Co-Worker: Snake Scared Off Deputy Checking Tip Near Caylee Home

Co-Worker: Snake Scared Off Deputy Checking Tip Near Caylee Home

More Skeletal Remains Discovered; Search Site Expands

POSTED: Thursday, December 18, 2008
UPDATED: 8:15 am EST December 19, 2008ORLANDO, Fla. -- A co-worker of the man who last week discovered a skull and the remains of a child in a wooded area near the home of Caylee Anthony's grandparents said the deputy who checked on the man's first tips -- made in August -- was scared off by a large snake.

PHOTOS: Authorities' Pics Of Search Site | Part II

The utility worker, an Orange County water meter reader who has not been identified, first called in a tip to Crimeline on Aug. 11, saying
he spotted a bag partially submerged on the side of Suburban Drive, near the area where human bones that investigators believe belong to Caylee, who was last seen in mid-June, were found.

Caylee lived with her mother, Casey Anthony, 22, who remains jailed on first-degree murder charges in her daughter's disappearance, at the home of George and Cindy Anthony, which is located less than a half-mile from the wooded area.

"The deputy responds out to the scene, takes a look at the area, monitors the area, surveils the area to see what's available here for them to find. (The deputy) does not find anything, and then cleared the call," Orange County sheriff's Capt. Angelo Nieves said.

The same utility worker then called in the same tip on Aug. 12. A detective received the information but did not respond to the area, Local 6 News reported.

"They had information at that time that a detective was handling it, that the area had been searched -- which the area had been searched previously by cadaver dogs we understand -- but exactly what area we are still trying to determine," Nieves said.

The meter reader called in the same tip for a third time on Aug. 13, and an Orange County sheriff's deputy went to the wooded area to search for the bag but encountered a large snake and turned back, clearing the scene a short time later, according to the co-worker.

"That's where we're trying to determine the thoroughness of the follow-up," Nieves said.

The worker then returned to the woods on Dec. 11 -- four months after placing his first tip -- and discovered the bag. He picked it up, and a child's skull rolled out. The worker called the dispatcher who he works with, and his boss placed a 911 call about the finding.

The following is text of part of the conversation the worker had with dispatch:

Meter reader: I'm in the wooded area down by the school. I need you, like, now. I just found a human skull.

Dispatch: OK. I talked to the sheriff's department. They got somebody coming down there. Do not do anything that could cause any attention whatsoever. Just stay right there and they'll meet with you.

Meter reader: Understood. 10-4.

The meter reader, who has been pulled from his job so he can avoid publicity, is not considered a suspect in the case, Nieves said.

Nieves also said more skeletal remains found on Thursday appeared to be those of a small child. The remains have not been identified -- the skull and earlier finds have been undergoing DNA and other testing.

Because of their location and size, authorities said they believe the remains are that of the missing toddler, who was 2 years old when she disappeared.

Nieves said accusations made by Casey Anthony's defense team that the search site is being held by authorities longer than necessary are not true. He cited the fact that more remains have been found as proof.

"This is a perfect example of why the public and media should not be prejudging the case," said Todd Black, a spokesman for Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez. "I would imagine the meter reader should get an attorney before the sheriff's office accuses him of a crime.

"CNN show host Nancy Grace, a former attorney who has been following the Caylee case closely, said the new information could lead to doubt in the minds of jurors if the case goes to trial.

"The remains were not there earlier when the area was cleared apparently by police and cadaver dogs, and therefore, the remains were put there while tot mom, Casey Anthony, was behind bars, ruling her out. That is an obvious argument," Grace told Local 6 News.

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