Motion: Casey Anthony 'Pauper To Princess'?

George, Cindy Take Stand Against Permanent Caylee Memorial
March 24, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A new hearing has been scheduled in the case against Casey Anthony.

Circuit Court Judge Stan Strickland will hear a motion from the state at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in courtroom 23 in the county courthouse in Orlando. WESH.com is planning to stream the hearing live.

Wild Casey Anthony Pictures Published (May Be Unsuitable For Children)

The hearing is on a motion to determine whether Anthony's attorney has a conflict of interest. Prosecutors want to know if her main defense attorney, Jose Baez, has been selling the story of Casey and Caylee Anthony.

They point out that Casey Anthony has gone from "pauper to princess" and wonders how she is paying for the eight attorneys on her defense team. (Read The Motion)

Baez and Casey Anthony have filed sworn statements assuring the judge that Anthony did not give Baez the right to sell her story. Baez said he does not have a conflict of interest.

Baez and Casey Anthony both also admitted they had entered in to a retainer agreement.

Criminal defense attorney Richard Hornsby said he has a legal right to know if Casey Anthony paid Baez with money she stole.

Hornsby also said the judge needs to find out if Baez brokered the sale of Anthony's home videos to help fund her defense.

While Baez is not commenting further, the lawyer for George and Cindy Anthony said the couple is anxious about Wednesday's hearing. Brad Conway said it's time to put the money issue to bed.
"This is a major distraction. This takes away from everything that needs to be done in order to defend her," he said.

Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of her daughter Caylee, who was 2 when she was reported missing in July 2008. Caylee's remains were found in December 2008 in Orange County, not far from the home where she and her mother lived.

Also on Tuesday, the state released a list of about 250 names of potential witnesses in the case. The list is an updated version of one that was released earlier by prosecutors.

It includes the names of law enforcement officials, forensic lab experts, Anthony family members and Anthony's friends.

Meanwhile, Caylee's grandparents, George and Cindy Anthony, invited WESH 2 News to their home Tuesday. They are taking a stand against a permanent memorial to Caylee along Suburban Drive.

For the first time in months, George Anthony spoke one-on-one to WESH 2's Bob Kealing.
Caylee's grandparents are getting ready to unveil a Caylee Anthony foundation that will have a search and rescue component like a page from the Texas Equusearch playbook. At the same time, they're coming out against a permanent Caylee memorial along Suburban Drive.

George and Cindy Anthony unveiled a new search boat named for Caylee. They also unveiled plans for a Caylee Marie Anthony Foundation they both will spearhead.

The boat was built by the Anthony's long time ally Dennis Milstead of Kid Finder's network with $30,000 donated from the Never Lose Hope Foundation.

"They funded the boat and an ATV to start us out with the search group," Milstead said.
"I never want to look for a child in the water or the woods and stuff but if that's what we have to do that's what we're going to have to do," George Anthony said.

Cindy Anthony remained silent as her husband weighed in on the controversy surrounding what to do with the land along Suburban Drive. It's home to the Caylee memorial and currently up for sale.

"This is the kind of tribute I would rather see, not down at the end of the street. I think that's great, don't get me wrong," George Anthony said.

The couple's lawyer said the owner should not sell the land to bounty hunter Leonard Padilla who has talked about establishing a permanent memorial to Caylee.

"I think Mr. Padilla's motives are suspect and he's not the one to memorialize this little girl," George Anthony said.

The Anthonys also said they would like to see a park where children can play as the permanent memorial to Caylee.

Bounty hunter interview delayed in Casey Anthony civil case

Leonard Padilla will be questioned after Casey Anthony's parents.
Sarah Lundy
Sentinel Staff Writer
March 23, 2009

The bounty hunter who loves to talk will have to wait to be interviewed under oath in Casey Anthony's defamation case.Leonard Padilla said he'll be questioned under oath for the civil case in May after her parents are interviewed by attorneys.

Padilla was going to be questioned on Wednesday an interview scheduled months ago by attorneys for Zenaida Gonzalez, the 38-year-old Kissimmee woman suing Casey Anthony.

