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Sheriff’s Office Confirms Casey Anthony Case Investigators Missed Evidence of Google Searches for ‘Fool-Proof’ Suffocation

Nov. 25, 2012 2:56pm Liz Klimas

ORLANDO, Fla. (TheBlaze/AP) — The Florida sheriff’s office that investigated Caylee Anthony’s death confirmed Sunday that it overlooked a computer search for suffocation methods made from the little girl’s home on the day she was last seen alive.

Orange County sheriff’s Capt. Angelo Nieves said the office’s computer investigator missed a June 16, 2008, Google search for “fool-proof” suffocation methods. The agency’s admission was first reported by Orlando television station WKMG. It’s not known who performed the search. The station reported it was done on a browser primarily used by the 2-year-old’s mother, Casey Anthony, who was acquitted of the girl’s murder in 2011.

Orange County Sheriffs Office Confirms It Overlooked Internet Searches for Suffocation in Casey Anthony Investigation

Casey Anthony (C) leaves with her attorney Jose Baez (R) from the Booking and Release Center at the Orange County Jail July 17, 2011. (Photo: Red Huber-Pool/Getty Images)

Anthony’s attorneys argued during trial that Casey Anthony helped her father, George Anthony, cover up the girl’s drowning in the family pool.

WKMG said sheriff’s investigators pulled 17 vague entries only from the computer’s Internet Explorer browser, not the Mozilla Firefox browser commonly used by Casey Anthony. More than 1,200 Firefox entries, including the suffocation search, were overlooked.

Whoever conducted the Google search looked for the term “fool-proof suffication,” misspelling “suffocation,” and then clicked on an article about suicide that discussed taking poison and putting a bag over one’s head.

The browser then recorded activity on the social networking site MySpace, which was used by Casey Anthony but not her father.

A computer expert for Anthony’s defense team found the search before the trial. Her lead attorney, Jose Baez, first mentioned the search in his book about the case but suggested it was George Anthony who conducted the search after Caylee drowned because he wanted to kill himself.

Baez talks about his book Presumed Guilty, Casey Anthony: The Inside Story earlier this year. (Photo: AP/Wilfredo Lee

“We were waiting for the state to bring it up,” Baez told WKMG. “And when they didn’t, we were kind of shocked.”

“I really believed that [the prosecutors] were going to sandbag us with it,” Baez is reported as saying later in WKMG’s report.

Baez, who no longer represents Anthony, didn’t respond to AP’s request for comment nor did attorney Cheney Mason, who was also on the trial team. Mason’s office answering service refused to take a phone message.

Not knowing about the computer search, prosecutors had argued Caylee was poisoned with chloroform and then suffocated by duct tape placed over her mouth and nose. The girl’s body was found six months after she disappeared in a field near the family home and was too decomposed for an exact cause of death to be determined.

Many jurors apparently went into hiding amid public outrage over the verdict and refused to comment, but two have said prosecutors couldn’t conclusively prove how Caylee died.

Prosecutors Linda Drane Burdick and Jeff Ashton didn’t respond to emails from The Associated Press on Sunday.

But Ashton told WKMG that “it’s just a shame we didn’t have it. This certainly would have put the accidental death claim in serious question.”

The sheriff’s office didn’t consult the FBI or Florida Department of Law Enforcement for help searching the computer in the Anthony case, a mistake investigators have learned from, Nieves said.

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Comments (74)

Onodacops
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 8:05am
I work in law enforcement and computer forensics. Search engine searches and keyword searches are some of the first things to look at from a suspect’s hard drive.

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- Cadcamtrainer
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 8:42am
  Not in Florida…. This is the land of the idiots. I am ashamed to say I am a Floridian. People here don’t know how to vote, don’t know how to put a murderer in jail. What do you expect out of bunch of over medicated old people, rednecks that can’t read and the Hispanics that don’t give a crapola??? I need to move to Texas. I had it with this place. 30 years here is enough for me…
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 8:53am
  So really inept or doing favors? This crap don’t flush in private sector.
  
  Report this comment
- naughtycal
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 12:05pm
  To the liberal all she really did was perform a late term abortion
  
  Report this comment
- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 6:15pm
  .
  A lot of things were missed in that botched trial.
  I feel sorry for that beautiful little girl.
  No one spoke for her.
  
  Report this comment
bikerdogred1
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 7:51am
She was found innocence,case closed people should stop reading into the media trying to make a big deal over nothing.

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- Clownzilla
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 10:48am
  Yes, she was tried and found innocent so it’s over in the courts (and should not be retried). However, this pretty much proves that she did it. Maybe legally she is free but after this news I can PROMISE you she will be everything from “free” in the eyes of society. You might think looking up how to suffocate people is just a coincidence but common sense has confirmed her guilt WAY beyond any doubt.
  
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- DimmuBorgir
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 3:33pm
  @ CLOWN
  
  It proves nothing. Go search something right now that is illegal. Did you just commit the crime or did you do an internet search??
  
  By your line of thinking, you’re obviously guilty of whatever crime you researched.
  
  Report this comment
Magyar
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 7:42am
Stop it already! They conveniently missed the evidence…. don’t forget her father’s connection to the Sheriff’s Dept.— there were a few favors called in…

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danbarlinmar
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 5:15am
i really want to be angry and say we have a corrupt justice system… but the same justice system that let casey anthony walk also put jerry sandusky behind bars. if you want to accept the good, you also have to accept the bad.

