George Anthony found safe; suicide note located
George Anthony found safe; suicide note located Posted By: Lindsay Ubinas 10 mins ago Orlando, Fla. -- The father of Casey Anthony, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee, has been taken to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation after he was reported missing. George Anthony was reported missing late Thursday night from his Orange County home but was located a few hours later at the Hawaii motel on U.S. Highway 1 in Daytona Beach. "He had text-messaged family members that he wanted to end his life," Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said. Local 6 News in Orlando reported that a suicide note was also found in George Anthony's car. The note is in the possession of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "I'm being told by sources close to the investigation that the note included wording like 'I want to go be with Caylee,'" Local 6 News reporter Jessica D'Onofrio said. George Anthony's wife, Cindy Anthony, and their attorney, Brad Conway, reported him missing after he failed to arrive at a 4 p.m. meeting with them, officials said. "George has been through a lot. The entire Anthony family has been through a lot. George is OK. 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 Anthony was taken to Halifax Medical Center under the Florida Baker Act, which allows a person to be evaluated if they are deemed as possibly being able to harm themself or others or if they have a mental illness. Authorities said they used cell phone pings to track George Anthony to the Bethune Point area of Daytona Beach, and his car was later found in the motel parking lot. No weapons or drugs were found with George Anthony, who is a former Ohio sheriff's deputy. He did have his blood-pressure medication with him. Conway said Cindy Anthony is OK when asked about her well-being. "I think I've said this a lot of times. (She's doing) as well as can be expected, but she's good," Conway said. "George is safe, and he's with us, so it's all good." Trash Bag Link? Meanwhile, Local 6 News reported Thursday that trash bags taken from the home where Casey Anthony lived with her daughter, Caylee, look the same as the one in which the toddler's remains were found in a nearby wooded area. Casey Anthony, 22, remains jailed on first-degree murder charges in the death of her daughter. Caylee's remains were found Dec. 11 by an Orange County meter reader in some woods less than a half-mile from the home of George and Cindy Anthony. Shortly after the discovery, detectives twice searched the Anthony home for any evidence connected to the crime scene. Local 6 News has learned that investigators took plastic bags that look the same as the black trash bag with yellow handles in which Caylee's remains were found. The trash bag in which Caylee's body was placed is also identical in appearance to a bag Cindy Anthony gave to detectives in July, Local 6 News reported. Local 6 News has learned that investigators are confident of the connection between the home and the crime scene, but it will take laboratory tests to conclusively link the bag to the one found in the woods. Caylee was 2 years old when she was reported missing in mid-July, a month after she was last seen alive. Months ago, a woman was seen taking trash from the curb outside the Anthony home. The trash was in a black plastic trash bag. WKMG, Daytona Beach Police, CFN 13 http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=98756

