Anthony's "Rotten Pizza Theory" Tested By Eyewitness News
Posted: 3:58 pm EDT July 31, 2008Updated: 5:23 pm EDT July 31, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- One of the biggest clues detectives have in the case of missing 2-year-old Caylee Anthony is a foul stench in the trunk of the car her mother, Casey, was driving. The family claimed the stench wasn't caused by Caylee's body, but instead by a rotted pizza.
VIDEO REPORT: Eyewitness News Tests "Rotten Pizza Theory"
Eyewitness News has had plenty of viewers question how an old pizza could be confused with a decomposing body. Caylee's grandmother said that the car didn't smell of death, but instead rotting pizza in the trunk. So, Eyewitness News decided leave one in a car to see what happened.It's not the most scientific experiment, but it might shed light on the validity of the "rotting pizza theory." Eyewitness News took a basic Domino's Meatzza pizza and put the leftovers inside a locked car in the Florida sun."It smells like there was a dead body in the damn car," Cindy Anthony told a 911 dispatcher in a call to turn in her daughter.A detective told prosecutors he smelled it, too."The evidence of decomposition would lead you to believe, would it not, that there is the possibility that this child is no longer alive?" the prosecutor asked Det. Yuri Melich."Yes, that can be concluded," he said during court room testimony."How do you deal with what they're saying about in the trunk of the car?" Eyewitness News later asked Cindy Anthony."There was a bag of pizza for like 12 days in the trunk of the car full of maggots. It stunk so bad, you know how hot it's been," she said.But the Eyewitness News experiment doesn't support the smelly pizza theory after temperatures in the 90s. After seven days, the moisture was gone from the pizza and it had the consistency of shoe leather. More importantly, you have to get really close to smell anything and, when you do, the smell is pizza.Channel 9 managing editor Joel Davis volunteered his car for the experiment."About every other day I've taken a look at it. The first day or two, you open the trunk and you have the smell of pizza. But after that, nothing," he said. "No smell whatsoever."Detectives also said two cadaver dogs alerted on the trunk of the car Casey allegedly stole from her parents. Cindy Anthony said the pizza was in the car for 12 days, so Eyewitness News will revisit the pizza again in five days.
Eyewitness News has had plenty of viewers question how an old pizza could be confused with a decomposing body. Caylee's grandmother said that the car didn't smell of death, but instead rotting pizza in the trunk. So, Eyewitness News decided leave one in a car to see what happened.It's not the most scientific experiment, but it might shed light on the validity of the "rotting pizza theory." Eyewitness News took a basic Domino's Meatzza pizza and put the leftovers inside a locked car in the Florida sun."It smells like there was a dead body in the damn car," Cindy Anthony told a 911 dispatcher in a call to turn in her daughter.A detective told prosecutors he smelled it, too."The evidence of decomposition would lead you to believe, would it not, that there is the possibility that this child is no longer alive?" the prosecutor asked Det. Yuri Melich."Yes, that can be concluded," he said during court room testimony."How do you deal with what they're saying about in the trunk of the car?" Eyewitness News later asked Cindy Anthony."There was a bag of pizza for like 12 days in the trunk of the car full of maggots. It stunk so bad, you know how hot it's been," she said.But the Eyewitness News experiment doesn't support the smelly pizza theory after temperatures in the 90s. After seven days, the moisture was gone from the pizza and it had the consistency of shoe leather. More importantly, you have to get really close to smell anything and, when you do, the smell is pizza.Channel 9 managing editor Joel Davis volunteered his car for the experiment."About every other day I've taken a look at it. The first day or two, you open the trunk and you have the smell of pizza. But after that, nothing," he said. "No smell whatsoever."Detectives also said two cadaver dogs alerted on the trunk of the car Casey allegedly stole from her parents. Cindy Anthony said the pizza was in the car for 12 days, so Eyewitness News will revisit the pizza again in five days.
Previous Stories:
- July 31, 2008: Toddler's Grandmother: "I Cannot Give You Names Of People"
- July 31, 2008: New Jailhouse Phone Call Released Between Casey Anthony And Brother
- July 31, 2008: Casey Anthony Won't Get New Bond Hearing
- July 30, 2008: Casey's Parents Talk To Media Before Visiting Daughter In Jail
- July 30, 2008: Casey Anthony's Attorney Appeals For Another Bond Hearing
- July 29, 2008: Waving Casey Leaves Court After Judge Denies Attorney's Motion
- July 29, 2008: WFTV Uncovers Incident Report About Break-In At Anthony's House
- July 28, 2008: Women With Same Name As Caylee's Alleged Babysitter Defend Themselves
- July 28, 2008: Nearly 200 Attend Vigil For Missing 2-Year-Old Caylee Anthony
- July 28, 2008: Jail Phone Call, 911 Calls Released In Casey Anthony Case
- July 25, 2008: Casey's Attorney Wants To Be Able To Retrace Her Steps With Her
- July 25, 2008: Crimeline Being Flooded By Tips In Caylee Anthony Search
- July 25, 2008: Grandfather Of Missing Toddler: "Don't Paint Bad Picture Of Family"
- July 25, 2008: 911 Call: "Smells Like There's Been A Dead Body In The Damn Car"
- July 24, 2008: Source Claims New Slab Of Concrete Or Pavers Behind Anthony Home
- July 24, 2008: $225,000 Reward Offered For Information Leading To Caylee's Safe Return
- July 24, 2008: Casey Anthony's Friends Reveal New Details To Channel 9
- July 24, 2008: Lawyer For Arrested Mom Makes Accusations Against Sheriff's Office
- July 23, 2008: Undisclosed Holds Put On Release Of Missing Toddler's Mother
- July 23, 2008: Anthony Family Says Caylee Is Alive, Trying To Post Bond
- July 23, 2008: Judge Sets Bond At $500,000 For Mother Of Missing 2-Year-Old
- July 23, 2008: Crime Expert Analyzes Casey Anthony Case, Evidence
- July 22, 2008: Arrested Mom's Ex-Fiancé Reveals Information That Could Change Timeline
- July 22, 2008: Mom Of Missing 2-Year-Old Could Be Released On Bond Tuesday
- July 21, 2008: Lawyer Says Denial Of Bond For Arrested Mom Was "Incorrect Ruling"
- July 21, 2008: Casey Anthony's Lawyer Trying To Get Her Out Of Jail On Bond
- July 20, 2008: Search For Toddler Continues, Prayer Vigil Held In Her Honor
- July 18, 2008: Cadaver Dogs, Investigators Search For Missing 2-Year-Old In Backyard
- July 18, 2008: Five Big Lies Hang Over Case Involving Mother Of Missing Toddler
- July 18, 2008: Investigators Say Missing Girl's Mom Borrowed Shovel From Neighbor
- July 18, 2008: Web Sites Give Glimpse Of Arrested Mother's Life, Family Problems
- July 17, 2008: Grandmother Of Missing Girl Praying For Toddler's Safe Return
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