Padilla Says George Anthony's Story Is Untrue

California bounty hunter Leonard Padilla says he told investigators that Lee Anthony told him a story that greatly conflicts with George Anthony's statement about when he last saw Caylee alive.

Eyewitness News found out that her lawyers are trying to keep Padilla's statement a secret.

VIDEO REPORT: New Insight Into Possible Motive

George Anthony told investigators he last saw Caylee alive Monday, June 16 as she left with Casey, who he thought was going to work.

It was the day after Father's Day and the day after witnesses say Casey and Cindy had a terrible fight over money that Casey allegedly stole from Cindy's mother.

Padilla, who had bonded Casey out of jail in the past, says George's story is not true. Eyewitness News reporter Kathi Belich talked to Padilla on the phone Tuesday.

Kathi: "George says he saw Caylee the next day."

Padilla: "She didn't leave the next day like George said."

Kathi: "Oh, you think George is lying about that?"

Padilla: "I know he is, yeah."

Kathi: "How do you know that?"

Padilla: "Because Lee says so."

Kathi: "What did Lee say?"

Padilla: "Lee says she left that night. She was upset and took off with the baby."

Kathi: "Lee actually told you that and you told investigators that when you were questioned?"

Padilla: "That's correct."

Leonard Padilla says Lee told him Cindy tried to choke Casey on Father's Day and that's when she took off with Caylee.

Eyewitness News learned Cindy Anthony denied that ever happened and Casey's defense team wanted to keep incriminating statements from Padilla and his associates a secret, claiming they were working for the defense.

Padilla says they were not and says after he bonded Casey out of jail, she did not seem desperate to find her missing toddler.

"It's almost like there was no daughter. There was no daughter missing. There was nothing to be concerned about," said Padilla.

Jose Baez is expected to depose one of Casey's friends on Thursday. Then, on May 28, Baez will be back in court to try to get a jail videotape thrown out that supposedly shows Casey's reaction as she watched the discovery of Caylee's remains play out on Eyewitness News.

JUDGE: CIVIL CASE AGAINST CASEY CAN MOVE FORWARD

Zenaida Gonzalez, the woman who is suing Casey Anthony for defamation, won her court battle Tuesday in a motion hearing that started just after 10:30am.

Casey Anthony's lawyers tried Tuesday to have a defamation suit against her tossed out, but a judge ruled the civil case can move forward.

The case was filed by Zenaida Gonzalez, a woman with the same name as the nanny who Casey claimed took Caylee. Gonzalez says because of that claim her life has been ruined.

COURT HEARING: Watch Raw Video | See ImagesVIDEO REPORT: Civil Suit Moving Forward

Circuit Judge Jose Rodriguez had some words of caution about Casey's refusal to answer most of the written questions Zenaida wanted her to answer.

One of Casey's attorneys, Jonathan Kasen, attended the 30-minute hearing to convince the judge to throw out the defamation case.

"They never established the individual in question, his client, and Mr. Morgan's client is that individual who was allegedly disparaged or defamed," said Kasen.

"The court as you mentioned, in January 2009, sought to have a, to split the baby if you will," he said.

"No, I was not splitting any babies," replied Judge Rodriguez.

Zenaida Gonzalez' attorneys convinced the judge to add the possibility of punitive damages to the case, arguing the damage was done when investigators questioned Zenaida after Casey's story about last seeing Caylee with a woman of the same name at the Sawgrass Apartments.

"That was the defamation to her," said Zenaida's attorney Keith Mitnik.

Casey has waffled on whether the Zenaida Gonzalez who is suing her is the one who took off with Caylee.

"Our client said, 'I don't know this lady, never heard of her, never babysat for her. I don't know what you are talking about,'" said attorney Keith Mitnik. "It's troubling that she resists answering that question. Why do you think? I don't know. I don't know whether she wants to keep her options open. I don't know."

Casey's attorney could not rule out that she could use Zenaida as a defense.

"I think that's speculative," Kasen said.

The judge is allowing Gonzalez's attorney's to seek punitive damages.

"If there are two statements that are opposite, it becomes a question of fact for the jury," said Judge Rodriguez.

George and Cindy Anthony were inside the courtroom for the hearing along with their attorney Brad Conway, but Cindy and George were not so light-hearted when they left, after things did not go Casey's way.

The motion to dismiss the civil suit wasn't discussed at length because Gonzalez's attorney's plan to amend the suit with the punitive damages.

George, Cindy, and Lee Anthony have already been deposed in the civil suit about what they know about the mysterious nanny.

"Zenaida didn't think Caylee should have been with Casey, for whatever reason. And that she was taking Caylee from her for a period of time to teach her a lesson," Lee Anthony during a deposition.

Cindy Anthony is expected in court Thursday. Gonzalez's legal team wants a judge to force her to answer questions and to pay for their costs. The attorneys want to know if Casey ever used Cindy's credit cards without permission. Cindy refused to answer that question during her first deposition.

Circuit Judge Jose Rodriguez will hold a hearing on a Motion to Compel in the Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzales vs. Casey Anthony civil case on Thursday, May 21 at 10:30am.

Previous Stories:

May 19, 2009: Judge: Civil Case Against Casey Can Move Forward May 18, 2009: Deputy Submits Letter Of Resignation In Casey Case May 18, 2009: Judge To Consider Motion To Dismiss Zenaida Slander Case May 14, 2009: George, Cindy Defend Casey On National TV May 13, 2009: Baez Continues To Question Witnesses In Casey Case May 13, 2009: Legal Analyst: Attorney's Comments Bombshell In Case Against Casey May 13, 2009: DCF Worker: Casey Referred To Caylee As "That Child" May 13, 2009: Casey's Death Penalty Attorney Explains Why He Quit May 12, 2009: Casey's Defense Questions Three People Under Oath May 8, 2009: Fired Deputy Will Try To Get Job Back In Casey Case May 8, 2009: Casey's Defense Team To Add New Attorney May 8, 2009: Anthonys Making Another TV Appearance May 8, 2009: Casey's Legal Team May Not Be Qualified May 6, 2009: Baez Says He's Not Done With Corrections Officers May 5, 2009: Casey Anthony's Attorney Questions Witnesses May 5, 2009: Baez Files For Change Of Venue In Casey Case May 4, 2009: New Documents Released In Case Against Casey Anthony May 4, 2009: New Documents May Give Casey's Defense Ammunition April 29, 2009: Taxpayers May Pay For Meter Reader's Lawyer April 29, 2009: Taxpayers Will Have To Pay For Kronk's Legal Fees