monday they are setting up a Casey Anthony Information Line.

They are looking for any information about the area where the remains of Caylee Anthony were found.

They did not release the actual phone number, but stated that it’s in the works.

The defense also said they are looking into the credibility of the meter reader who found the remains and his involvement in this case.

Good luck on that, Jose.

No Funeral Arrangements Set

Meanwhile, Caylee's family said they haven't yet made specific funeral arrangements for the toddler.

However, George and Cindy Anthony said they eventually plan a private memorial, and there is a possibility there could be a public memorial at some point in the future.

George and Cindy said they won't be visiting their daughter Casey behind bars because they know whatever they say will be recorded and released to the public.

They said they won't make any public comments on the case until after Caylee is buried.

It has also been reported that Cindy and George Anthony have been seeking monetary donations to cover the expenses for little Caylee's funeral.

Casey Banned From Funeral

Casey Anthony won't be able to attend her daughter's funeral.

According to Orange County Corrections, the level of her charges and the security risks she would pose by being out in public prohibit her from leaving jail.

Awww, go ahead, let her out in public, just not to go to the funeral..

Jail policy lists several conditions that automatically make an inmate ineligible to participate in escorted or unescorted leaves into the community.

Among those are people charged with Capital crimes, or those considered a security threat.

Casey is charged with first-degree murder in Caylee's death.

I can not fathom a mother killing her own child, much less wanting to attend the funeral. Casey Anthony is the last person that needs to be at that precious baby's funeral.

Beware Of Donation Scammers

If you want to donate money to the Anthony family, beware: several thieves are looking to cash in on the family's tragedy.

Conway said people are making money off the tragedy and not using it to benefit missing children or their families. Oh, you mean like the Anthony's? Hope the prosecution has this statement in their records.

Conway said he will notify people on which organizations they should donate money to in Caylee's name.

The money in the original fund to help find Caylee Anthony is going to an organization that works to find missing children. The Anthony family has not yet chosen a specific group.

My guess is the "Casa de Anthony Group".

Visiting The Crime Scene

Curious onlookers were a constant at the crime scene after Orange County investigators left the area Saturday following more than a week digging for clues in Caylee's death.

Many visitors to the site said they could not believe the wooded area so close to the Anthony home was where she was found after being missing for six months.

"I guess I was curious to see," said Jim O'Connors, who lives near the crime scene. "As a resident of this neighborhood, I have walked past this area probably a dozen times in the last six months, and who knew that the answer was right there all along?"

Investigators went to the Anthony home to serve a search warrant just minutes after leaving the crime scene.

Investigators did not say what they found in the home, except that it was significant evidence.

I hope whatever it is has Casey's fingerprints all over it.

More Anthony Search Warrants; Baez Declines Access; Casey visits Attorney, Not Pastor; Michelle Bart Spews, Again..

A Three Ring Circus With No Dancing Bear


On Saturday, crime scene investigators cleared the scene where Caylee's remains were found.

The police convoys left and officers posted "No Trespassing" signs in the area to keep onlookers out.

Nieves said the scene is no longer an active crime scene, but trespassing will not be allowed.

The scene, which was previously a heavily wooded area, had been completely cleared where the CSI detectives worked for nine straight days.

The OCSO also said the attorneys for the defense had been called to come check out the crime scene at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, but they declined. The reason for their decline remains unknown.

Investigators also went to the Anthony home to tell the family members that they could take a look at the scene Saturday morning.

A search warrant was executed at the Anthony home at about 3:30 p.m. George and Cindy Anthony remained inside the home at the time of the search. The purpose of the search warrant was not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Casey's attorney is seeking a change of venue, citing that his client will not be able to receive a fair trial in Orlando. He arrived at the home of Casey's parents Friday evening, but the details of his visit were unknown.

Baez also expressed his anger over not being able to be the first person to tell Casey about her daughter's remains.

"It's just not a professional way of doing things, and I'm extremely disappointed in the manner this was carried out," Baez said. "Like I said though, their lack of professionalism has become predictable and we were able to stay one step ahead of them and have someone here who knows Casey and could be the there to console her in a situation."
A jail representative fired back Friday night, saying Baez knew the chaplain would be the one to give Casey the news.

"We've given her no special treatment beyond what is required from the security and treatment standpoint," said jail representative Allen Moore. "
"And for Mr. Baez to say we are unprofessional, I find very offensive."

According to Orange County Jail's public information officer, the media has indicated that Casey was notified of her daughter's remains while in her jail cell.

Moore said that's not the way it happened.

He said Casey was in an attorney interview room in the Female Detention Center when the notification was made by a jail chaplain. She had been moved to the attorney interview room earlier and had been meeting with attorney Jose Garcia at the time of notification, which was about 1:45 p.m.

