Investigators May Close Crime Scene . . . . and Updates

Today's updates:Sarah Lundy and Amy L. Edwards

Investigators will probably remain at at crime scene until Thursday afternoon

12:32 p.m.

Investigators will probably remain at the crime scene where a child's remains were found until Thursday afternoon, Orange County Sheriff's Capt. Angelo Nieves just said during a noon news conference. The body is thought to be of missing toddler Caylee Anthony, though an official identification has not been made. The body was found Dec. 11. He said authorities are still pulling brush out of the area, which is about a quarter mile from the Anthony house, and they are finding "additional items."

He wouldn't identify those items.

"We continue to sift through the location," he said, adding it has grown to more than half an acre.

Various experts for the state are being flown in to examine the scene.

An anthropologist was out there this morning, and an entomologist from Illinois was there earlier.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-bk-casey-anthony-121708,0,5470400.story

Search For Remains Will Stretch Into 8th Day

FBI Analyzing Tooth, Hair Found At Crime Scene

POSTED: 12:13 pm EST December 17, 2008
UPDATED: 1:05 pm EST December 17, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. -- It will be at least another day before investigators with the Orange County Sheriff's Office will be done processing the scene where a child's remains were found early one week ago.

Related Content: Video | Special Section

The remains were found just blocks away from the home of Caylee Anthony, who was first reported missing five months ago.

Evidence Search At Remains Site May End Soon

Wednesday, December 17, 2008
– updated: 3:07 pm EST December 17, 2008

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Investigators said it could be until at least Thursday afternoon before crews clear the scene where a child's remains were found a week ago.

The crime scene was expanded from a half-acre to an acre. Experts from the FBI and other agencies were using different size sifters to check every bucket full of dirt in the area to recover even the smallest of bone fragments.

AT THE SCENE: Images From Dec. 17 Search
VIDEO REPORT: Search Could Soon End
MESSAGE BOARD: Has Caylee Been Found?

Investigators brought in other experts, an anthropologist (bone expert), entomologist (bug expert) and a botanist (brush and foliage expert) to help identify evidence and put the story of what happened and when together. They're also helping determine what happened to the child's body before it was dumped there.

There was no word from investigators on exactly when the DNA tests would be completed to identify the remains. It has been seven days and investigators said it would take between seven and 14 days.

http://www.wftv.com/news/18299913/detail.html#-

Up-To-The-Minute Update

Thursday, Dec. 18

12:05 p.m.:
News 13 has learned that the owner of the property being searched is
Thomas Hendricks, who has a post office box in Winter Park, but may not
live in Florida. He is listed as the owner of 25 pieces of land in
Orange County, Florda alone. Records show he owns land in a number of
states. So far, he has remained silent about the search on his land.

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2008/12/12/minutetominute_update_in_remains_discovery_12_11.html

Deputies Say "Significant Skeletal Remains" Found At Search Site

Thursday, December 18, 2008

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Orange County deputies said Thursday that "significant skeletal remains" were found Thursday afternoon and that the first tips about the area came in as early as August.

A late Thursday afternoon media briefing from the Orange County Sheriff's Office revealed new details in the search for more evidence after a child's remains were found less than a half-mile from the Anthony home.

Capt. Angelo Nieves said the search was expanded after "significant skeletal remains" were located Thursday afternoon. He said the newly found remains are consistent with the remains of a young child. Nieves said the area is not going to be released until possibly as late as Saturday.

Nieves also said the utility worker, who led them to the remains after finding a child's skull a week ago, had called dispatchers three times in August about the possibility he's found something in that area, on August 11, 12, and 13. Nieves said at least one deputy was sent to the scene and investigators are now talking to that deputy, talking to dispatchers who took the calls and interviewing the utility worker. Nieves said the man likely came back to the scene last Thursday because it has been nagging him.

As investigators worked on their eighth day looking for clues they believe will solve Caylee's murder, her mother, Casey, is awaiting the jail delivery of her order for snacks, playing cards and sketch art supplies.

Some of the most experienced investigators from the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the FBI, along with bug, bone and botany experts are sifting through the dirt by hand looking for clues that could lead them to a killer.

Even Casey Anthony's defense team admits the remains found are probably Caylee's, but now there's a big about-face by the defense.After fighting to gain access to the crime scene, making claims that the goal was to preserve evidence, the defense now says it has no need for it any longer.

Nationally-known forensics expert and author Dr. Henry Lee was with the defense team as they tried to barge onto the scene over the weekend, even after a judge told them they had no right to interfere with the criminal investigation.

Eyewitness News has learned Dr. Lee, according to a Court TV report last year, was accused by a Los Angeles judge of hiding or destroying evidence in the murder case against music producer Phil Spector. The evidence could have been the fake fingernail of the alleged murder victim, which could have proven that she did not commit suicide.

Spector's trial ended in a hung jury.

Lee worked with Spector's defense team attorney Linda Kenney-Baden, who is also now on Casey's defense team.

http://www.wftv.com/news/18311590/detail.html#-