He said he's not fighting the deposition but attorneys wanted to talk to him after they speak with Casey Anthony's parents, George Anthony and Cindy Anthony. Their depositions are set for next month at the office of Morgan & Morgan law firm.

Later this week, private investigators Dominic Casey and Jim Hoover are scheduled to be questioned at the law office.Gonzalez is suing Casey Anthony for more than $15,000 in damages.

She claims she lost her job and suffered humiliation and public embarrassment after Casey Anthony told investigators that a baby sitter by the same name took her 2-year-old child Caylee Marie, who was found dead six months later in December.

Casey Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the case.

Meter reader who found Caylee's remains wants bounty hunter to back off

Sarah Lundy Sentinel Staff Writer
February 24, 2009

Orange County's most-famous meter reader, Roy Kronk, wants bounty hunter Leonard Padilla to hush up.
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Kronk is tired of hearing the California cowboy-hat-wearin' and toothpick-chewin' Padilla drag his name into conspiracy theories about Caylee Marie Anthony --the 2-year-old whose remains were discovered in the woods near Suburban Drive by Kronk on Dec. 11.
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Kronk's attorney, David Evans, sent Padilla a letter last week to put the bounty hunter on notice: Be quiet or prepare for a potential legal fight.
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"We are cataloging each and every false and defamatory statement you have made concerning Mr. Kronk and will be thoroughly reviewing your public statements," Evans wrote in the Feb. 20 letter. "Even though your public statements are pure speculation, with absolutely no factual basis . . . they are taken by many who do not know better as being true," the lawyer wrote.
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Orange County hired Evans to represent Kronk. Evans is earning $225 hourly -- about $100 less than his normal rate, according to the terms of his agreement with the county. The fee is capped at $10,000. Padilla doesn't understand why his talk of Kronk is such a big deal.
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It's no secret what he is doing, Padilla said. He's simply looking into the circumstances of how Caylee's remains were found. He has spoken to some of Kronk's co-workers and relatives.
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"Things just don't add up," he said about how Kronk discovered the remains.Padilla is convinced the former meter reader was somehow tipped off. It's possible, Padilla said, that Kronk may not know why the tip came to him."I'm continuing to get the bottom of it," Padilla said.
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Orange County sheriff's officials have said Kronk was never a suspect and is not linked to the Anthony family. Kronk, who came cross the remains while on the job, has transferred to an inventory-control job in a county warehouse.
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I used to think Padilla was just a colorful guy who liked to see his ugly mug on TV and that, hey, at least he is drawing more attention to the case. But now it's time for Padilla to go home, where ever that is.
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To accuse Roy Kronk, who found her little body and had trouble actually getting police to act on it, is setting a dangerous precident. Anyone could have found her--this just gives people pause to go out and help in searches--will anyone who finds a body be suspect?
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From the beginning Padilla has portrayed his theories as fact, misleading many of us who thought he actually knew something. He really needs to shut up now.

Effort to find missing 5-year-old girl, Haleigh Cummings

February 12, 2009


SATSUMA - Texas EquuSearch has found a location to use as a staging area in Satsuma. Anyone who wishes to help the group search for Haleigh tomorrow needs be at 914 E. Buffalo Bluff Rd. at 8 a.m. tomorrow, according to Tim Miller, EquuSearch's founder and director.
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Miller said that volunteers, who need to be 18 or older, should wear long pants, closed toed shoes, and comfortable clothes. He also asked that volunteers bring their own sack lunches if possible - the group has plenty of water for volunteers, but there aren't many places to buy food near the staging area, which is less than an eighth of a mile from Haleigh's home.
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Bounty hunter Leonard Padilla confirmed to the Sentinel that he is offering a reward for Haleigh's safe return. Padilla, who is in Satsuma, said that he will give $25,000 to anyone responsible for Haleigh's safe return before midnight Saturday.
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"The first five day of a kidnapping are crucial - after that they start getting panicky and want to get rid of the child," Padilla said, explaining the deadline. Padilla also confirmed reports that George Anthony is in Satsuma and is spending time with Ronald Cummings' and his family, although he said he has not spoken to Anthony."I guess he's commiserating with the family," Padilla said.
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The Gainsville Sun is reporting that George Anthony is with Ronald Cummings' family on its Twitter feed. Check it out and more here.
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Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings, appeared in a brief interview on the Nancy Grace show last night and revealed new details about the case. Cummings told Grace that Haleigh and her little brother were sleeping in the same bed as his 17-year-old girlfriend, Misty Croslin, when the little girl disappeared, which Capt. Steve Rose of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office confirmed this morning.Cummings also said that he and Croslin had both taken and passed polygraph tests. (update: Misty was actually polygraphed twice and could only say she "thought" she had passed.)
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"I don't have anything to hide - I just want my daughter back," Cummings told Grace. Rose confirmed that Cummings and Croslin had taken polygraph tests but declined to release their results. Rose said that the Sheriff's Office has searchers on foot and in boats in the nearby St. Johns River today searching for Haleigh, but that its aerial search has been hampered by wind and cloud cover.
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He said volunteers with Texas EquuSearch will begin searching previously inaccessible areas on horseback late today or tomorrow. The Sheriff's Office has received numerous tips in the case, but Rose said he was unable to discuss their specifics."We're still looking at all possibilities," Rose said.



Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy just wrapped up a news briefing about the search for Haleigh Cummings. He said searchers have focused on five-square-mile area and will continue looking for the five-year-old girl. "We'll expand the investigation as far as it needs to go,'' He said. "As far as whether or not Haleigh is still in the area, that is an unknown." He said family members, including the 17-year-old girlfriend who found Haleigh missing Tuesday morning, have cooperated with investigators. He wouldn't provide details about evidence investigators have collected.
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Haleigh's father and his family are "hanging in there," according to Josh Duckett, who is acting as a spokesman for the family. "They're doing as well as can be expected," Duckett told the Orlando Sentinel this morning. Josh Duckett is the father of missing Lake County toddler Trenton Duckett.
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Duckett said that he had no qualms about encouraging Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings, to interview with CNN's Nancy Grace last night. In 2006, Duckett's estranged wife, Melinda Duckett, committed suicide after filming a interview with Grace, during which Grace grilled her about her missing son, Trenton Duckett.
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Melinda Duckett's adoptive parents have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Grace and CNN, alleging that Grace provoked Melinda Duckett's suicide. Josh Duckett was initially named as a co-defendant in the suit, but he was dropped after a magistrate determined that the family could not establish a claim against him. "I don't have a problem with Nancy Grace's show," Josh Duckett said. "She does things that need to be done, she asks questions that need to be answered and as long as you tell the truth you won't have a problem."
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From today's Orlando Sentinel:
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The search for Haleigh Cummings turned more desperate Wednesday after officials said someone likely abducted the 5-year-old from her bedroom in rural Putnam County.
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"There is no longer any reason to believe that the child simply wandered off outside," said Maj. Gary Bowling of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

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Family members begged for the safe return of the girl they call Doodlebug on the second day of a massive search in this sparsely populated county about 80 miles north of Orlando."Just bring her back," said Haleigh's maternal grandmother, Marie Griffis. "There are plenty of places you can drop off a kid, no questions asked."

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Haleigh lives with her father, Ronald Cummings, 25, and his girlfriend in a double-wide in Satsuma, an isolated riverfront community northeast of Ocala National Forest. The girlfriend, Misty Croslin, 17, put Haleigh to bed about 10 p.m. Monday while Cummings was working at PDM Bridge.
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Croslin woke up about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, noticed Haleigh was missing and called 911 for help."I just woke up and my back door is open, and I can't find my daughter," Croslin told a 911 dispatcher. She said she had been sleeping and the door was not open when she went to bed.

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A screen door on the side of the couple's Satsuma home had been propped open with a cinder block. The main door was slightly ajar, but authorities found no obvious signs of forced entry.

Cummings just returned home while Croslin was talking to the dispatcher."I just got home from work, and my 5-year-old daughter is gone. I need somebody to be here now, I'm telling you," he told the dispatcher. "If I find whoever has my daughter before you do, I'm killing them. I don't care if I have to spend the rest of my life in prison."