One additional attorney visit with Casey occurred Friday night.

According to Moore, Gabriel E. Adam, of the Baez Law Firm, was at the jail from about 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Moore said he did not anticipate additional updates over the weekend. The next update would be on Monday mid-morning, he said, unless there is a significant development -- such as additional attorney visits.

Moore also said that if Casey wanted to go to her daughter's funeral, she'll need to get a judge to sign off on it.

Friday night, people drove by the Anthony family home and some placed stuff animals in a makeshift memorial.

Support and grief from the family came from all angles.

Michelle Bart, the owner of Helping Heroes Productions, released a statement on Friday regarding the child's remains belonging to Caylee.
Bart works with the Kid Finders Network, a group who helped the Anthony's in the search for their granddaughter.

Bart's statement is as follows:

"Today's announcement that our little angel went home has been heartbreaking to say the least. Caylee Marie's soul and beauty have captured many hearts throughout the world, including mine. I came to offer some media support and I'm leaving with a new understanding of how devastating it is on these families whose loved ones go missing. I had just moved from Los Angeles to Washington when I started tuning into Nancy Grace, I have the show to thank for bringing this little girl and her family into my life. Despite the circumstances leading to her disappearance, my role was to provide support in keeping her name and picture visible so we could bring her home; I never knew this angel would spark my spirit in such a way that ultimately would impact my life forever. Today is dark, but the tools this case has given me will light a way to brighter tomorrows for all families who never give up hope no matter the obstacles they face each day while searching for their angels."

The news of the confirmation that the remains belonged to Caylee made national news on Friday.

MSNBC, CNN, Fox and the Associated Press all gave the story prominent placement.

It was also a big story on People Magazine's Web site Friday night, and it was front and center on the National Enquirer.



I pray the Judge who rules on Casey's ability to attend the funeral of our Angel, Caylee Marie, will not allow her access to anywhere near a visitation, funeral service, nor wake. In my opinion, as well as many others I have spoken to, Casey drove around with Caylee's lifeless body in the trunk of Casey's car for days. At times, partying, dancing, and sleeping with men, all the while this was going on. Then, Casey dumped Caylee's body like a bag of trash. Casey does not deserve to see the light of day ever again, much less attend little Caylee's funeral. -- my two cents

Statement From Orange County Jail Regarding Casey Anthony

Update: It has been reported that after learning the news of Caylee, Casey Anthony refused a visit from her pastor and opted for a visit with her defense team.


Statement from the Orange County Jail: Casey Anthony has been notified of the development in her case.

Inmate Casey Anthony is aware of the developments in her case. She was notified by a jail chaplain as is consistent with our policy. The notification came at approximately 1:45 p.m.

Attorney Jose Garcia from the Baez Law Firm was in the Female Detention Center meeting with his client and entered the perimeter at 11:41 this morning. Due to happenstance, not policy, Attorney Garcia was not in the presence of the inmate when the notification was made.

We will not be commenting on the demeanor of inmate Anthony or her reaction to the news and do not have any public records related to this matter.

courtesy OCSO Jail Public Relations

*statement listed Jose Garcia as being attorney present at jail, not Jose Baez

Casey Notified of Caylee's Death

No word yet on Casey's reaction to the news, but Baez is hot under the collar because he did not get to tell Casey himself.

According to OCSO protocol, after a death, the next of kin is to be notified. Due to Casey Anthony being incarcerated, the jail chaplain informed her of the remains being those of Caylee.

Baez was irritated because he wanted to prepare Casey and be the one to inform her.

The Anthony's have remained inside their home and quiet, only releasing a statement through their attorney Brad Conway.

Baez Reacts to Confirmation of Caylee's Remains video

An irritated Jose Baez help a brief press conference after the remains that were found a week ago were identified to be those of Caylee Anthony.

Baez wanted to be the one to inform his client, Casey Anthony, 22,and Caylee's mother. Instead, according to protocol, a jail chaplain informed Casey of the news then Baez was allowed to speak with her briefly.

Baez claims he had asked to be allowed to inform Casey himself.

Orange County Jail Officials will not comment on Casey's behavior or reaction to the news.

video:

Baez Believes in the presumption of innocence



video courtesy WESH Orlando

ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED TODAY REGARDING REMAINS FOUND NEAR ANTHONY HOME

Big announcements are expected today regarding the remains discovered near the Anthony family home last week.
Caylee Anthony was reported missing in July. Her mother, Casey Anthony, 22, is charged in her death.