Police: George Anthony hinted he wanted to end life Bianca Prieto and Amy L. Edwards | Sentinel Staff Writers 9:54 AM EST, January 23, 2009 A despondent George Anthony was found alive this morning in a Daytona Beach motel with a what appeared to be a suicide note after his family reported him missing late Thursday. Daytona Beach police took Anthony into custody under the Baker Act after finding him in a squalid motel on South Ridgewood Avenue. The Baker Act allows authorities to hold someone at a mental-health facility for up to 72 hours while they are evaluated by physicians. Anthony, 57, was taken to the Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach where he is being evaluated. A hospital spokeswoman said Anthony was in stable condition and would be receiving a physical evaluation before being admitted to the hospital. Anthony, the grandfather of slain toddler Caylee Marie Anthony, left his home on Hopespring Drive in east Orange County Thursday morning and failed to show up for a 4 p.m. meeting with his wife, Cindy, and their attorney Brad Conway. George Anthony sent several text messages to his family members suggesting that he wanted to end his life, Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said this morning. The Orange County Sheriff's Office was notified last night and the felony squad immediately began its search for George Anthony. Sgt. John Allen, the lead detective on the murder case involving Caylee Marie, drove to the Anthony home to meet with Cindy Anthony. He left after George Anthony was located. Orange County detectives were able to use pings from George Anthony's cell phone to track him to Daytona Beach near Bethune Point, according to Daytona Beach police. Officers began searching for George Anthony's black vehicle and spotted it at the Hawaii Motel in the 1300 block of South Ridgewood Avenue. Police Chief Mike Chitwood spoke with George Anthony and convinced him to seek medical attention. In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel this morning, Chitwood said he and several officers had to knock on the motel room door several times before Anthony answered. Anthony was well dressed, laid back and low-key. Chitwood introduced himself, shook Anthony's hand and explained why he was there. "(Anthony) basically said to us, you know, I just need to get away. I need to think things through. That's why he was there," Chitwood said. Anthony was not agitated, but he did want the chief and other officers to leave. "He just wanted to be alone," Chitwood said. But the chief explained to Anthony that because of the situation, they could not leave. Chitwood offered to drive Anthony in his unmarked car to the hospital. Anthony agreed. On the way to the hospital, Chitwood said, Anthony commented to him, "You don't understand, do you? You just don't understand what this is like." Chitwood said the rest of the ride was just small talk – nothing about the case or his daughter Casey Anthony. Anthony, 22, is accused of killing 2-year-old Caylee last summer. George and Cindy Anthony have been outspoken in their defense of the young mother. Casey Anthony was notified this morning in the jail about her father by corrections health services staff. A jail spokesman couldn't comment on how Anthony responded to the news. Caylee Marie's remains were found about a quarter-mile from the Anthony home in December. Investigators spent more than a week at the site of the remains to recover evidence. Orange County deputies executed a search warrant at the Anthony home shortly after the remains were found. Earlier this week more information about the murder case was made public. Detectives reported that a heart shaped sticker was placed on the duct tape that was wrapped around the child's mouth. Check back for more information. Red Huber of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. http://www.newsday.com/iphone/orl-bk-caylee-anthony-012309,0,5767182.story

Lawyer: Law-enforcement saved George Anthony's life part 1 Amy L. Edwards, Bianca Prieto and Henry Pierson Curtis | Sentinel Staff Writers 5:06 PM EST, January 23, 2009 Law-enforcement's rapid response and search for a despondent George Anthony early this morning saved his life, his lawyer told the Orlando Sentinel. Anthony, who reportedly sent several text messages to relatives suggesting that he wanted to end his life, was found alive in a Daytona Beach motel with what appeared to be a suicide note after his family reported him missing late Thursday. "Had it not been for (law-enforcement), this might have been a different outcome," lawyer Brad Conway said. "They deserve a huge thank you." Conway said he wanted to acknowledge the "outstanding" actions of Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. John Allen, the lead detective on the murder case involving Anthony's granddaughter Caylee Marie; Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood; and the deputies and officers who helped track Anthony down. "They went above and beyond, and they saved this guy's life," Conway said. This afternoon Conway held a press conference outside of the Orange County courthouse on Orange Avenue just after 3 p.m. to publicly thank Sgt. John Allen and law enforcement for their rapid response. "If they had waited, there would have been a different outcome," Conway said. "George had been pushed to the brink of what may have been another tragedy in this case." Conway also commented on other subjects regarding the Anthonys. He told reporters that George and Cindy Anthony have not profited off of the case and did not ask for immunity. Conway said that he is the one who is seeking immunity to protect his clients. "I will protect my clients from A to Z," he said. Now, he asks that the public give the Anthony family space and respect their privacy. "What the Anthony's are going through has been nothing less than hell," Conway said. "They're middle America going through something that nobody can imagine." Meanwhile, Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Deputy Carlos Padilla held a separate press conference. "We deployed all of our resources and we're glad we found him," Padilla said. In most missing persons cases families are required to wait 24 hours before deputies will begin investigating. However, because the family had "valid concerns" about George Anthony's disappearance, deputies began looking for him immediately. George Anthony found in Daytona Beach motel Daytona Beach police took Anthony into custody under the Baker Act after finding him in a motel on South Ridgewood Avenue. The Baker Act allows authorities to hold someone at a mental-health facility for up to 72 hours while they are evaluated by physicians. Anthony, 57, was taken to the Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach where he is being evaluated. A hospital spokeswoman said this morning Anthony was in stable condition and would be receiving a physical evaluation before being admitted to the hospital. Anthony left his home on Hopespring Drive in east Orange County Thursday morning and failed to show up for a 4 p.m. meeting with his wife, Cindy, and Conway. Beginning at about 11:30 p.m., Anthony began to send his family text messages. Conway wouldn't disclose exactly what the messages stated, but said they "caused us great concern." 1 2 3 next http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-bk-george-anthony-caylee-012309,0,7934495.story?page=1

