Cadaver Dogs, Investigators Search For Missing 2-Year-Old In Backyard

2:26 pm EDT July 18, 2008


ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- With dogs, shovels and manpower, investigators searched the backyard Friday of the home of the grandparents of a missing 2-year-old girl. Detectives said 22-year-old Casey Anthony has told numerous lies about her daughter's disappearance.




There's been no sign of 2-year-old Caylee Marie at the home on Hopespring Drive off Chickasaw Trail. Investigators checked a new spot in her grandparents' backyard after a neighbor told them Caylee's mother had borrowed a shovel recently.

During a press briefing early Friday afternoon, investigators said they can't speak with Casey Anthony anymore because she has hired an attorney and it would be up to her to reach out to them with any information.

"Well, we spent the first day of the investigation with the mother prior to her arrest. We talked to her for a couple of hours. The initial information she gave us, we followed up on. Since her arrest, we have not had any contact with her," Sgt. John Allen said during Friday's press briefing. "We can't go back to the jail and talk to her at this point. If she were to contact us and indicate that she had information, we would certainly go back and talk to her. She's had an opportunity to tell us anything that she knows."

Investigators brought a cadaver dog back to the scene around noon Friday to check a spot toward the back of the backyard, in an area where there are some bushes. The fact that the dog was on scene is a sign that they haven't seen anything yet, but sometimes the evidence in a case like this might not be visible to the naked eye. Still, investigators were remaining optimstic.

"Just because we're here with cadaver dogs doesn't mean we're giving up that Caylee's not alive," Sgt. Allen said.

Investigators also pointed out late Friday morning that the grandparents' house is not the only focus of the investigation. Investigators said they have also searched Casey Anthony's vehicle, but did not disclose if they found anything.

"At this point we're still looking. We still have additional investigators and detectives. The others are still working on following up on leads they are still getting. [The grandparents' home] is just one facet of the investigation," explained Capt. Angelo Nieves, Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Another possible lead came in late Friday morning from down the street, where a little boy thought he saw a toy in his yard that didn't belong to him. Investigators, though, don't seem to be shifting manpower in that direction.

The 2-year-old's mother, 22-year-old Casey Anthony, is being held without bond in the Orange County jail. She's charged with felony child neglect. She had her first appearance in court Thursday, but did not say much to the judge.