Related Content: Video Special Section

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is expected to announce the identification of the remains some time on Friday at 2 p.m. at the Mel Martinez auditorium. In addition, the Orange County government is expected to hold a news conference at 3:30 p.m. with the meter reader that discovered the remains to address questions about his involvement.

On Thursday, Capt. Angelo Nieves of the Orange County Sheriff's Office held a news conference to discuss new developments in the case. He said the same utilities worker called in tips on Aug. 11, 12, and 13, and Dec. 11 regarding the area where the remains were found last week.

Nieves said the calls were handled differently. He said no deputy was brought to the scene after the first call, CrimeLine handled the second call and a deputy responded the third time the meter reader called regarding the scene. Nieves said what happened in that time frame is being looked into.

Nieves clarified that the utilities worker is not a suspect.

The Meter Reader’s Story

According to WESH 2 News reporter Bob Kealing, a source with Orange County government who has spoken with the meter reader said the meter reader does believe the bag he saw in August is the same one in which he found the remains a week ago. But, he believes the bag was likely moved by animals in the months in between.

For more than a week now, investigators confirm they have continued to find human remains in an area more than a half-acre wide in a wooded area along Suburban Drive.

On Aug. 13, the tipster met with deputies in that area, but he told a source that the deputy saw a rattlesnake nearby in the woods and advised the tipster not to look back there with him.
After the deputy's search, he cleared the area. It is unknown if the deputy looked in the exact same area where the remains were later discovered.

The deputy's thoroughness, Orange County investigators said, is currently under administrative review.
The source said the meter reader had just been reassigned to that area again, which is why he went back in the woods to see what was there.
It is unclear if he was "relieving himself," as investigators have said, or if he was going into the area to satisfy his own curiosity.

When the utilities worker looked inside the bag and saw the remains, he apparently said to himself they had to be Caylee's, according to WESH 2's Bob Kealing.
The meter reader is a former member of the military and had just relocated to Central Florida. Now he is anxious to talk about what he saw, the source said.

Baez On Today

Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, appeared on the "Today" show Friday morning to discuss new developments in the search for Caylee.
During his interview with Matt Lauer, Baez repeated that no assumptions about the case against Casey Anthony can be made until all of the facts come to light.

"If this turns out to be Caylee, we plan on examining every fact in the case, and going through it with a fine-toothed comb," Baez said. “There’s no telling what the future of this case holds, really."


courtesy WESH Orlando

Baez's Take On The Crime Scene Search Today Show video

Jose Baez on NBCs Today Show. Friday December 19, 2008.

Baez talks about how the crime scene search is going, the utility worker that found remains and the attempts he took to have OCSO get to the scene in August.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Baez Files More Motions / Zenaida's Atty. Wants to Depose Cindy and George

This is the most work Baez has done in 6 months. Did he ever learn "No" means the end of the conversation?.....my 2 cents

From Fox 35 Orlando:

Casey Anthony’s defense team filed another motion in court on Wednesday, requesting access to examine all the debris from the crime scene before it is discarded.

Because the motion was filed after the Orange County Clerk of Courts closed, the motion is not yet available to the public.

It is not known whether there will be another emergency motion hearing held, similar to Tuesday’s when a judge denied the defense access to photographs and sketches of the crime scene where the remains of a child were found last week.

Brad Conway, the attorney representing George and Cindy Anthony, says his clients will not sit down with attorney John Morgan for a deposition in the Zenaida Gonzalez lawsuit that should happen on Monday.

Casey said she left her missing daughter Caylee with a nanny named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez in June. Authorities have not been able to determine this person exists. A local woman with the same name has filed a lawsuit against Casey, saying the publicity of the case and the use of her name has caused her to lose her job and be the victim of threats.

George and Cindy both spent time away from their home Wednesday and a few friends were seen stopping by their Hopespring Drive home. One person even dropped off food at their front door.

Carlos Padilla Press Conference Raw Video

OCSO spokesperson, Carlos Padilla, held a press conference Wednesday, December 17, 2008, updating the search regarding the remains that were found a week ago. He addresses Jose Baez's criticism of the search efforts, and time taking to complete the search. Padilla is not concerned with Baez's comments. OCSO and CSI are doing a complete and methodical search to gather every last element of evidence. Padilla stated that Baez would be the first to say "shoddy police work", if and when the defense team is granted permission to the crime scene, if any remains of evidence were to be found by the defense.

Padilla does not state when the remains will definitely be identified. He did say however, that the crime scene search should be wrapped up by Friday. However, if forensics continue to find evidence, they will work until they are confident they have retrieved all remains and evidence.



