Detectives take evidence from home of Caylee Anthony's grandparents

Sarah Lundy and Walter Pacheco

Sentinel Staff Writers

August 1, 2008

Investigators are not saying what were in the two evidence bags carried out of the Anthony's family home this morning. The items were taken from outside the Hopespring Drive house -- possibly the backyard, said Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Carlos Padilla.

Missing 2-year-old Caylee Anthony's grandparents, Cindy and George Anthony, spent about three hours at the sheriff's office headquarters for a scheduled interview. George Anthony went with crime scene technicians to the house and let them into the garage. The couple continues to cooperate in the investigation.

"They have the same desire we have and it's to locate Caylee," Padilla said.However, Padilla said, Caylee's mother, Casey Anthony, remains in the Orange County Jail and has not been cooperating. "

"Casey has the key to this," Padilla said. "We still believe that Casey knows more than what she is telling us." Investigators are going to only relying on Casey Anthony.

"If we sat there waiting for her to open up, we would not be gaining any ground in this," he said.

"She is obviously an important part of this but she is not in the game."Cindy and George Anthony left the sheriff's office around 12:15 p.m. They did not comment on their visit with investigators or what was taken from their home. They said they were late to a Caylee fundraiser in Daytona Beach. They drove away in their sports utility vehicle, which is covered with pictures of the missing toddler.

Detectives with the sheriff's office criminal investigation unit made a brief stop at the Anthony's home and walked out carrying two large brown paper bags with evidence. Sgt. John Allen, one of the investigators in the case, gave few details on this morning's visit at the Anthony home."We're collecting evidence," Allen said. "That's about all I can say."