Posted on 01/23/2009 5:33:28 AM PST by MindBender26
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- George Anthony, father of Casey Anthony, was reported missing, early Friday morning after allegedly threatening suicide. He was later found at a Daytona Beach motel.
The Anthonys' attorney, Brad Conway, said George was okay. 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 said George Anthony left his home early Thursday morning and hadn't been seen since. Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said 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," Chitwood said (watch interview with Chitwood).
Conway said family members were "relieved" George had been found (watch interview with Conway).
"George is okay, thank God," Conway said. "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."
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). Eyewitness News has learned a half-written suicide note was found inside his car.
"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 6:00am, 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 such intense scrutiny had gotten to him.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CASE
George Anthony's disappearance comes amidst continuing developments in the case. On Thursday, Eyewitness News uncovered details of two investigations by the Florida Bar Association into Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez. One involves how Baez advertised himself and the other deals with making false statements against public officials.
Casey Anthony's defense team has sent out dozens of media releases throughout the case and some include accusations against the state attorney and prosecutors. Sources tell Eyewitness News it may be a violation Florida Bar rules and now Jose Baez could get in trouble with the Bar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIDEO REPORT: Baez Under Investigation BAEZ SPEAKS: Complains About Media Coverage MESSAGE BOARD: Justice For Caylee --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bar has confirmed it has two open investigations. The first involves Jose Baez's PR firm, Press Corp Media, run by Todd Black. In the past, Baez's spokesperson has released statements to the media about State Attorney Lawson Lamar and prosecutors.
In one release, it states, "Lawson Lamar is facing tough opposition and having a missing baby is a perfect springboard for free commercial time." Another release states, "The prosecution has manipulated and shamelessly used the media in the reporting of false distorted … evidence."
Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood is very well respected here. Yes, he is from the old Chitwood Auto Thrill Show Family. He personally made the save here since George is former cop, and they talked cop-to-cop.
Station is home of Biden-questioner Babrara West :)
I wonder if he is related to Joey? I bet, since it is Daytona, he is.
Very sad and tragic for this man.
I believe he really adored his little grandaughter.
Sounds like George is starting to see a terrible truth in this tragedy.
...my angle....this clown misses the attention,using a cell phone several times, threatening suicide, with the "I want to be alone" syndrome. He got to do it first for sympathy....if the investigation is done right we may be in for even more drama from this family that pegs my creep meter
Or he’s setting the scene for some sort of insanity defense.
Yesterday, prosecutors announced that the the mouth of Caylee had been taped over with Duct Tape and that a heart shaped sticker had been placed on the duct tape.
Course, he may have been involved in the death or cover-up of the little girl and is now realizing the cops are closing in on him.
I feel sorry for this man. He is married to (or was) Kaylee’s grandmother who is covering for her daughter, his grand daughter has been murdered, his daughter has grown up to be a worthless excuse for a mother and has killed his grand daughter. The poor guy is bombarded by crapola. I don’t know if he is responsible for any of it but I feel badly for him.
I think you are right. This family needs to come clean and quit believing the lies and manipulation that their daughter has spun.
They have made their life more miserable by protecting their daughter from the punishment that she deserves.
I think the sticker found on the duct tape that was around Caylee’s mouth came out of a sticker book in his house.
NEW Casey Anthony Info PING !
If the truth be known, Casey Anthony killed her own child. Be it by accident or on purpose. Once the hearings start she will probably admit it was an accident and want a plea bargain. Furthermore, I believe the Grandparents both know what happened but are stating mum about it. The Grandmother seems to be nothing but a drama queen.
Just my 2 cents.
Perhaps a “terrible truth” that will send him to the big house as an accomplice or for lying to investigators?
That's horrid! My heart just aches for that little girl every time a new developement comes out.
No wonder grandpa wants out. I'd want out of this crazy family, too.
Cindy Casey’s Mom & Casey’s brother Lee are the guilty ones ... George Casey’s Dad in new released statements told Cops he thought his daughter was withholding info etc... Only George was called to testify before the grand jury etc..