Lawyer: Law-enforcement saved George Anthony's life part 2 The Orange County Sheriff's Office released the incident report and the three-and-a-half-minute 911 call Conway made last night at the direction of Sheriff's Office Sgt. John Allen, the lead detective handling the homicide of Caylee Marie. Conway told dispatchers that George Anthony left the Anthony home around 10 a.m. Thursday morning to go on a job interview. Cindy Anthony relayed that her husband had been "upset and depressed" about his granddaughter's death recently. On Wednesday Cindy had asked George to pick out jewelry for Caylee's funeral, which seemed to upset him more, reports show. "We're worried that something is -- he's done something to himself," Conway told a dispatcher. Conway gave the call taker a description of Anthony and his clothing. Family grows concerned Reports show that Cindy Anthony grew increasingly concerned throughout the day because George Anthony canceled several meetings, including a 4 p.m. appointment with Conway. She tried to reach him but he would not respond to calls or messages left on his cell phone, reports show. She checked her husband's night stand and saw that his sleeping medication was missing as well as pictures of Cindy with their daughter Casey Anthony, and one of Caylee. Friends and other family members had not been able to contact George Anthony throughout the day. Around 10:45 p.m. George Anthony began sending text messages to friends and family stating "he did not want to live anymore and that he wanted to be with Caylee," records show. He also sent messages that said he "wanted to make sure Caylee was in God's arms." He would not tell them where he was. Several Orange County deputies responded to the Anthony home and met with Cindy Anthony and Conway. They also used the K-9 unit to search the area for George Anthony while others began looking for his Chevy HHR, reports show. The Orange County Sheriff's Office felony squad immediately began its search for George Anthony. Allen drove to the Anthony home to meet with Cindy Anthony. He left after George Anthony was located. Orange County detectives were able to use pings from George Anthony's cell phone to track him to Daytona Beach near Bethune Point, according to Daytona Beach police. Officers began searching for George Anthony's black vehicle and spotted it at the Hawaii Motel in the 1300 block of South Ridgewood Avenue. Chitwood, Daytona Beach's police chief, spoke with George Anthony and convinced him to seek medical attention. Attorney Conway said law enforcement told him George Anthony had consumed some of the prescribed medication and was drinking alcohol while in the motel room. In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel this morning, Chitwood said he and several officers had to knock on the motel room door several times before Anthony answered. Anthony was well dressed, laid back and low-key. Chitwood introduced himself, shook Anthony's hand and explained why he was there. "(Anthony) basically said to us, you know, I just need to get away. I need to think things through. That's why he was there," Chitwood said. Anthony was not agitated, but he did want the chief and other officers to leave. "He just wanted to be alone," Chitwood said. But the chief explained to Anthony that because of the situation, they could not leave. Chitwood offered to drive Anthony in his unmarked car to the hospital. Anthony agreed. On the way to the hospital, Chitwood said, Anthony commented to him, "You don't understand, do you? You just don't understand what this is like." previous 1 2 3 next http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-bk-george-anthony-caylee-012309,0,7934495.story?page=2

