George Anthony Threatens Suicide, Disappears

George Anthony Threatens Suicide, Disappears

Friday, January 23, 2009 – updated: 6:16 am EST January 23,
2009ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- George
Anthony, father of Casey Anthony, was reported missing, Friday morning
after threatening suicide. He was later found at a Daytona Beach motel. RAW VIDEO: George Leaving Hotel
IMAGES: George Headed To Hospital
The Anthonys' attorney, Brad Conway, said George was OK. He was taken into custody under Florida's Baker Act which allows the state to hold people involuntarily pending a psychiatric evaluation.The
lead investigator in the case and several Orange County sheriff's
deputies responded to the house of George and Cindy Anthony late
Thursday night. His family had grown increasingly concerned when George
missed a scheduled meeting Thursday afternoon.Sheriff’s
officials and Conway say George Anthony left his home early Thursday
morning and hadn't been seen since. Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike
Chitwood says George sent what were described as "disturbing" text
messages to family members."He had text-messaged family members that he wanted to end his life," said Chitwood. (hear interview)Conway said family members were "relieved" George had been found."George
is OK, thank God," said Conway. "Had it not been for a cooperative
effort between Orange County and Volusia County, I don’t know what the
outcome would have been. George is now safe." (watch full interview)George Anthony was found in Daytona Beach at the Hawaii Motel (see map). Deputies used GPS and signals from George’s cell phone to track his car. (watch raw video)"When
they arrived on the scene, George was talking to them and was fine,"
said Conway. "We’re having him checked out to be sure."George
was taken to Halifax Medical Center for observation. He could be held
for up to 72 hours. Chitwood, who took George to the hospital,
described him as "melancholy." Chitwood said no weapons and no
medications
indicating suicide was imminent were found.George's car was returned to
the home just before 6am but George was not in it.The
Anthonys have been part of a drawn-out saga involving their daughter,
Casey, who is charged with the murder of her 2-year-old daughter,
Caylee. Caylee was first reported missing over the summer. Her
decomposing remains were found just a few blocks from the family home
in December. MESSAGE BOARD: Justice For Caylee Her
parents, George and Cindy, spent months insisting their granddaughter
was alive and their daughter would be proven innocent. They have
steadfastly supported Casey despite mounting evidence gathered by
investigators in the case.At times, the stress of the case
seemed to weigh heavily on George. On several occasions, he angrily
confronted protestors who gathered outside the family home in east
Orange County as they protested against his daughter, and at the media. WATCH VIDEO: George Confronts Media | George Lashes Out | George Tosses Lawn Furniture | George Shoves Protestors After
most incidents, George apologized, saying the pressure of having his
granddaughter missing and his family under such intense scrutiny had
gotten to him.

http://www.wftv.com/news/18545717/detail.html#-

George Anthony Hospitalized After Suicide Threat


Friday, January 23, 2009 – updated: 12:45 pm EST January 23, 2009

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- The case against Casey sent her 57-year-old father, George Anthony, to his breaking point. He was found alone and suicidal at a Volusia County motel early Friday morning after he was reported missing.

TEAM COVERAGE: Suicidal George Hospitalized
AT THE ANTHONY HOME: See Images
GEORGE FOUND: Raw Video | See Images
JOSE BAEZ SPEAKS: Comments Outside Jail
ATTORNEY GABRIEL ADAMS: Refuses To Comment
CHIEF CHITWOOD: Describes Finding George
WATCH: Interview With Anthony Attorney

Six months after missing persons investigators were called to the Anthony home to help find Caylee, they were called there again to find George (images at Anthony home).

The call was made just before 11:00pm Thursday after George sent text messages to the family saying he wanted to be with his granddaughter, Caylee, and to make sure she was in God's arms.

George was coaxed into a Daytona Beach police car early Friday morning (raw video | images) and taken to Halifax Medical Center for psychological evaluation. Police described him as melancholy and despondent, but also cooperative. They found his car parked in the parking lot of the Hawaii Motel on Ridgewood Avenue (see map) and found him in his room.

"The Orange County Sheriff's Office came out immediately. They located George Anthony in Volusia County using GPS and his telephone. George is okay, thank God," Anthony family attorney Brad Conway told Eyewitness News (watch interview with Conway).

Conway said George left his home at 8:00am Thursday and never came back. He missed a 4:00pm meeting at the house, but his text messages around 10:45pm Thursday really worried his family.

George messaged that he wanted to be with Caylee to make sure she was in God's arms. Investigators said they also found a half-written suicide note in George's car, which was driven back to the house Friday morning.

Conway said Cindy is very relieved that George is okay.

"She's good. George is safe and he's with us, so it's all good," Conway said.

Cindy has not left the house since the sheriff's office arrived late Thursday night. George's breakdown comes just days after new documents revealed grim details surrounding Caylee Anthony's death.

The Anthonys have been part of a drawn-out saga involving their daughter, Casey, who is charged with the murder of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. Caylee was first reported missing over the summer. Her decomposing remains were found just a few blocks from the family home in December.


GEORGE AT HALIFAX MEDICAL CENTER
Doctors at the Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach were evaluating George's condition Friday. He was taken there after he was found at the motel.

MESSAGE BOARD: Justice For Caylee

George was taken to Halifax around 2:30am. Daytona Beach officers Baker-acted (Baker Act details) him after he said he wanted to end his life. He was first admitted to the emergency department and was there for several hours.

"As far as I know, he cooperated with the doctors and, like I said, he's stable as far as I know. They have the situation under control," said Salina Wang, Halifax Medical Center.

It was Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood who drove George to the hospital after admitting he wanted to take his own life (watch interview with Chitwood).

"He had text-messaged family members that he wanted to end his life," Chitwood said.

It was only an eight-minute drive from the Hawaii Motel, where he was found, to the hospital. Police Baker-acted George, however the medical center officials will not discuss details of his condition because of privacy laws.

"Right now, we aren't commenting on any mental health issues he may or may not have. What we can talk about is he is undergoing some medical examination," Wang said.

A Daytona Beach police officer was assigned to the hospital for security reasons. Early Friday morning, hospital security officers had stood guard at the entrance to the emergency department.

George could be in the hospital for up to 72 hours.

"He'll undergo some medical observation and that will help determine how long he'll be here with us," Wang said.

There is a police officer assigned to George's door. He's allowed to have family visitors, but there had been none as of noon Friday.

Casey's parents, George and Cindy, spent months insisting their granddaughter was alive and their daughter would be proven innocent. They have steadfastly supported Casey, despite mounting evidence gathered by investigators in the case.

At times, the stress of the case seemed to weigh heavily on George. On several occasions, he angrily confronted protestors, who gathered outside the family home in east Orange County as they protested against his daughter, and at the media.

WATCH VIDEO: George Confronts Media | George Lashes Out | George Tosses Lawn Furniture | George Shoves Protestors

After most incidents, George apologized, saying the pressure of having his granddaughter missing and his family under much intense scrutiny had gotten to him.

http://www.wftv.com/news/18545717/detail.html#-