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Officials issued a statewide alert for Haleigh on Tuesday, triggering a search that quickly drew as many as 130 officers from several law-enforcement agencies with bloodhounds and helicopters.
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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, FBI, and Volusia, Marion and Flagler sheriff's offices are helping Putnam County deputies and investigators. The search continued Wednesday and included divers exploring the nearby St. Johns River.

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Bowling said 44 sex offenders live in a 5-mile radius of Cummings' home, but most have been contacted by law enforcement since Haleigh disappeared. Many sought out authorities on their own."Right now, we don't have a lot of clues indicating where she's at," Detective John Merchant said. "I'm always positive, though. We want to find her alive."No suspects have been named, and no one has been ruled out.
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"All the world's a suspect right now," Bowling said.Family members said Haleigh was unlikely to leave on her own."Haleigh is a very indoor-type child," said Griffis, her grandmother. "If she goes outside, she wants you to be with her -- she would never go outside by herself in the dark."Griffis said Haleigh is bright and loves drawing, makeup and playing with gadgets.
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Her mother, Crystal Sheffield, 23, was at her home in Baker County near the Florida-Georgia state line at the time of her daughter's disappearance. She was in Putnam County on Wednesday, talking with investigators and waiting for news on her daughter's whereabouts. She gets custody of Haleigh and her 3-year-old brother, Ronald Jr., every other weekend. This weekend the family was planning to celebrate Ronald's fourth birthday.
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Joshua Duckett, father of missing Lake County toddler Trenton Duckett, stepped in Wednesday as a family spokesman."I've been through it, and it definitely helps the family to have someone who can say, 'Hey, I know what you're going through,' " said Duckett, whose son was last seen Aug. 26, 2006.
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Also Wednesday, bounty hunter Leonard Padilla, who inserted himself in the case of missing Orlando toddler Caylee Marie Anthony, joined the ranks heading for Putnam County. At a staging area near Cummings' house, he said curiosity had drawn him to Haleigh's search.

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Meanwhile, a volunteer group from Houston that helped look for Caylee in Orlando last year said it is gearing up to help in the search for Haleigh.Caylee's remains were found in December, and her public memorial was Tuesday. Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch, said his organization has been in contact with Putnam County officials. Some volunteers may drive and others may fly to Florida, he said.

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Anyone with information about Haleigh's whereabouts is asked to call the Putnam County Sheriff's Office at 386-329-0808.

Grandmother of Haleigh Cummings: 'Just bring her back'

Haleigh Cummings was last seen at her home on Green Lane in Satsuma, a small town about 80 miles north of Orlando.

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Helen Eckinger and Gary Taylor

Sentinel Staff Writers
February 11, 2009

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Haleigh Cummings, 5, was last seen at 10 p.m. Monday in the bedroom of her Satsuma home. (MISSINGKIDS.COM / February 10, 2009)

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SATSUMA - Five-year-old Haleigh Cummings is afraid of the dark and would not have wandered off into the night, her family told the Orlando Sentinel today as investigators stepped up a massive search for the Putnam County girl.

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"We are absolutely treating this like an abduction," said Major Gary Bowling of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. "There is no longer any reason to believe that the child simply wandered off outside. "Haleigh, who is nicknamed Doodlebug, lives with her father and his girlfriend in this rural county about 80 miles north of Orlando.

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The girlfriend, Misty Croslin, 17, put Haleigh to bed about 10 p.m. Monday. She woke up and noticed Haleigh was missing about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, right before Cummings returned home from work at PDM Bridge.

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"Haleigh is a very indoor-type child," Haleigh's maternal grandmother, Marie Griffis, said today. "If she goes outside, she wants you to be with her -- she would never go outside by herself in the dark."

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Griffis said Haleigh is bright and loves drawing, makeup and playing with gadgets. She said that if someone has abducted Haleigh, she hopes the person will release the girl.

"Just bring her back," Griffis said. "There are plenty of places you can drop off a kid, no questions asked."

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Detective John Merchant of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said that a screen door on the side of the couple's Satsuma home had been propped open with a block, but authorities found no obvious signs of forced entry. "I just woke up and my back door is open, and I can't find my daughter," Croslin told a 911 dispatcher.

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She told the dispatcher she had been sleeping and the door was not open when she went to sleep. Merchant said 44 sex offenders live in a 5-mile radius of Cummings' home, but all have been contacted by law enforcement since Haleigh disappeared.