Raw Video: Carlos Padilla Press Conference





raw video courtesy: Local 13 Orlando/Daytona

Baez Criticizes Sheriff

Sheriff's deputies are still finding evidence at the site where a child's skeletal remains were found last week.
Investigators will continue to search for clues today and say they are not letting anyone, including Casey Anthony's attorney Jose Baez, tell them when to stop looking.

In a statement released Tuesday, Baez's spokesman, Todd Black criticized the sheriff's office for what they called a lack of cooperation. But the sheriff's office said they are just trying to be thorough.
"Keep in mind that Mr. Baez would probably be the first one to say that when we left, we left evidence behind and it was shoddy work. The judge said that himself yesterday, so, no, we're going to be here as long as it takes. We're on our schedule, not on Mr. Baez's schedule," Padilla said.
Sheriff's investigators expected to wrap their search Wednesday, but now say it could be days before they finish. They said the discovery of more "significant' evidence Wednesday prompted them to expand their search area.
During a news conference Wednesday, Padilla said the sheriff's office is assuming the remains belong to little Caylee. The remains were found about a quarter mile away from the Anthony family home.
Authorities don't know when the DNA test results will come back, but they are confident that a positive identification will be made.
Baez's office told News 13 they haven't heard anything about positive identification on the remains of a small child found near Casey's home.
They also said they won't make a decision about what's next until news comes of that identification.

some sources courtesy local13 orlando/daytona

Baez Lashes Out At Prosectors/Sheriff's Office Grows Anxious

Baez lashes out at investigators

On Wednesday Casey Anthony’s attorney Jose Baez released the following statement regarding the crime scene:

“The Casey Anthony Defense Team has made numerous attempts to preserve the evidence in and around the location where the human remains of what appear to be a small child were found."

Law enforcement has been repeatedly asked to allow reasonable access by medical and scientific experts for the defense, including requests for photographs, and assistance with maintaining a secure examination scene prior to any media or general public access.

"Every effort by The Baez Law Firm to establish a level of basic cooperation and professional courtesy have all been rejected by the government. This lack of cooperation has complicated how to proceed."

Now that the scene more resembles that of an excavation site as opposed to an examinable crime scene -- attorney Jose Baez has been advised that without properly detailed photographs and all related material and documentation, the various experts on the Casey Anthony Defense Team will simply not be able to thoroughly examine the site.

"Unfortunately this matter has already become a Media Circus and something The Baez Law Firm will not contribute to, by just making a show of going to the excavation site without good reason. The Casey Anthony Defense Team is being prevented from examining the site unless and until all photographs, schematic sketches and related material and documentation are released to the defense through the discovery process.”

Law Enforcement Grows Anxious Pending Release of Crime Scene

Police have concerns about what will happen next because it is an area where people live and kids go to school.
Nieves says deputies will be out at the scene to keep watch at least for a few days.“Once this scene is released, we will maintain proper order," Nieves said.
"The Orange County Sheriff’s Office will continue to restore order. We expect everyone to act accordingly.”

Raw Hearing of Emergency Hearing/Judge Denies Baez Motions

Watch Raw video of Emergency Hearing by Jose Baez today.


Video Here




video courtesy WESH Orlando

Notes from Emergency Hearing, Judge denies all motions except one, for now

Judge Strickland has denied motions in the Emergency Hearings except for the Second Autopsy, which will be decided upon the finalization of the primary autopsy.

Judge Strickland stated that he cannot tell Law Enforcement what to do, when they are investigating a murder case. A murder has been committed and to do their investigation, law enforcement has to do whatever they can do to determine any evidence they can find. They may have to disrupt the crime scene if need be to collect any evidence found and law enforcement has their own protocol that they follow as they go about this.

Strickland stated that he heard of the defense being at the crime scene over the weekend and this could have caused law enforcement work harder, longer, and more diligently, than they already were. seemed to be a shot by Strickland at defense team for visiting the site.

Strickland also said this is an unusual case, however he can not bend the rules for this particular one. When forensics is finished with the crime scene, the defense will be allowed to do further investigating.


More updates to follow.

Coverage of Emergency Hearing is Also on CNN.com/Live

go to www.cnn.com/live search for video there.

Another Link to Emergency Hearing via Fox 35 Orlando

Click on post title above for link

or click here:


http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7943664&version=13&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Link for Live Stream of Emergency Hearing

Click above post title for link or you may click HERE.

There should be a blue banner at the top of the page with "Watch Live". If not, it will be clearly posted.

It has occurred, however, that the hearings were not carried via live stream, even when stated it would be. This could have been due to media error, server error, etc. If the streaming changes and the news channel knows ahead of time, they will update post to reflect. If I hear of any changes, I will post as well.

I recommend going to the site about 5 minutes before hearing begins.