Cindy Casey’s Mom & her brother Lee are the ones in denial. Lee ( Casey’s Brother ) Lawyer stated that they expected the police to charge ner brother Lee with coverup etc...
George was the ONLY family member trying to help the police
I agree, if George is guilty of anything, it is covering for his wife. I believe he has already figured out Casey did it.
His life has to be so damn awful right now. Only the truth can make it any better. I has to be hard to accept, but he will see no improvement until he acknowledges it.
Given the family’s track record, I find it curious they didn’t wait at least a month to report him missing.
Good news for the defense?
“believing the lies and manipulation that their daughter has spun”
I suspect this has been an ongoing situation with their daughter for years. They have been living with her stories and have defended and bought into her behavior always hoping this is the last time. Many families do this with their wayward children, hence the “he’s a good boy” comments we hear from parents about their murderous child. It’s very sad and almost unbearable for a parent.
I feel sorry for him also...this is a messed up family
Little girls love stickers. The sticker was probably Caylee’s reward for letting mommy put on the duct tape, making the duct tape an acceptable practice to the innocent little girl.
There is a photo of Caylee taken not too long before her death, with a red abrasion/irritation on her cheek - probably from duct tape removal (?).
Casey is evil. George needs to stand up to the evil and help bring justice for his granddaughter.
George is nothing more than a man who was totally devoted to his daughter and precious Grand daughter. As a former Cop, what he is now coming to terms with is unbearable. We seriously need to pray for him.
If Casey had one ounce of decency left in her selfish body, she would come clean for the sake of her family and let the courts decide what to do with her. She needs to end this now.
Rant off...sw
You see that exactly like I did. Casey made it cutsey with Caylee with the sticker.
OH God, so horrible.
According to a friend of Tim Miller Apparently George notified two people he knew truly cared for him that he was going to take his own life, and why. Cindy was not one of the two.
Tim Miller was getting people together to help with the search for George ....
I feel sorry for George , & was happy that at least George told the truth at the grand jury meeting whereas Cindy his wife just keeps defending her evil monster daughter & etc....
His wife Cindy is a Liar just like Casey :(((
I think he may have “helped” by lying. And he knows the consequences.
my hubby heard on local tv today that they found a fingerprint of George’s on the duct tape...true?
I don’t know anything about them as people, but they have lost everything, their granddaughter and their daughter. Regardless of what we all think of Casey, she’s their child, and you love your child no matter what. This is a complete tragedy. Of course, I think Casey is a sociopath.
When I saw that, I thought it was completely creepy. This really is beginning to sound more like a CSI show or Criminal Minds.
I can’t believe you actually made me chuckle on this thread.
I think that George wanted to do the right thing from the very beginning. I saw how hard it was for him to lie on all those talk shows to the point where Cindy had to squeeze his thighs to keep him “on the lie”. His eyeballs darting back and forth on that last Larry King Live interview, you could see he had to be struggling with the lies and deception. Also, he is holed up in that house with his wife who is still on the Casey bandwagon which I don’t believe he wanted to be on, and every day it was getting more and more of an internal struggle for him. Remember when he told police that the thought of bringing someone into this world that could harm someone was unfathomable for him? Add on the fact that these people have been truly afraid that charges would be put on them for obstruction, and possible time in jail. Do you know what happens to cops in jail? It must have been the most frightening thing for him. And to wake up every day and realize that the child that you cheris is murdered by the daughter you adore and that your daughter is about to probably face the needle or a life time behind bars? It was too much for any human being to handle.
I have no problem with them loving their child. You can still love them, but it is not love to protect them when they have committed a horrible crime.
My husband knows a woman who has a son that killed his wife. Quite a long time ago. She visits him in prison but she knows he was very wrong.
I feel horrible for George. He needs to get his head straight on this one.
if true, it is possible that if the tape came from the Anthony home, George could have a fingerprint on it. If the print was close to the last cut on the sticky side.
If it on on the other side, that is easily explainable.
I suppose it depends on if they found anyone elses prints on it.
Who knows. What a tangled web.
