Judge Allows Release Of Caylee Autopsy Results

An Orange County judge decided Friday to allow the release of Caylee Anthony's autopsy report to the public.

WFTV was the first station to obtain the autopsy report results.

AUTOPSY : Examination | Skeletal | Remains | BonesRAW HEARING: Watch Video | See ImagesRAW INTERVIEW: Legal Analyst On Autopsy HearingMOTION: To Block Autopsy Release | Order To StayFOLLOW US! Casey Coverage On Twitter

At a court hearing, George and Cindy Anthony did not get the answer they wanted. George was emotional as he spoke to Judge Stan Strickland to try to convince him not to release his granddaughter's autopsy report.

"Please show us some peace and some dignity by keeping this report sealed," said George Anthony to Judge Strickland.

The Anthonys said releasing the report would cause them even more anguish and are afraid that the results will be exploited.

"This last year has been an emotional strain for our entire family," said George. "The protection of our family's rights and privacy and emotional well-being, has been tossed aside over and over again."

On June 10, George and Cindy Anthony's attorney, Brad Conway, filed a motion to block (read motion) Caylee's autopsy result findings. Judge Stan Strickland, however, ordered a stay (read order) on the release of the findings.

The Anthonys' motion claims that publicizing the report would cause endless speculation.

What the public does know already is that investigators found duct tape stretched across Caylee's mouth when they found her remains on December 11.

They found adhesive on that tape in the shape of a heart, which matched a heart sticker that they also found near her remains.

Investigators say the duct tape, the trash and laundry bags she was stuffed into are similar to tape and bags found in the Anthonys' home.

"Every time there's a motion filed to block the release of something what do you assume? You assume that there must be something inflammatory and damning," said WFTV Legal Analyst Bill Sheaffer (watch full interview).

Sheaffer said Caylee's grandparents had no legal standing in the case to ask the judge to seal the public record and said there was no legal basis for their argument.

"Unless there's a legal basis other than emotional distress, which is not a legal basis, this judge will not block the release of this public document," Sheaffer explained.

Casey, 23, is in the Orange County jail facing first-degree murder charges. She is accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee Anthony.

JUDGE SEALS JAILHOUSE VIDEO OF CASEY ANTHONY

A judge ruled Wednesday to seal the jailhouse video of Casey Anthony on the day she learned a child's remains were found near her house. Judge Stan Strickland issued a 3-page order (read it) Wednesday to seal the video that was recorded on December 11.

READ: Order To Seal Video | Motion To Intervene GrantedVOTE: Do You Agree With Judge's Order?LEGAL ANALYSIS: Bill Sheaffer On Judge's Order VIDEO REPORT: Jailhouse Video Sealed By Judge

"While the Court is loathe to shield any public record, an argument can certainly be made that the contents of the video are highly inflammatory," Judge Stan Strickland wrote in his order.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said the ruling basically means the public's right to see the video was outweighed by Casey's right to a fair trial, especially considering the national attention surrounding the case.

"The court is very concerned that she may in fact not get a fair trial in a case with the ultimate penalty, which is death," Sheaffer said (watch full interview).

Casey's defense team had argued that their client's rights were violated when she was videotaped. The video in question reportedly shows Anthony doubling over and hyperventilating after learning her daughter's remains were found as she watched Channel 9.

"Her hands started to sweat. She started rubbing them profusely. She was in waist chains and handcuffs and she kept saying, 'The waist chains are getting tighter and tighter on me, please loosen them,'" Jail Lt. Tammy Unser told Detective Philip Graves during an interview on the afternoon of December 11 (listen to interview).

Defense attorney's argued that releasing the surveillance video would violate Anthony's right to privacy since it was filmed while she was in a medical office at the Orange County Jail, seeking medical treatment. Anthony's attorneys have alleged that her jailers worked with the Orange County Sheriff's Office to have the television news on in the medical office so Anthony's reaction could be recorded.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office has said there was no orchestration with the jail.

"Considering the matter and penalty at hand, it does seem too great a restraint to limit access to the video in question. Therefore, the defendant's Motion to Seal the videotape is granted, and it must not be released for viewing by the general public or media, until further order of the court," Judge Stan Strickland wrote in his order.

The Orlando Sentinel filed a motion to intervene, which Judge Strickland granted (order granting motion) Wednesday. Rachel Fugate, the attorney for the Orlando Sentinel -- which had filed the motion to unseal the video -- said Judge Strickland was prudent in his ruling.

"We certainly wish the videotape would have been released, but we certainly appreciate the consideration the judge gave to this matter," said Fugate. "We don't have any reason to believe there was something wrong in his ruling."

Sheaffer said the ruling does not mean the video can't be used as evidence in the trial. That decision will come later. The judge did point out that sealing the video could be just a delay and that at some point after the trial is over the video might be released.

Previous Stories: June 17, 2009: Judge Seals Jailhouse Video Of Casey Anthony June 17, 2009: Crowd Gathers To Remember Caylee At Memorial June 16, 2009: Anthonys Talk On Anniversary Of Caylee's Disappearance June 16, 2009: One Year Later: The Case Against Casey June 16, 2009: Anthonys' Attorney Appears On GMA June 12, 2009: New Documents, Evidence Released In Casey Case June 12, 2009: Book About Casey Anthony Case To Be Released June 10, 2009: Baez Files Motion To Obtain Phone Records June 9, 2009: 911 Call Released Of Woman Claiming Anthonys Chased Her June 9, 2009: George, Cindy Won't Face Charges Over Allegations June 8, 2009: Casey's Attorney To Question Key Witness June 5, 2009: New Casey Attorney Files Paperwork; Witness Being Re-Questioned June 3, 2009: Casey's 2003 Yearbook For Sale On EBay June 3, 2009: P.I. To Stop Casey's Attorneys From Getting Phone Records June 2, 2009: Women Say Anthonys Chased Them From Caylee Memorial June 2, 2009: Baez Files New Motion To Seal Jail Video