We have created this page to facilitate the timely flow of information that pertains to the Caylee Anthony investigation between the Sheriff’s Office and the news media. The information posted at this location will either be in the form of a Media Update, created by the agency’s Media Relations Unit, or in response to a formal public records request. All information posted as a result of a public records request will be in accordance with Ch. 119, F.S.
Updates on body found near Chickasaw Trail and Suburban Drive
December 11, 2008 - 12:30 PM: At approximately 9:30 AM today the Orange County Sheriff's Office received a telephone call from a man, reported to be a utility worker, who advised he had found what he believed to be the remains of a young child in a wooded area near the intersection of the South Chickasaw Trail and Suburban Drive. Deputies responded to the area and confirmed the report the Sheriff's Office has recieved from the caller. The responding deputies secured the scene and made the appropriate notifications. In response to many questions we have recieved on this discovery, the scene is approximately one half mile from the residence of Caylee Anthony. Beyond proximity to Caylee's home we have nothing at time that would link this discovery to the missing child.
Investigators from the Orange County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit, the agency's Forensics Squad, and investigators working the disappearance of Caylee Anthony responded to the scene to begin the investigative process. The Sheriff's has confirmed that the remains do appear to be those of a young child however the sex, age, or identity of the youngster have not been determined. Investigators have not identified the victim at this point in their investigation nor have they specualted on the cause and manner of death in this case. Future updates will be provided as they become available.
December 11, 2008 - 2:00 PM: Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary arrived at the location where the child's remains were discovered earlier today and provided a brief update. He confirmed much of the information released earlier today and added that the utility worker's discovery included a child's skull. Investigators have been able to determine that the area where this morning's discovery was made was underwater for several weeks in the wake of Tropical Strom Faye which made the area inacessible to searchers. During his briefing Sheriff Beary advised that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Orange County Medical Examiner were on the scene to assist with the investigation and the recovery and preservation of any evidence located during the recovery process. Sheriff Beary also advised that this is a top priority case and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is standing by to receive and expeditiously process any forensice evidence recovered to include DNA. Sheriff Beary declined to discuss anything specific relating to the crime scene other than to say it was located about 50 or 60 feet into the wooded area. We will provide updates as they become available. (edited 12.12.08 - 5:50 pm)
December 11, 2008 - 4:20 PM: No major developments to report since the 2:00 PM update. We can advise that the medical examiner has removed the remains of the child discovered in the wooded area this morning where they will undergo a complete forensic examination. That endeavor will be supported by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Investigators still have not identified the body nor are they prepared to discuss the cause and manner of death. Detectives working this case have also declined to discuss the specific nature of any evidence recovered from the scene. The Sheriff's Office is currently working to obtain a search warrant for the home of Casey Anthony however investigators will not elaborate on why the search warrant is being obtained. We will provide you with additional information when it becomes available.
December 12, 2008 - 2:30 PM: Utility Company 9-1-1 call
December 15, 2008 - 3:30 PM: Investigators from the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continue to process the crime scene where the remains of a young child were discovered on December 11, 2008 by an Orange County utilities worker. The scene continues to produce items of evidentiary value that relate to the discovery of the child's body however investigators will not discuss specific details pertaining to the evidence recovered from the scene. Detectives can not say how long they will continue to process the crime scene other than to confirm that the processing will continue until they are certain that everything of evidentiary value has been recovered. Investigators also advised that they have not positively identified the remains of the victim recovered from the wooded area just off of Suburban Drive in Southeast Orange County. Updates on this investigation will be provided as they become available.
December 18, 2008 - 4:50 PM: Orange County Sheriff's Office releases crime scene images that are available for viewing by clicking here
December 19, 2008 - 3:30 PM: At 2:00 PM today, December 19, 2008, the Orange County Sheriff's Office hosted a media briefing for the purpose of releasing a significant development in the investigation into the disappearance of Caylee Anthony. During the briefing Dr. Jan C. Garavaglia, Orange Osceola Medical Examiner, confirmed that the remains located in the wooded area near the intersection of Hopespring Drive and Suburban Drive were indeed those of missing three year old Caylee Anthony and that the death of the toddler was the result of homicide by unknown means. Sheriff Kevin Beary opened the briefing with a statement expressing his concerns over how one to three tips relating to the case were processed during August. Sheriff Beary advised that the matter concerning those tips was under an internal review at this time. He asked that the agency be allowed to gather all of the facts concerning the tips and how they were processed before any conclusions were made. MEDIA ADVISORY