Duct Tape Found Stuck To Mouth Of Child's Remains

December 12, 2008
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Eyewitness News has learned that duct tape was still stuck to a yet-unidentified young child's mouth when crews found the remains less than a half-mile from the Anthony home.

The residence on Hopespring Drive was cleared Friday morning as a crime scene, but a private investigator did show up later Friday morning. Investigators were there overnight collecting bags of evidence (watch raw video).

Meanwhile, George and Cindy Anthony stayed the night at a hotel.
An emergency hearing in the case started at 11:30am at the Orange County Courthouse. Casey's attorney, Jose Baez, wants to make sure he has access to the all evidence recovered in the last 24 hours.

If the remains are Caylee Anthony's, at least one discovery could reveal more about the last minutes of her life.

Investigative teams at the discovery site Friday were taking buckets of dirt from the area where the trash bag and remains were found and were sifting through by hand looking for any other evidence. Investigators were cutting through brush and tree limbs near the scene of the remains discovery looking for fibers and hair. Blue tents were erected and a white sheet was laid out near the search area, likely for investigators to place potential evidence once discovered.

Apparently, the bag the remains were found in was open and in water for sometime, so other evidence might have floated out. Eyewitness News also learned that the child found could have suffered terrifying last moments. Investigative sources told Eyewitness News duct tape was found still stuck to the child's mouth.

Internationally-respected forensic pathologist Michael Baden told Eyewitness News on Friday that duct tape could have been used to suffocate or silence someone, prevent them from screaming, which means the child could have suffered traumatic injury.

The remains that were found are not just bones. There is tissue left, which apparently is what the duct tape is stuck to. Dr. Baden told Eyewitness News the duct tape could not only have preserved some of the evidence because it's waterproof, but also could contain evidence such as fingerprints on the sticky side of the tape.

Baden said he would expect there to be some hair as well and said the hair, tissue and bone marrow can be tested for chemicals and could hold the answer to whether chloroform or any other chemical was used to kill the child.

Eyewitness News has learned a vacuum cleaner and a pillow were among the items removed from the house. The pillow and vacuum could contain Caylee's hair and the vacuum could contain Caylee's hair and fibers and also any residue from any chemicals that might have been used in the case. Investigators also removed pesticides and pool chemicals from the Anthonys' house, which is less than a half-mile from the discovery scene.

CASEY'S TREATMENT CHANGED AFTER DISCOVERY

Casey Anthony remains in a jail cell with no contact with other inmates. After Thursday's discovery, jail officials said they did alter her treatment.

"In fact, there has been a change. She met with a correction officer psychologist and was reviewed and placed on psychological observation. However, that is not a suicide watch," said Allen Moore, Orange County Corrections Department.

Although it's possible she watched news reports on television Thursday, jail officials said it's not likely.

SHERIFF APPEARS ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA

Friday morning, Sheriff Kevin Beary appeared on Good Morning America to discuss Thursday's findings (watch Beary on GMA).

"I know you can't go into detail, but there was something that was found that made you want to search the grandparents' home?" GMA's Robin Roberts asked Beary.
"Absolutely," Beary said.

Beary said investigators searched the home early Friday after the medical examiner found "some clues that came out of the remains" that "linked it to the house." He would not say what clues were found.

"We took some things out of the house that the forensic people are very interested in," he said.
Beary said his investigators and the FBI would work around the clock and through the weekend to identify the child.

Asked if he believed if the remains are Caylee, Beary said: "I think it's a good possibility, but I have to wait seven to 14 days for the DNA analysis."

There are no other similar missing-child cases in the area. "I say my prayers every day and one of them is to solve this case," said Beary, who is retiring in January. "I just hope that we solve the case on my watch."