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Casey Anthony Refuses Brother's Jailhouse Visit

Posted: 6:44 am EDT August 6, 2008Updated: 11:22 am EDT August 8, 2008

Casey Anthony's brother tried to visit her in jail, Friday morning, but Casey refused to see him. Meanwhile, sheriff's divers are conducting what have been called "training exercises" in waterways near the Anthony home.


ANGRY GEORGE: George Yells At Media, Cindy Explains Emotions
LEE TALKS: Interview With Brother Before Visit Gets Denied
VISIT REFUSED: Official Says Casey Declined Brother's Visit
SEARCH WARRANT: Document For Anthony House Search Warrant (PDF)
CINDY TALKS: "Good Feeling" Caylee's Coming Home
VISITORS: Official Visitors Log For Inmate Casey Anthony (PDF)
ARCHIVE: Read Previous Reports Related To Anthony Case
MESSAGE BOARD: Talk About Anthony Case, Search For Caylee

Lee Anthony arrived at the Orange County jail to pay a scheduled visit. Before checking in for his appointment, he spoke with the media.

"There are particular phone call records from that day that are extremely interesting," Lee said regarding new information disputing his sister's claims regarding a "Zenaida Gonzalez" last having her missing daughter Caylee.

Lee was then asked if he thought his sister was being truthful.

"To the best of her ability right now, I do," he said.

Soon thereafter, Lee learned that his scheduled appointment with Casey had been cancelled. A jail spokesman said Casey refused to leave her cell to talk to her brother.

"I've just been informed by the visitation supervisor that when visitation session started, Casey Anthony was not at the visitation unit over in her housing area. 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," said Allen Moore, Orange County Corrections. "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."

Casey Anthony remains jailed on charges of child neglect and making false statements in the case of her missing 2-year-old daughter Caylee. Caylee Anthony was reported missing in July but investigators have been frustrated by Casey's refusal to provide reliable information.


PHONE RECORDS PUT BABYSITTER CLAIM IN DISPUTE

Eyewitness News learned Thursday that Caylee Anthony's so-called babysitter Zenaida Gonzales appears to be nothing but another lie. Sources close to the Anthony investigation have told Eyewitness News that, in going through all of Casey Anthony's phone call records, not one call was ever placed to someone named Zenaida Gonzalez. The information is important because Casey has told investigators she left her child with a babysitter who had that same name, and that was the last time Casey saw the young girl.

On jailhouse phone calls that were released to the public, Casey said she had talked on the phone and exchanged text messages with the nanny who allegedly last had Caylee.

"Um, the last number that she called me from was a 954 number, which is a Ft. Lauderdale number. I know because Amy's is also of a similar area code. She has also called me from a 407 number, from a 321 number. There's been different numbers different times," Casey told her brother on the call.

But phone records show there have been no phone calls or text messages to any such person. Eyewitness News also learned that investigators talked to a Kissimmee woman of the same name who filled out an application on June 17 to live at the Sawgrass Apartments, but never lived there. That's the complex Casey claims she went to when she allegedly left Caylee with Zenaida Gonzalez on June 9.

Investigators said they spoke with the Zenaida Gonzalez who filled out the apartment application and she told them she never actually lived at the apartment complex, never spoke before to Casey Anthony and never babysat Caylee. Investigators also said the apartment Casey said she dropped Caylee off at had been vacant since February.

Investigators also said they showed pictures of the Kissimmee Zenaida Gonzalez to Casey and pictures of Casey and Caylee to Zenaida and neither recognized the other. Eyewitness News found there are 400 Zenaida Gonzalez's in the state of Florida and that's just the ones who have driver's licenses.

Detectives say they've received more than 1,000 tips in the case and are looking at them all.

"Not any of them are being discounted," said sheriff's office spokesman Carlos Padilla. "Anything is possible. We're leaving all the avenues open."


DIVERS TRAINING NEAR HOME

Orange County divers began what they called scheduled training in ponds and waterways near the Anthony home. Deputies had blocked off three areas with crime scene tape. They were used high-tech underwater surveillance equipment have refused to say if they're specifically searching for a small body. Detectives said nothing has led them to believe 2-year-old Caylee would be in any waterway near the Anthony home.


MORE EVIDENCE PULLED FROM ANTHONY HOME

A mob of reporters surrounded detectives Thursday when they took another bag of evidence from the house of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony's grandparents. The little girl's grandmother said she invited detectives over.

Detectives made two visits to the Anthony home Thursday. But attorney Jose Baez discounted the trips.

"They've opened their home numerous times," he said. "This is a redundant issue."

Cindy Anthony told Eyewitness News she recalled some things that may be helpful to the investigation and Thursday she talked longer to reporters than she has in a very long time.

After some consideration, Cindy opened up at her front door moments after investigators left.

"I called them today because I wanted to talk to them," Cindy said, declining to reveal what she wanted to talk about (watch full interview).

More evidence left the Anthony home Thursday, one large brown bag.

"We can't tell you what we're removing. I can tell you that Mrs. Anthony called us back out here to talk to us about some things that she thought were important," Sgt. John Allen said.

A search warrant (PDF) showed detectives took articles of clothing used by Casey, toothbrushes, a hairbrush, comb and an oral thermomenter used by Caylee. George Anthony also turned over a laptop used by his daughter.

"It was follow-up from yesterday. We're trying to all work together as a team and I think we're doing a good job of it," Cindy said Thursday afternoon.

A source close to the investigation told Eyewitness News that investigators have not yet received lab results from DNA testing, but they are getting some information from the lab by telephone.

George Anthony, meanwhile, was less talkative than his wife about the flurry of activity at the house over the last 24 hours.

"We have cooperated more than a hundred percent with these guys. They're just going through their steps," he said.

But so far, those steps have not led investigators to rule out kidnapping or homicide.

"We are still looking at this as a missing person and as evidence comes in that tells us otherwise, we'll look into that as well," Allen said.

For the remainder of Thursday afternoon, the house was quiet as the Anthonys prepare for Caylee's third birthday on Saturday. Cindy said, if here granddaughter is not home, she'll celebrate quietly with only her husband and son Lee.

Thursday was the fourth time bags of evidence were taken from the Anthony house. On July 18, investigators removed a shovel that Casey Anthony had borrowed from a neighbor. On August 1, detectives removed two bags that contained gas cans that Casey Anthony had stolen from her parents. On August 7, deputies took several small bags from the house, the only time detectives had to get a search warrant. Every other time, the Anthonys invited detectives in.

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