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"Right now, we don't have a lot of clues indicating where she's at," Merchant said. "I'm always positive, though -- we want to find her alive." In addition to Putnam County deputies, officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Volusia, Marion and Flagler Sheriff's Offices are searching for Haleigh. Search dogs are combing through woods in the area, and divers are searching the nearby St. Johns River.

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Haleigh's mother, Crystal Sheffield, 23, was talking with investigators today in Putnam County and waiting for news on her daughter's whereabouts. She was in Baker County near the Florida-Georgia state line at the time of her daughter's disappearance.

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In the 911 call originally placed by Croslin, Haleigh's father told officials he needed their help immediately. "I just got home from work, and my 5-year-old daughter is gone," he said, seeming to become more agitated as the call progressed. "I need somebody to be here now, I'm telling you."If I find whoever has my daughter before you do, I'm killing them," he said. "I don't care if I have to spend the rest of my life in prison."He apparently hung up on the dispatcher, who then called back, trying to get additional information from Croslin, while constantly assuring her that deputies were on the way.

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Joshua Duckett, father of missing Lake County toddler Trenton Duckett, said he was acting as a family spokesman and would try to find additional photos of Haleigh to help with the search. Meanwhile, a volunteer group from Houston that helped look for Caylee Marie Anthony in Orlando last year, said it is gearing up to help in the search for Haleigh. Tim Miller, the founder of Texas EquuSearch, said his organization has been in contact with Putnam County officials. Some volunteers may drive and others may fly to Florida today or tomorrow, he said.

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"It's pretty ironic. We have another child disappear seven hours before Caylee's memorial," he said. Bounty hunter Leonard Padilla also joined the ranks heading for Putnam County. At a staging area near Cummings' house, he said that curiosity had drawn him to the scene."It was either this or Universal [Studios]" he said. Anyone with information about Haleigh's whereabouts is asked to call the Putnam County Sheriff's Office at 386-329-0808.

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On Nancy Grace, Haleigh's father said that the story he got from his girlfriend was that they were all in the same bed, girlfriend got up to go to the bathroom, when she went back to bed Haleigh was gone. Already she has told two different versions of that night. Dad has taken and passed a lie detector test, not sure about his girlfriend, but a small video clip showed a slight girl who was weeping crocodile tears.

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Putnam County Sheriff stated that search dogs have picked up no scent yet. Maybe it's a rush to judgement, but I have a strong hunch Misty has done something to her. Just my own opinion as a true crime junkie.

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If not--this is going to give the Anthony/Baez case one plausible alternative to Casey murdering Caylee.

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Leonard Padilla Speaks to CFN News 13

Leonard Padilla, Bounty Hunter, speaks to Orlando CFN News 13 regarding the news of Caylee Anthony's confirmed death.


Leonard Padilla Speaks to CFN News 13





courtesy CFNews 13

Leonard Padilla Back In Orlando

Memorial for Caylee


Public Grieving As Well

Neighbors of the Anthony's and the general public have placed memorials at the site where remains were found Thursday and also at the Anthony home. This case has touched so many people's lives, not only in Orlando, but around the country.

As one visitor to the site remarked, "Whether the remains are Caylee or not, this is someones little girl." "It is a sad situation."

People say they feel compelled to drive by the site and by the Anthony home. Most say it is a way for them to pay their respects. They feel the need to do something.


Bounty Hunter Returns to Orlando


A familiar face has returned to Orlando. Leonard Padilla arrived over the weekend. When asked how he felt when he heard news of finding the remains, Padilla replied, "Elation, then sadness." He says he is confident it is Caylee.
Padilla also stated that, "She was a little girl that had a lot of life in her and what a sad way to die."



Video of Caylee Memorial Site/Leonard Padilla







video courtesy WESH 2 Orlando

Greta Gets Nasty with Padilla

Tonight, during the last ten minutes of her show, "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren", Greta had Leonard Padilla on as her next to final guest.

After Greta made her ratings for the night off of Caylee's possible remains being found, she fired at and made pot shots at Leonard Padilla for travelling to Orlando tomorrow.

