Caylee Anthony Update

There have been several new developments in the case of Casey Anthony and her missing 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony.

On August 5, Casey was formally charged with a felony count of child neglect and another misdemeanor offense.

Read the court documents
The following day, investigators executed a search warrant at Casey's home and removed several articles of clothing from Casey's closet.

According to the search warrant, Casey's mother, Cindy Anthony, recently told investigators that she had found clothing inside the vehicle Casey had been driving before she made her first 911 call. Cindy "removed the pants and washed them due to the fact that they smelled like the car," the report said.

Read the search warrant
Also on August 6, Bryan Crews, the attorney for the parents of Jesus Ortiz, a young man who some armchair detectives suspect is Caylee's father, held a news conference and said that his parents had never heard of Casey Anthony.

"This is the first they were ever told that Caylee might be a grandchild of theirs," Crews said. "They became interested in that, because that's all they would have left of their son, who died at age 20. This is a real surprise to them. I think another news station broke the story to them as a 'hello, big surprise' at their front door, and that was a very shocking event for them. Since that time, they've gotten unwanted media attention."

Crews said that the Ortiz family does not believe that Jesus is Caylee's father. Casey's parents also deny that he has any relation to Caylee. Despite both families' beliefs, the Orange County Sherriff's Office is investigating the allegations and has requested a copy of the police reports regarding the accident that killed Jesus.

During an interview on Fox News, Casey's father, George Anthony, admitted, despite previous denials, that his daughter had in fact stolen the gas cans from his shed. George said he found the cans in the trunk of the car Casey was driving when he went looking for a tire tool.

In addition to the gas can revelation, Cindy Anthony has come forward and told investigators that she has been receiving death threats via phone calls, e-mails and letters. Investigators are currently looking into the incidents.

On August 7, Mark Fuhrman spoke with Fox TV host Greta Van Susteren and said that he had met with investigators from the Orange County Sheriff's Office and was told about a "flurry" of calls Casey had placed to her parents on June 16. However, when questioned about Fuhrman's claim, Capt. Angelo Nieves had no comment on the alleged calls.

"We didn't discuss anything official with him," Nieves told Orlandosentinel.com.

While Nieves had little to say about the calls, sources close to the investigation have revealed that investigators have gone over every page of Casey's cell phone records and have not found a single call or text message to or from anyone named Zenaida Gonzalez, the woman Casey claimed was Caylee's babysitter.

Another interesting development occurred on August 8, when Casey refused to see her brother when he arrived for a previously scheduled jail visit.

"I've just been informed by the visitation supervisor that when the visitation session started, Casey Anthony was not at the visitation unit over in her housing area. A correctional officer came on over the screen and told Mr. Anthony that Casey did not wish to have the visit occur, and then he left," Allen Moore, public information officer for the Orange County Corrections Department, told WFTV.com, adding, "She did not wish to have the visit. No reason was given for this. It's the inmate's right not to conduct a visitation if they choose to."

Later that night, supporters and members of the community attended a vigil for Caylee Anthony.

"Your prayers and support means more than you can even imagine," George said, addressing the small crowd. "Thank you for giving me some strength."

On August 8, WFTV.com reported that investigators suspect Caylee may have drowned in the family swimming pool on June 16, the day Fuhrman said Casey had made a "flurry" of phone calls to her parents.

"A possibility being considered is Caylee could've gotten into the backyard pool on her own and was discovered too late," reads the article at WFTV.com.

The article also revealed that investigators are conducting further tests on Casey's car to determine whether there is evidence of decomposition.

The most recent development in this case occurred yesterday, one day after Caylee's third birthday, when Casey declined a scheduled visitation with her parents.

"Orange County Corrections does not inquire as to why an inmate decides to decline a visitation," Moore told Myfoxorlando.com, adding, "Cynthia and George Anthony were notified by phone that their daughter had declined today's scheduled visit."

Casey is scheduled for two more visits this coming week with her brother and parents. It remains unclear whether those visits will take place.