Open Thread The Nancy Grace Show 11/20

Filed under: caylee anthony

Anthonys Think Caylee Spotted

On Thursday, Mark NeJame announced he could no longer represent the family.  But George and Cindy Anthony said, despite the news, their search for their granddaughter continues.

George and Cindy Anthony told News 13’s Melissa Crabtree that their working relationship with NeJame is over and that they believe Caylee was in Orlando this week.

They have a photo taken by an eyewitness at the Florida Mall on Sunday that they provided to News 13, as well as to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.

The photo shows a girl playing, who they feel looks a lot like Caylee.

George Anthony said that, at this point, he’s going to start skipping the chain of command and aggressively align himself with anyone who can help the search effort for a live Caylee — whether it’s law enforcement or the media.
 
The family said that if people don’t like that, then they should ask themselves what they would do if investigators told them to stop looking

Channel 13 News     Thursday, November 20, 2008 5:58:18 PM

Filed under: Casey Anthony, Cynthia Anthony, George Anthony, caylee anthony, cindy anthony , Casey Anthony, caylee anthony, cindy anthony, George Anthony

Anthonys Holding News Conference Friday

George and Cindy Anthony will be holding a news conference Friday about their search for their missing granddaughter Caylee .

On Thursday FOX 35’s Shannon Butler asked George about Friday’s new conference.  He would not give any details and would not talk on camera, but on Wednesday he told Shannon about Caylee, “She is alive we have been saying that all along.”

But cops had plenty to say Thursday afternoon saying the announcement is just smoke and mirrors. “I would question why they did not do it earlier. if they have reason to believe the child is alive and they are so convinced that they are holding a newser why then bring this to law enforcement why wait days or weeks to present the evidence to police I would question that,” said Sgt. Carlos Padilla from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office .

But the family is keeping it out there, the possibility, even if small, that Caylee could still be alive.

Searches by a bounty hunter, Texas Equusearch and cops have not turned up the body of the little girl and some question if the family keeping hope alive may be enough to put reasonable doubt in the jury’s mind. “When this goes to trial the jury is going to see all the evidence. There is evidence I still have not seen myself, but for the grand jury to have indicted her it must be compelling evidence and they are confident they can take this to a trial,” said Padilla.

The Anthony’s have not yet released the details of there announcement.

Fox 35 News  Created: Thursday, 20 Nov 2008, 5:57 PM EST

Filed under: Casey Anthony, Cynthia Anthony, George Anthony, caylee anthony, cindy anthony , Casey Anthony, caylee anthony, cindy anthony, George Anthony

NeJame Quits As Anthonys’ Attorney

The attorney representing George and Cindy Anthony, the parents of Casey Anthony, who is charged with first-degree murder in the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee, said that he has decided to no longer represent the couple,   Casey Anthony, 22, remains jailed in the disappearance of Caylee, who was last seen in mid-June.

 Mark NeJame released a statement on Thursday about his decision:

 ”Unfortunately, I have made the decision that it is best not to continue my representation of George and Cindy Anthony”George and Cindy have a belief that their beloved granddaughter, Caylee, is still alive. Tips and leads continue to come in. I believe strongly that they should have every right to maintain their hope and faith that one of these “sightings” will miraculously be the one that brings Caylee home to them. What parent or grandparent would surrender such hope?

 ”Who is one person to tell another parent or grandparent when it is time for them to abandon their faith? When does a stranger have the right to judge another who has endured such a loss? The attacks made against them by some are deplorable.

 ”Let them be to do what they feel they must to find their beloved granddaughter, Caylee. Knowing this case as well as probably anyone on earth, there is no doubt that they do not know where Caylee is. Allow them to walk their own path.

 ”I only agreed to represent George and Cindy Anthony, so long as there were no restrictions placed on me whatsoever as to finding Caylee, regardless of where this might lead. Quite simply, this meant that I could do whatever I needed to find Caylee whether she was alive or not. It impressed me that George and Cindy, both believing that Caylee was still with us, had an overriding and primary concern in finding Caylee, even if the result was not as they would hope. The other condition I required was that I would have absolutely nothing to do with representing Casey or assisting in her legal defense.

 ”Abundant efforts have been made towards finding Caylee. I have worked with so many involved in this matter towards the goal of finding this dear, missing child who has captured the hearts of so many. Some ignorant and judgmental members of the public though have made hateful and inaccurate accusations against me and others, when they had no idea whatsoever what was really going on. As my new, good friend, Tim Miller from Equusearch, tells me ‘everybody associated with this case gets body slammed.’ However, like Tim, when you know in your heart that you’re doing the right thing, you just move forward knowing that right will ultimately win out. Some have falsely accused me and some others of being in this for the money. If they only knew how utterly wrong and misguided they are.

