WFTV.com News 

Story

Attorney Considers Giving Meter Reader $5,000 Reward

Eyewitness News has learned that an Orlando attorney who resigned from representing George and Cindy Anthony is considering a $5,000 reward for the man who found two-year-old Caylee Anthony's remains.

Eyewitness news reported two weeks ago that Roy Kronk was not eligible for a Crime line reward, but attorney Mark Nejame said that Kronk, "Did something very good and it's only appropriate that something good be returned to him."


VIDEO REPORT: Meter Reader May Get Reward

Bounty hunter Leonard Padilla also says he wants to give Kronk a reward for finding Caylee's remains.


MAN WANTS TO ADD CAYLEE'S NAME TO MEMORIAL

A Leesburg man wants to set Caylee's memory in stone. Don Williams began building a 60-foot wall and waterfall in his backyard three years ago. Over 90 names are painted on the memorial and all the names are of children who were murdered.

Williams says he saved a stone for Caylee and says he hopes the Anthony family will find some peace in making their granddaughter's name a part of the memorial.

"Maybe they'll come over after things calm down and paint her name on it, little Caylee's name on the wall. If not I will do it for them, but her name will be on the wall and she will never be forgotten," said Williams.

The Anthony family says it will hold a private and public service for Caylee, but no dates have been announced.


ANTHONYS SPEND CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CAYLEE, PLAN TO KEEP DONATING TOYS

While the Anthony family spends its first Christmas without Caylee, dozens of needy children are enjoying hundreds of gifts donated in the slain toddler's honor.

Cindy Anthony told Eyewitness News she was not yet ready to talk on camera, but confirmed via text message she plans to donate additional toys mourners are leaving at the growing memorial where Caylee’s remains were discovered.

The first batch of toys was given to 85 needy children staying at the Orlando Rescue Mission. On Christmas morning, the children played with the gifts near the Christmas tree, which still had leftover gifts underneath.

The shelter told Eyewitness News the leftover gifts will be saved for birthdays and other events in the future.

Now that the Orlando Rescue Mission has more gifts than it can use at the moment, Cindy Anthony said she plans to donate additional toys left at her granddaughter’s memorial to other charities in need.

Casey Anthony woke up in an Orange County jail cell on Christmas morning.

Unless she accepts a visit from a jail chaplain, Casey Anthony will spend the holiday alone, as records show no family members have signed up to visit the mother charged with her daughter’s murder.

For Christmas dinner, Casey Anthony will dine on roast beef with gravy, buttered mashed potatoes, creamed corn, bread, and a baked apple crisp for desert.

The meal costs 82 cents.

WAS CASEY ANTHONY'S MYSTERY BABYSITTER INSPIRED BY TV SHOW?

Channel 9 has learned that investigators are looking at whether a popular TV show may have provided Casey Anthony with the inspiration she needed to create a story about Caylee’s disappearance.

Computer records given to Eyewitness News showed Casey did a Google search for "One Tree Hill's” 100th episode, right before Caylee disappeared.

That episode just happens to be about a nanny kidnapping a child.

Legal analyst Bill Sheaffer believes this could be a critical piece of evidence the state will use in this case against Casey.

“The story of the plot line is so similar and that is the story she originally came out (with). And it’s the story she continues and continues to stick with,” said Sheaffer.

In March, three months before Caylee disappeared, Casey’s computer records show she was researching how to make chloroform, household weapons, and neck breaking.

In between those searches Casey was looking up the 100th episode of “One Tree Hill.”

“It goes to serve two issues: one premeditation for the death of the child and two, it serves as a basis for this incredible story that the imaginary babysitter kidnapped and killed the child,” said Sheaffer.

Casey told investigators the nanny, Zenaida Gonzales, kidnapped Caylee. Detectives said they will definitely look into the information and this will most likely help in the case against Casey.

METER READER 911 CALLS RELEASED

Three 911 calls released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday show that Roy Kronk, the meter reader who found Caylee’s remains, was very suspicious of the swampy area not far from the Anthony home months before the official discovery was made.

Kronk first called 911 about something in the area on August 11, 2008.


KRONK 911 CALLS: Aug. 11 | Aug. 12 | Aug. 13 | Dec. 11
MESSAGE BOARD: Caylee Anthony's Remains Found

"I noticed something that looked white and there was... I don't know what it is. I'm not telling you it's Caylee or anything of that nature," Kronk told a dispatcher.

Before hanging up that first day he explained why he thought someone should check it out.

"Once again, I have no idea what it was, so and I don't want to waste any more of the county's money, but I'm just telling you I saw something," Kronk said.

Deputies did go to the scene, but didn't find anything. The next day, Kronk called again to describe the area.

"There is a fallen tree that looks like someone tried to cut on it at one point," said Kronk.

Before hanging up with the dispatcher the second time, Kronk was asked to call Crimeline. Kronk said he didn't want to because he's a county employee.

"You can still do it regardless if you're a county employee. You can remain anonymous," the dispatcher said

"Not if they find a freaking body," he replied.

On the third day, August 13, 2008, Kronk called again and waited for deputies to arrive. Together, they didn't find anything.

Caylee wasn't found until December 11, 2008, when a final call was made to 911 by Kronk's boss after Kronk discovered a skull.

GRIEVING FOR CAYLEE

Eyewitness News learned Tuesday that Caylee's remains have now been released to a funeral home to await her memorial service.

The news came as lawyers for Caylee's family reversed course and said today they will not seek donations to help bury the murdered child.