Greta asked Padilla, in an almost pissed sounding tone,"What are you going to do down there?" Padilla answered that he had spoken to Richard Grund and wanted to meet with him and be with his family during this time.
Greta then asked "Who is Richard Grund??"
Are you kidding me?? What planet have you been on Greta?
Greta continued to push the matter with Padilla, to which he replied AGAIN, he wanted to meet with friends that he had made over the times he visited Orlando, and through the case. Also, maybe have dinner and talk about what has transpired.
Greta then made a face uglier than her normal one.
Imagine that she had just smelled a whiff of someone passing terrible gas. She then said to Leonard, "Oh well, I just think it odd, but, uh, it's your dime. And it will be uh, interesting to see what you do, Leonard, while down there."
She looks into the camera and says, "I'm admittedly confused."
Leonard in his "black hat" laid-back way, replies, "Well ask me and I'll clear it up for you."
Greta says, "I just did, and you said you were going to have dinner." "Okay, Leonard, we have to go, but um, we'll talk."
On the split screen, calm Lenny was just as cool as ever and replied, "You're welcome". All of this taking only 2 minutes.

What a bitch, Greta. I have never seen you treat a guest that way. Are you now sorry you left this story to the back burner and it has now become even more bizarre and complicated for you. How rude and obnoxious. I will not watch your show again after that little episode.
I assume you were thinking Padilla was going to Orlando to get air-time or something of the sort. Are you not the same?
You mentioned he did not know the family before all of this and now he was going back. Hey, Greta,here's a thought, did you know the Anthony family before you went on a tour of their home with them? Are you going back? What about your colleagues Geraldo and Craig? They get plenty of face time on this story.
I can not believe you did not even recognize the name of one of the players in the story, as Mr. Richard Grund. Well, yes I can, you haven't been following the story.
Why did you have Leonard on in the first place?
You made an ass out of yourself and I was embarrassed for you. You showed the real bitch you are.
You can't begin to compare to Nancy Grace or entwine the comments and dry humor that Nancy throws out to her guests, so don't try. Nancy may come off as rude at times, but those that are regular watchers of her show, know that is part of the show, not her.

Your comments tonight were your own. Your own bitchy and tactless self.

I used to enjoy your show and your different perspective, but over the past few weeks and after several comments you have made, I have decided I will practice what I preach, and to not turn Fox on again. The only reason I did in the past was for you, but no more, not after tonight.
You and Hasselbeck would make a great pair, now that I think about it.

Nancy is the Queen of this case, so do us all a favor and leave it alone.
Leonard has made more trips to Orlando, searched, covered and reported on the case, more than you can say, Greta. He lived outside the Anthony's home, for crying out loud.

You got your top story and ratings in the beginning and then dropped the story cold when it came to the elections.
Now tonight, you get another top story. Caylee may have been found. You were all over it.

Myself, I like to mix it up a little, but mostly, I like consistency, it's proven that is what works.
Why don't you try it?

Commercial break is over and you are repeating your "tour of the Anthony home" from 5 months ago. I Love how you stand there and not call out Cindy on her lies about the "inconsistent alerts" regarding the cadaver dogs. Both cadaver dogs, that hit on two different spots. In Cindy's mind, this meant that since both the dogs didn't hit on the "same spot" nothing was found. Wrong. But you just kept walking on with her, no hard questions, nothing. Why Greta? Why didn't you ask the questions? Guess I'll never know your version.

Leonard Padilla, Bounty Hunter: I Know Who Has Caylee Anthony

ORLANDO -- Bounty hunter Leonard Padilla came to Central Florida to pay the more than $500,000 bond to get Casey Anthony out of jail.

Padilla said he thought having her out would lead to Caylee's safe return. But on Sunday night Padilla said he thinks Casey handed off Caylee to a friend, because she was trying to get away from her parents.

He said he knows who has the girl and is giving them a deadline to turn her over before he goes after them. Meanwhile, Casey Anthony will report to the jail Monday to meet with her case manager for a weekly visit.

I think this guy is a great big blow-hard. I'm totally unimpressed with the howdy-doody outfits and tough talk. It's really going to hurt when he swallows that toothpick.