Caylee's memorial service on hold -- mom in court

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-casey3109jan31,0,460044.story

Caylee's memorial service on hold -- mom in court


Susan Jacobson and Sarah Lundy | Sentinel Staff Writers
January 31, 2009

For a few moments on Friday evening, it seemed that a memorial service for slain toddler Caylee Marie Anthony was about to happen and that the little girl whose disappearance has captivated the country would finally be put to rest.

Not so.

An attorney representing Caylee's grandparents said a news release issued by First Baptist Orlando incorrectly stated that a public memorial service would be held Feb. 10 at the 5,000-seat church on John Young Parkway.

"Until her remains are released, we cannot set a definite date," attorney Brad Conway, representing grandparents George and Cindy Anthony, said Friday night.


The church sent an update reiterating that it would host a service but deleting the time and date. Church spokesman Scott Link told the Orlando Sentinel that the Anthonys sanctioned the service after attending the church at Christmastime.

The release quoted senior pastor David Uth as saying, "We believe that hosting the service will give us the opportunity to minister to a family in need and to a community that is hurting because of the loss of this precious child."

The Anthony saga continued Friday with an announcement from the Orange County Jail revealing that a wristband inscribed "Forever in our hearts Caylee Marie Anthony" was confiscated by jail workers. An attorney representing Caylee's mother, Casey Anthony, brought it Wednesday with clothing she was going to wear to court.

The white rubber wristband with purple lettering was found Friday with blue pants and a gray blazer left for Anthony, 22, by attorney Jose Baez, jail spokesman Allen Moore said. A lawyer working with Baez on the case, Jose Garcia, said the firm would have no comment.

But a spokesman for Baez, who goes by the name Todd Black, said Cindy Anthony, not Baez, provided the clothing. Conway denied that.

Whatever the truth, "It's a personal item, and there is no jewelry allowed," Moore said. "And that bracelet would not be allowed in jail."

There is no indication that Casey Anthony, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, knew about the wristband, Moore said. Jail officials plan to inform Baez of their policy and consider the matter closed, he said.

Caylee was reported missing in July. A meter reader found her remains in December in a wooded area not far from the east Orange County home she shared with her mother and grandparents.

The judge overseeing the murder case is waiting to set a trial date. Circuit Judge Stan Strickland surveyed Baez, Anthony's lead defense attorney, and prosecutors Friday morning at the end of the hearing.

Baez said he is still expecting a "mountain" of investigative documents from prosecutors. He also wants to move the trial out of Orlando to ensure his client gets a fair jury. He plans to file the request soon but didn't say when.

Assistant State Attorney Linda Drane Burdick said the state anticipates being ready later this year.

"We feel our client is innocent," Baez said after the hearing. "She wants her day in court."

On Friday, Strickland required Anthony to appear in court for the hearing -- an order he issued Monday. In court Friday, Casey Anthony was dressed in the blue pants and gray blazer and wore her hair in a bun. She looked different from her last court appearance, when she wore a jail-issued blue jumpsuit. That's when the judge had unexpectedly ordered her to court.

Baez said people are focusing too much on Anthony's appearance. "It's irrelevant what she is wearing and what her nails look like. It has nothing to do with her guilt or innocence," he said.

Body-language expert Susan Constantine attended the hearing. She said Anthony appeared anxious at first -- rubbing her hands together -- but settled down as the hearing proceeded.

"I saw a lot of sadness and depression . . . on top of it -- fear," she said. "She is holding back fear."

Strickland denied the defense team's efforts to get the prosecutors removed from the case. Attorney Linda Kenney Baden wanted the judge to find out why someone from the State Attorney's Office filed a complaint about Baez with The Florida Bar, which later cleared Baez of wrongdoing. She said that interferes with Anthony's right to counsel. Strickland said he didn't think it had an impact and that it was a Florida Bar matter. Hours later, the judge denied the defense's request for records from Texas EquuSearch, a volunteer group that helped look for Caylee.

But Strickland did rule in favor of the defense when Baez requested access to the crime scene where Caylee's remains were found.

Amy L. Edwards of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Susan Jacobson can be reached at sjacobson@orlandosentinel.com or 407-540-5981. Sarah Lundy can be reached at slundy@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-6218.