Lee Anthony's attorney, Thom Luka, said people wanted to do more so the Anthonys were in the process of setting up a trust fund to accept donations for Caylee's funeral.

“The original idea was that this fund was going to be set up so that people who wanted to dedicate money for flowers or whatever for a memorial for Caylee, they could do it at a central point,” said Luka.

Eyewitness news reported the trust fund on Monday. Since then, hundreds of bloggers wrote that they were outraged with the idea. George and Cindy's attorney Brad Conway said he received numerous angry emails.

Luke said the Anthonys have now changed their mind because do not want the public to think they are misusing any funds.

"It is suspended indefinitely because what they are trying to avoid. They are trying to avoid this cloud of impropriety," said Luka.

The Anthonys say they will have a private and public service. A date and time won't be set until the second autopsy is completed.

PHOTOS AND X-RAYS TO BE RELEASED

A judge in the Casey Anthony case told the state Tuesday to release photographs, x-rays and other documentation related to Caylee Anthony's remains to Casey Anthony's attorney.

The order by Judge Stan Stickland followed an emergency request filed by Jose Baez's law firm.


EMERGENCY MOTION: Read It (PDF)

In the filing, Casey's attorneys claimed that the State Attorney had been asked but failed to release the information.

The judge gave the state 14 days to release the items or prosecutors have until January 5, 2009 to appeal.

The ruling came just after Channel 9 had learned Casey will not be allowed to attend her daughter's funeral.

CASEY WON'T ATTEND FUNERAL

A jail spokesman said Casey Anthony will not be able to attend a funeral or viewing for her daughter, Caylee, due to her first-degree murder charge and because of the security risks.

The attorney for the family says a public memorial service will be held for the little girl.


VIDEO REPORT: Casey Anthony Update

Orlando lawyer Brad Conway said Tuesday that George and Cindy Anthony, the girl's grandparents, will hold both a private service and a public memorial for Caylee Marie.

Caylee was 2 when she disappeared in the summer and her remains were found on Dec. 11. Her mother, Casey Anthony, has been charged with the girl's murder.

Conway says the service won't be held until after a second autopsy on the remains is conducted.


CASEY'S CLOSET SEARCHED, ITEMS CONFISCATED

WFTV has learned crime scene investigators stripped Caylee Anthony's room and then raided Casey's closet during a recent search of the home of George and Cindy Anthony.

Crime scene investigators have confiscated boxes of items from the Anthony home two times in the past week.

Sources tell Eyewitness News last Thursday, investigators were focused on Caylee Anthony. They took her clothes, shoes, and toys.

Over the weekend, another search warrant was executed and investigators came back for Casey Anthony's belongings. They took more of Caylee's clothes, five to eight pairs of Casey's shoes and her clothes as well.

Legal expert Bill Sheaffer believes investigators are trying to take as many items as possible to help build their case because they don't have a cause of death.

"Any forensic evidence linking Casey to the scene is extremely important for the state's prosecution," said Sheaffer.

Investigators also took soil samples from the Anthony home. Once defense attorney Jose Baez found out that the samples were taken as part of the evidence, he sent out his own team and they collected soil from the home for their forensic experts.

Sources tell WFTV investigators also took two pairs of sunglasses and a pink-zippered bag.


TOYS DONATED

Toys that were collected at a memorial for Caylee were handed out to needy children Monday.

Cynthia Melendez and her four children were forced into the Orlando Union Rescue Mission shelter a month ago. She lost her job and worried her children wouldn't have a Christmas. Now, she'll benefit from the community's outpouring over the Caylee Anthony tragedy.

"It's a blessing to them, but it’s heartbreaking at the same time," said Melendez.


VIDEO REPORT: Memorial Toys Donated
METER READER: Meter Reader Speaks | Images

Employees at the Mission unloaded armfuls of stuffed animals and toys brought from the Caylee Anthony memorial site where the child's remains were found more than a week ago. All 85 children staying at the shelter picked out a toy for Christmas. George and Cindy Anthony said their granddaughter was a giving child who liked to share and would have wanted this to happen.

The children at the mission couldn't stop singing and smiling when they saw the gifts under the tree, Monday morning.

"I feel excited, happy and thankful," said Katherine Lane, one of the children. When asked if she knew who had donated the presents, she answered, "Caylee and her grandparents."

Some parents said they were praying for the Anthonys and a few even said they sympathize with Casey Anthony, who stands accused of murdering her two-year-old daughter. She could go to prison for life is she's convicted. A tentative trial date has been set for March of 2009.

"I hope the courts understand that she was a young mom and there are hard times," said Jennifer Gonzalez.

Dozens of people have contacted WFTV, saying they were upset the Anthonys donated the items instead of leaving them at the memorial. However, parents at the shelter believe it's one way to keep alive Caylee's memory alive and help children who didn't think they'd receive anything this holiday season.

"I will tell my children that this was given to a child who lost her life, but you are living in her memory," said one mother.

Click Picks
Video Clips
What do you get when you put a man's head on a baby's body and a baby's head on a man's body? It's a 'ManBaby,' possibly the freakiest way to tweak a family photo. View Images ››

Strange News Photos

From brilliant to bizarre, our 99-photo slideshow captures a variety of strange news. Photos are added often. Take A Look!

County-By-County News

Get Hyper-Local On WFTV.com

Visit our County-By-County section for the latest news headlines out of your county. » County-By-County

When you take videos or photos of Central Florida news or weather events, iWitness is your place to upload them. » iWitness

Visit your headquarters for county-by-county news and resources, and a place to share community videos and photos. » 9Central