ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — Casey Anthony is facing a lot of expenses. She wants to appeal her conviction and she faces big bills for the searches for her daughter, Caylee Anthony.
However, Casey told the court that she is broke. So WFTV reporter Kathi Belich asked whether taxpayers are still on the hook for the bills if Casey gets paid for her story.
VIDEO REPORT: Casey Says She's Broke READ: Sheriff's Office Tallies Casey Costs CASEY RELEASED: Raw Video | See Images PHOTOS: Many Looks Of Casey Anthony
Last week, the staged images of Casey surfaced, walking the streets somewhere in Ohio, presumably for compensation. But two days later, she swore in an affidavit that she has no money and wants taxpayers to pay for her fight against her conviction for lying to investigators.
The question is could the affidavit get her out of paying $515,000 to the law enforcement agencies that searched for Caylee based on her lies?
WFTV went to the Orange County Court Administration to ask and was told its examiner, who used to investigate the insolvency affidavits, was cut out of the budget.
Court officials said prosecutors might be responsible for making sure that Casey pays up, but they said that's not their responsibility.
WFTV was also told that collection court enforces the restitution orders, which is run by the Clerk of Courts. Belich went there and was told as of about one month ago, almost $159 million in outstanding fines and restitution had been turned over to collections agencies in Orange County alone.
All the agencies that WFTV talked to said it is possible that Casey won't ever pay even if she makes money down the road.
"I think that's pathetic," said taxpayer Debra Anderson.
The agencies who want reimbursement could investigate whether she's cashed in on Caylee's death, WFTV was told.
However, the agencies said it's very possible that taxpayers will have to accept the self-professed liar that Casey's broke.