I think it’s easier to lie to yourself when you don’t want to face the horrible truth. I just can’t judge them from where I sit since I haven’t been in that position. I just can’t imagine what I would do. I like to think I would simply come to the logical conclusion and be totally truthful. However, that’s far easier to say from where I am.
This is such a horrible tragic story. I hate to say it, but I would much prefer a stranger did it, I find it more upsetting when a family member (especially a mother, father, husband, wife) kills. And of course, especially children.
There has always been something about this man that gave me chills. (Example: His not making eye contact with Larry King - Why?) There may be something behind the scenes that none of us ever suspected.
Now be fair, looking at Larry King can turn ones stomach, LOL
ping
Unk. Believe not
;-)
Ted Bundy’s mother believed her son to be innocent of his crimes, even claiming he had been set-up, until the night before his execution when he finally confessed to her.
John Gacy’s mother went to her grave claiming her “Johnny” was a wonderful person who'd never hurt anyone. This in the face of over 30 bodies removed from the crawl-space of his house.
I can at least have respect for Jeffrey Dahmer’s father. Though he never stopped loving his son or stopped contact with him, he never excused the murders his son committed or tried to pass the crimes off as another’s fault. He did try his best to assist investigators and forensic psychologists in trying to understand what creates a Jeffrey Dahmer. Having met the man and spending time talking to him about his son (this was after Dahmers murder) he never once attempted to excuse his sons crimes, instead he hoped to help find a way to prevent future Dahmer's. At the time he was working with the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit and a handful of forensic psychologists/psychiatrists in accessing Jeffrey's life and possible warning signs.
Excusing, dismissing or covering up for your child's behavior is inexcusable in my book. In fact, such behavior is exactly why we have Lionel Tates in our society. Too many parents (usually mothers unfortunately) refuse to acknowledge that “Johnny” was acting up and covered up or excused bad behavior, therefore refusing to discipline or teach right from wrong. In many ways parents who do this are accomplises to criminal acts their children commit.
In all the things I have read about this case, it never dawned on me that Casey had been taping/drugging this child for a long time. Your comment about the “reward” being the sticker just chilled me to the bone. That sounds plausible in a totally unreal case
Me too. I have been concerned that there might be a suicide attempt in George's future ever since the cops were tipped to his having bought a new gun shortly after Casey was bailed by Pedilla.
and why is he a "retired" cop anyway?....no way he put in 20 yrs......I'll bet he got himself a nice disability pension for some cockamamie reason.
I help a mom who has 2 year old twins, and stickers are the girl twin’s absolute favorite thing in the world. For potty training, she gets a sheet of them as a reward.
There is a photo of Caylee with a red mark across her cheek. I will try to find it.
I probably should correct my comment to you - I have felt that “zanny” was xanax - so I did think she was drugging Caylee, but didn’t ever think Caylee knew it! Your explanation just floored me - to think she had been taping that child’s mouth so she couldn’t struggle or make a sound, then “putting her to sleep” so she could go out and party wasn’t quite as graphic until I envisioned that Caylee knew it! I really thought I was going to be ill.
I remember seeing the grandfather on TV. At that time, the grandparents were saying that the child had been kidnapped and that, “We know who you are and you’re being watched.”
WTF? You know where your grandchild’s kidnappers are and you’re just going to watch them? You’re not going to go get your kid? You’re not going to tell the police? Did they actually believe this stuff or were they put up to it by Casey?
I’m sure the man feels terrible, but when you participate in the deception, my sympathy is limited.
I read that Casey stole a gas can and gasoline from her parents. She may also have stolen duct tape. If so, there could be an innocent explanation for such a fingerprint. But it does tie the murder to somebody who had access to duct tape that came from the family home.
George left a 5-page suicide note and was sending text messages. It looks like a plea for help to me not an attempted suicide.
If George really wanted to take his own life he could have used his new shiny pistol . . . quick, easy and painless.
Unfortunately, there is a rumor going around Orlando that George may be struggling with more than just the disaster of Caylee’s death at the hands of his own daughter.
Some are convinced that Cindy A has been involved with one of the private detectives they had hired. And, for George’s sake, I hope this is absolutely not true.
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