Meter reader who found Caylee's remains wants bounty hunter to back off

Sarah Lundy Sentinel Staff Writer
February 24, 2009

Orange County's most-famous meter reader, Roy Kronk, wants bounty hunter Leonard Padilla to hush up.
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Kronk is tired of hearing the California cowboy-hat-wearin' and toothpick-chewin' Padilla drag his name into conspiracy theories about Caylee Marie Anthony --the 2-year-old whose remains were discovered in the woods near Suburban Drive by Kronk on Dec. 11.
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Kronk's attorney, David Evans, sent Padilla a letter last week to put the bounty hunter on notice: Be quiet or prepare for a potential legal fight.
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"We are cataloging each and every false and defamatory statement you have made concerning Mr. Kronk and will be thoroughly reviewing your public statements," Evans wrote in the Feb. 20 letter. "Even though your public statements are pure speculation, with absolutely no factual basis . . . they are taken by many who do not know better as being true," the lawyer wrote.
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Orange County hired Evans to represent Kronk. Evans is earning $225 hourly -- about $100 less than his normal rate, according to the terms of his agreement with the county. The fee is capped at $10,000. Padilla doesn't understand why his talk of Kronk is such a big deal.
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It's no secret what he is doing, Padilla said. He's simply looking into the circumstances of how Caylee's remains were found. He has spoken to some of Kronk's co-workers and relatives.
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"Things just don't add up," he said about how Kronk discovered the remains.Padilla is convinced the former meter reader was somehow tipped off. It's possible, Padilla said, that Kronk may not know why the tip came to him."I'm continuing to get the bottom of it," Padilla said.
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Orange County sheriff's officials have said Kronk was never a suspect and is not linked to the Anthony family. Kronk, who came cross the remains while on the job, has transferred to an inventory-control job in a county warehouse.
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I used to think Padilla was just a colorful guy who liked to see his ugly mug on TV and that, hey, at least he is drawing more attention to the case. But now it's time for Padilla to go home, where ever that is.
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To accuse Roy Kronk, who found her little body and had trouble actually getting police to act on it, is setting a dangerous precident. Anyone could have found her--this just gives people pause to go out and help in searches--will anyone who finds a body be suspect?
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From the beginning Padilla has portrayed his theories as fact, misleading many of us who thought he actually knew something. He really needs to shut up now.