Suspicion surrounds mom in missing child case

Clint Van Zandt • Profile • E-mail

Viewers witnessed an extensive bond hearing Tuesday to determine if Casey Anthony, the 22-year-old mother of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, a child who has allegedly been missing since either June 8 or June 15, should have a bond set by the judge that could bring about her release from jail. After Casey’s mother Cindy contacted law enforcement officials to discuss her concerns about her missing granddaughter, Casey was interviewed at length concerning the whereabouts of her young daughter. According to media reports, Casey lied to law enforcement on a number of occasions concerning the whereabouts and status of her daughter, who she had left her daughter with, her employment or lack thereof, and her knowledge of why her daughter was believed to be missing.

The purpose of the bond hearing was, of course, whether Casey should be released since she has no prior arrests and is currently charged with child neglect, interfering with a criminal case and lying to police. Her parents and attorney contend she is not a flight risk and would be in a better position to assist in the hunt for her daughter. Police obviously believe that Casey has lied many times in this case and probably think she knows what happened to her daughter. 

If this is the case, she could tell police everything she knows about the disappearance of her daughter. But to date, she has not done this. When asked why Casey was unwilling to tell what actually happened to Caylee, her attorney stated “I know the reason why, but unfortunately I can’t disclose that at this time. There is an explanation but I’m not at liberty to say this.” Her attorney also indicated that it would not be in Casey’s best interest to provide such information and that he would need it in preparing her defense. 

Casey’s brother and mother have indicated that Casey knew where Caylee was, but for her own reasons would not take them to the little girl. On or about July 15, Casey told her brother she had not seen her daughter for 31 days. In an attempt to explain her daughter’s reluctance to discuss Caylee’s whereabouts, Cindy indicated her daughter knew the status and probable whereabouts of Caylee, but was reluctant to talk to police. She claimed television and movies concerning such cases convinced her that if she reported her daughter missing that the actions of law enforcement would endanger Caylee.

It was because of this, Casey allegedly said, that she had been conducting her own investigation concerning her missing daughter. One story she told police is that she dropped her daughter off with a babysitter on June 15, and later provided police with information that led them to the woman she named, who had no knowledge of either Casey or Caylee Anthony.  The apartment that Casey indicated she took Caylee to where the child was turned over to the babysitter had in fact not been occupied for the past five plus months, causing law enforcement to suspect Casey in the disappearance of Caylee.

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