Defense: OCSO Says Bones, Hair Color Match Caylee FBI Continues To Work At Crime Scene

ORLANDO, Fla. — The remains found near the Anthony home are similar in size and hair color to Caylee Anthony, a defense team attorney said Friday.

Linda Kenney Baden said Casey Anthony’s lead attorney, Jose Baez, got that information from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office after the remains were discovered on Thursday less than a half-mile from the Anthony home.

Baez was told “the anthropological measurements on the child for her being Caylee Anthony, that the hair color was correct, and they were proceeding as if this were little Caylee,” Baden said during a hearing on Friday over access to evidence from the remains.

Prosecutors, however, said they have not made a tentative identification of the remains, which were discovered by a utility worker about 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. In his 911 call, the worker mentions finding a skull, which WESH 2 and NBC sources said showed evidence of duct tape on the mouth.

Investigators said Friday it could take up to two weeks to positively identify the remains, but investigators said they’re almost positive it’s Caylee.

“She’s the only child of that age range that was reported missing,” said Carlos Padilla, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. “The skull was the size and shape consistent with that of a young child, and of course it was close proximity to the residences.”

Baden’s announcement in court was one of the latest twists in the case against Casey Anthony, who is charged with killing her daughter, Caylee, sometime before she reported the 2-year-old child missing in July.

Also Friday:

- Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary said something at the crime scene where the remains could be linked to the Anthony house. Investigators removed bags of evidence from the home overnight, including three vacuum cleaners, pesticide containers and a small pillow.

- The FBI was sifting through buckets of dirt on Friday from the scene where the remains were found.

- Cindy and George Anthony returned to their east Orange County home Friday afternoon, but made no comment to the media. They left about 5:30 p.m. with their dogs, again without talking to reporters.

- Judge Stan Strickland denied a defense motion for access to the autopsy of the remains.

The remains were found about one third of a mile from the Anthony’s home on Hopespring drive. Casey Anthony stayed at the home with Caylee before Caylee went missing. (View Map)

Beary, who appeared on “The Today Show” Friday morning to discuss the discovery, said Casey Anthony is on a psychological watch at the Orange County Jail and that he thinks the remains are Caylee’s. (Watch Video)

“My gut says yes, but I have to wait seven to 14 days for the DNA analysis to absolutely make sure. Just like we always have to, we are going to be waiting for facts,” Beary said when Matt Lauer asked him if he believes the remains are Caylee’s.

During a news conference Thursday evening, Baez confirmed that Casey Anthony was upset when she found out about the remains and requested a sedative at the jail. Sources described Casey Anthony’s reaction as an anxiety attack.

After a hearing Thursday morning, Casey Anthony’s trial was pushed back until March.

Friday night, the Anthonys were not at their home because, their spokeswoman said, they’re trying to get away from everything.

Just a few blocks away, crime scene technicians in the deeply wooded area worked late into the night.

Medical Examiner: Forensic Evidence Will Be Key

Forensic evidence will be the key in determining whether the remains are Caylee.

“With the remains allegedly or reportedly being found in a closed environment, in a bag, that would preserve much of the evidence,” said Volusia County Medical Examiner Dr. Marie Herrmann.

Herrmann said that, if the remains found near the Anthony family home were in a sealed plastic bag — despite weather and time — there will be evidence to determine if the victim is indeed Caylee and likely how she died.

“The evidence of injury may reveal itself as cuts or areas of discoloration with bleeding, contusions,” Herrmann said.

And secured out of the elements, there will likely be pieces of any other foreign materials in the bag — including clothing and duct tape.

“Yes, duct tape is a good piece of evidence, as it can hold fibers, skin cells,” Herrmann said. “It could potentially match to another roll. Duct tape can retain fingerprints, latent prints that can be obtained.”

Experts will surely test for the presence of chloroform, Herrmann said, which has been significant in the investigation. The chemical can linger in remains and beyond.

“There may be some metabolites or some other changes that could be detected that could indicate that chloroform was used,” Herrmann said.

Medical and criminal investigators will work together to solve the crime.

Copyright 2008 by WESH.COM.