Caylee Doll Outrages Anthony Family

Caylee doll outrages Anthony family

Amy L. Edwards |Sentinel Staff Writer January 27, 2009

A Jacksonville promotions company came under fire Monday after it announced its latest product: a doll inspired by slain toddler Caylee Marie Anthony.

The Inspirational Caylee Sunshine Doll, which plays a song when her bellybutton is pushed, is on sale for $29.99 at cayleedoll.com.

Late Monday afternoon, the lawyer representing Caylee's grandparents, George and Cindy Anthony, was outraged.

"This is an example of another person trying to profit from the tragedy of Caylee's death," lawyer Brad Conway said. "He has never met my clients, spoken to my clients and has not gotten authority of any type to do this. And after I have a chance to research it, I will likely take whatever legal action I can."the blond, 18-inch doll wears jeans and a T-shirt depicting a sun and the phrase: "CAYLEE SUNSHINE." The song "You Are My Sunshine" plays when her stomach is pushed.

Jaime Salcedo, president of Showbiz Promotions, said he is not selling a doll that looks exactly like Caylee because it would be too morbid.

Instead, he said, his company wants to honor and respect Caylee's life by bringing awareness to her case.

"We want it to be a tribute," he said.

Showbiz Promotions is already the center of an active civil investigation by the state Attorney General's Office. The allegation: Consumers ordered and paid for merchandise from two Web sites, but never received anything.

One of those sites sells a "Vick Dog Chew Toy" for $7.77.

Salcedo said the Caylee doll is the first product his promotions company has sold that is inspired by the victim of a crime.

Caylee's mother, Casey Anthony, is accused of killing her daughter, who would have turned 3 in August, and the 22-year-old mother remains at the Orange County Jail on first-degree murder and other charges.

The company also is selling a T-shirt, vinyl sticker and yellow bracelet mirroring the statement on the doll's shirt.

Salcedo said he plans to donate a portion of the proceeds of the doll to charity -- though he does not know which organization. Salcedo said he is waiting to hear back from several groups, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. He is considering donating $3 for every doll sold.

sked if he thought it was appropriate for his company to market and sell a product based on the death of Caylee, Salcedo said he is anticipating critics.

"I think that that is going to come up," he said.

Salcedo said the public does not understand what it costs to make the doll, import it and ship it, and his company's expenses.

In other developments Monday:

* George Anthony remained hospitalized in Daytona Beach, where he was admitted early Friday under the Baker Act, which allows authorities to hold someone at a mental-health facility for up to 72 hours while they are evaluated. Conway said George Anthony should be released this week and will be placed on a treatment plan.

*Conway may know as soon as today what day the public memorial service for Caylee will take place.

*The defense attorney representing Caylee's mother, Casey Anthony, in the first-degree murder case against her, recently filed new motions. In one motion, lawyer Jos� Baez is asking for screen shots or printouts taken from the computer belonging to one of Anthony's ex-boyfriends, Ricardo Morales. Recently released court documents show Morales had once posted a photo on MySpace with lettering stating, "Win her over with Chloroform."

The other motion involves evidence taken from the trunk of Casey Anthony's car and details about such items being released to the defense.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-caylee2709jan27,0,6550304.story