 ”I had come to a personal opinion and theory for quite some time whether Caylee was still with us or not. However, my opinion was only one like any other … an opinion. The only person without an opinion though is Casey Anthony as only she knows the truth.

 ”I believe that the singular person out of the 6 billion people in the world who holds the key to finding Caylee is her mother, Casey Anthony. Although I was quite successful in resolving a multitude of matters, I am unable to go further to help George and Cindy find Caylee in my current role. I can only provide my best advice and must respect any client’s prerogative to do what they deem is best, whether they choose to follow my guidance or not. However, there is little value or use I can provide to any client if they choose to act and comment at will.

 ”As someone who has learned and knows the inner workings and details of the case and its various characters intimately, the rampant sensationalism and unfounded accusations must stop. Allow Cindy and George Anthony the respect and decency of dealing with their hope and efforts to find their missing and beloved Caylee as they need to. Allow those with differing opinions on finding and searching for Caylee, whether she is with us or not, to do their jobs without interruption. Finally, the judicial system is in play and justice will be best served by mindless meddlers staying out of something they know little of. There are many wonderful people involved in efforts to find Caylee and there are, unfortunately, many who are exploiting this child. Sadly, most in the public are clueless about who is doing what and what is really going on. The negative actions of some are only counterproductive and hurtful to the cause of those many good people who are doing so much to do something positive with this most sad and tragic situation.

 ”There should only be one goal and that is to find Caylee Marie Anthony.”

 Local 6 News is attempting to reach George and Cindy Anthony for their reaction to NeJame’s decision.

Channel 6 News   UPDATED: 2:30 pm EST November 20, 2008

Filed under: Casey Anthony, Mark Nejame, caylee anthony , Casey Anthony, caylee anthony, Mark Nejame

Attorney: Case Against Casey Difficult To Prove Without Body

Local 6 News reporter Tony Pipitone continued his investigation into the Casey Anthony first-degree murder case by presenting the known facts to a former assistant state attorney and a prominent defense attorney.   

 Pipitone presented questions to former assistant state attorney Elizabeth Rahter and longtime criminal defense attorney Cheney Mason. 

 Mason said it’s very difficult to prove a murder case without a body.

 ”There’s absolutely no evidence other than somebody saying they think they smelled what smelled like a dead body,” Mason said. “What if they’re right? What if there is a dead body? Does that prove there’s an unlawful killing? The answer is no, because every homicide is not murder. This child could have accidentally died any number of ways, and they’ll never be able to prove without a body or a confession.”

 Pipitone said the state does have scientific evidence that it could use, including chemicals indicating a decomposing human body were found in the trunk of Casey Anthony’s car.

 ”They’re going to have to present evidence to convince the court that such tests are generally accepted by the scientific community. And since you’ve called me, I’ve inquired. I’m not aware of a single case that’s been admitted anywhere,” Mason said.

 ”So this is hocus pocus science?” Pipitone said.

 ”Yes. I’d just have to agree with that,” Mason said.

 ”How can I put this person on trial for her life when the scientific evidence has not been used anywhere else?” Pipitone asked Rahter.

 ”They have to show that it’s accepted in the scientific community. It’s hard, a high hurdle in Florida to pass,” she said.

 ”So that’s going to be tough for the prosecution?” Pipitone said.

 ”Yeah, but it’s helpful that it’s corroborated,” Rahter said.

 A hair pulled from the car trunk was consistent in length and color with Caylee’s hair, showing signs of decomposition, Pipitone said. DNA tests reveal the hair came from Caylee or any of her maternal ancestors, from her mother to her great-grandmother, Pipitone said.

 ”Is that not evidence of death?” Pipitone asked Mason.

 ”I don’t believe it necessarily is. They can certainly argue it, but I don’t think it proves it’s a death. It’s proving it’s an old hair with some tissue that has decomposed,” Mason said.

 ”He’s good. He’s tearing apart the state’s case here, and basically says there is no case,” Pipitone said.

 ”Every case is circumstantial,” Rahter said. It has to be caught on videotape, right? Otherwise, it’s circumstantial. Right? So here you have the smell of a dead body, you have chloroform in the trunk, you have somebody who’s continually covering stuff up, making up lies, spewing stuff forth and somebody that’s missing. You prove it like every other case.”

 ”Without the body, the state is really in a hole,” Mason said. “Really, really bad without the body.”A challenge but not impossible, the former prosecutor said.

Read Full Article Here:  http://www.local6.com/news/18022813/detail.html

Channel 6 News    UPDATED: 9:13 am EST November 20, 2008

Filed under: Casey Anthony, caylee anthony , Casey Anthony, caylee anthony