Lawyer: Law-enforcement saved George Anthony's life part 3 Chitwood said the rest of the ride was small talk -- nothing about the case or his daughter, Casey Anthony. Anthony, 22, is accused of killing 2-year-old Caylee last summer. George and Cindy Anthony have been outspoken in their defense of the young mother. Casey Anthony notified of her father's condition Casey Anthony was notified this morning in the jail about her father by corrections health services staff. A jail spokesman couldn't comment on how Anthony responded to the news. Two members of Casey Anthony's legal team, including attorney Jose Baez and Gabriel Adam, entered the jail around 11 a.m. this morning to meet with their client. It's unknown whether the news about George Anthony prompted their visit. Conway said Cindy Anthony and son Lee Anthony are "relieved" today. Conway, who plans to hold a press conference at 3 p.m., said he wants the media to give the Anthonys space. "They're under the same amount of stress that they always have been, maybe more," he said. "They're just trying to cope with the death of Caylee." Caylee's remains were found about a quarter-mile from the Anthony home in December. Investigators spent more than a week at the site of the remains to recover evidence. Orange County deputies executed a search warrant at the Anthony home shortly after the remains were found. Earlier this week more information about the murder case was made public. Detectives reported that a heart shaped sticker was placed on the duct tape that was wrapped around the child's mouth. Other than Casey Anthony, George Anthony was last to see Caylee alive In the past George Anthony has had emotional and occasionally violent outbursts at the media and protesters. George Anthony, a former Ohio sheriff's deputy, once worked in car sales with his family. He moved to Orlando in the late 1980s with his wife and children to the home on Hopespring Drive. He has worked intermittently as a security guard, but injuries prevented him from working steadily, according to court records. George Anthony was the last person, other than his daughter, to see Caylee Marie alive. On June 16, Casey Anthony and her 2-year-old daughter left the family home around noon. Caylee was never seen alive again. In September, while Casey Anthony was out of jail on home confinement, Orange County deputies found a gun in the trunk of George Anthony's vehicle. The weapon violated Casey Anthony's terms of home confinement, but she was not rearrested because the judge ruled she had no knowledge of the weapon. At the time of the incident several protesters stood outside of the Anthony home day and night, often heckling George and Cindy Anthony. George Anthony told authorities he had purchased the gun to protect his family. The gun was removed from the home. It's unclear if it was ever returned. Check back for more information. Red Huber of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. previous 1 2 3 http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-bk-george-anthony-caylee-012309,0,7934495.story?page=3&track=rss

Grandfather of murdered 3-year-old remains hospitalized Friday, January 23, 2009 The grandfather of murdered Orlando girl Caylee Anthony remains in the hospital after being found in a Daytona Beach motel. George Anthony, whose daughter Casey is accused of murdering her three-year-old daughter, turned up in the motel early Friday morning. He had been missing from his Orlando home since Thursday. Deputies located Anthony using the GPS on his phone. Anthony had failed to show up at a meeting at his home Thursday afternoon with his lawyer, Brad Conway. "He seemed melancholy," chief Mike Chitwood of the Daytona Beach Police Department said of Anthony. "He was very compliant with us and after interviewing him and based on the fact and circumstances, we decided the best bet was to take him here to Halifax." Anthony will be held under the state's Baker Act, which allows for a person to be held at a mental health facility while they are evaluated. That stay could last up to 72 hours. A Halifax Medical Center spokesperson says the mental concerns were not the only concerns of the doctors in the emergency room. They also had some medical issues to deal with, although the spokesperson could not release details of those issues. Chitwood said he spoke with Anthony before he was taken to the hospital. "Just basically that he was under a lot of stress and that he needed to think," Chitwood said. "He needed to get away." The Anthony family's attorney said that according to his sources George Anthony took some prescription medication and had been drinking. Investigators say Anthony sent text messages to family members that indicated he wanted to end his life. Information from reporter Jason Wheeler at our Orlando affiliate, Central Florida News 13, was used in this report. http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2009/1/23/429459.html

George Anthony Released From Halifax Medical Center Tuesday, February 3, 2009 ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- George Anthony was released from Halifax Medical Center Tuesday evening. He had been at the hospital since January 23rd when he was found inside a Daytona Beach Hotel with prescription pills, beer and a half-written suicide note. Officials checked Anthony into Halifax under the Mental Health Act of 1971, which allows law enforcement to hold someone in a hospital against their will for 72 hours. George stayed at the facility longer than that required time. Eyewitness News made several calls to George Anthony’s attorney to find out what’s next for the grieving grandfather, but the calls were not returned. George Anthony’s daughter Casey is in the Orange County jail. She is charged with the murder of her daughter Caylee Marie Anthony. http://www.wftv.com/news/18635266/detail.html

Caylee Blog Wednesday Feb 4, 2009 1 PM ET - George Anthony is finally released from a Daytona Beach, Fla., hospital after a suicide scare. Initially it was reported that George Anthony could be at the Halifax Medical Center for up to 72 hours. But in the end, he spends 11 days under tight security undergoing treatment. It all started when Caylee's grandfather sent several text messages threatening to commit suicide to be with the toddler girl. Previously the Anthonys' family attorney said George Anthony would transfer to a treatment facility near his Orlando house, but now reports emerge Anthony is back home. http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/09/08/NGfindcayleeblog/index.html?eref=rss_crime