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- November26
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 5:36am
  I think we just have alot of incompetence. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- charleyrocks
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 6:40am
  It’s because they knew in their hearts her dad was involved, he was caught lying several times on the stand when his mistress had proof how many times at night George visited her. He lied and lied. Don’t be surprised when photo’s emerge showing one big happy dysfunctional family. Casey knows.
  
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FoxieNews
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 2:27am
I thought the Rule on Evidence Discovery went both ways? Hmmmmmm Could this be considered New Evidence? Poor Caylee, may she RIP </3

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- Kupo
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 8:59am
  No, it can’t be considered new evidence. Casey has been acquitted. That means that she could sign a sworn testimony admitting that she killed her and she could never go to jail for it per the 5th Amendment.
  
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AmericanPatriot
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 2:03am
Doesn’t this finding qualify as new evidence, meaning she could be re-tried?

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- prb65
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 3:16am
  No. Once acquitted you cannot be retried. Casey can even come out and confess she did it and will not be retried.
  
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- Kupo
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 8:59am
  5th Amendment
  
  Report this comment
- naughtycal
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 12:03pm
  They can charge her for lying on the stand (perjury) and drag her out of hiding.
  
  Report this comment
- Bluedog78
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 12:23pm
  The ignorance of of the criminal justice system is astounding!
  
  Report this comment
- AZRACISTBIGOT
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 6:52pm
  If her first trial ended in a hung jury or a misstrial, she could be re-tried, but she was found not guilty by a jury of her peers. As far as charging her in the little girls death again, that one is history.
  If they tried it, it would definately be placing her “Double Jeapordy”
  For what ever reason, the investigators and the prosecutor screwed this up beyond belief.
  They are the ones who should be held accountable.
  
  Report this comment
AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 1:33am
She won’t see sunshine for long. How do you miss 1200 searched? Google’s fault too. Used for evil.

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- SimpleTruths
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 4:07pm
  Google’s fault how?
  
  Report this comment
rickc34
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 9:36pm
Her life is ruined, the public still believes she is guilty. Look at O.J. his life went down the toilet even though he walked.

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ICANHANDLETHETRUTH
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 8:53pm
I always wondered if they were still searching for the so called real killer ……. since she got off ????? Said no one ever !!!!!!!!

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scrudge
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 7:15pm
Ah Yes…. remember fLORIDA investagaters are always a few bricks short of a full load

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v15
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 5:31pm
So I realize that I’ve been a hater of cops on here and, although I have never been arrested or put in jail, all my interactions with the police have been negative experiences. Plus, I can have a short fuse when a cop shines a flashlight in my face (Prompting me to say “WILL YOU PLEASE NOT SHINE THAT INTO MY EYES LIKE I AM A DAMN CRIMINAL!?!?”).

But I have been listening to Bob Marley all day and my meds have kicked in so I’m feeling less contentious. So I’ll ask: Anyone personally know any honest and decent cops? I don’t know any but I’m willing to try to emancipate myself from mental slavery cuz none but myself can free my mind….

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- AmericanPatriot
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 2:07am
  I have personally known a number of honest and decent cops who treated everyone they encountered with respect. Worked with a number of them for 30 years.
  
  Report this comment
- Kupo
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 9:01am
  Yes, I know plenty. Several of my family members are cops and more honest and forthright people who will never meet.
  
  Report this comment
DZ-015
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 5:19pm
Two sad things about this latest revelation are that the local investigators were apparently too sure of themselves to seek out available expertise on searching a computer for clues, while the aspiring politicians in the prosecutor’s office were apparently too lazy to double check the first guys.

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- Kupo
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 9:03am
  It’s really pathetic that the investigators failed to search her Firefox browsing history. When nearly half of all internet users use Firefox and a quarter use Chrome it’s probably a good idea to check more than just IE search history…
  
  Report this comment
Tri-ox
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:50pm
No need to worry – Casey Anthony, Scott Peterson and O.J. Simpson are still actively searching for the “REAL KILLERS”.

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- TelepromoterNChief
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 3:24pm
  Let’s not forget the Ramsey girl from the 90′s.
  
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no1hd
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:33pm
So, does the state fire these losers, sue them for the cost of this trial or assign them to the next high profile trail..
We know the answer, just don’t understand how they can make these kind of mistakes and expect us to trust them when they present evidence in any case henceforth..

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freeberty
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:31pm
How old are you? The DA’s department only concern is how much that they are going to rip off the taxpayer for the budget year.
The trial was a grandstand move that blew up in their faces, you realize your’e asking about the performance of a government employee, do you actually think that it would be anything but substandard?

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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:46pm
  That’s why our prison’s are full because of inept prosecutors.The bitch walked because the jury needed to see a video of the actual crime. They had more than enough to burn her it’s just that juries have low intelligence.
  
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Polarized America
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:26pm
.
and how many millions did this cost Florida ? …a misspelling !

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- Polarized America
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:46pm
  3 things i’m glad i didn’t make a bet on
  1)–OJ….2) Casey Anthony…3) hummm what was it ?? hummm …. oooops
  anyone wanna guess # 3….
  
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progressiveslayer
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:25pm
They didn’t need that evidence to convict the pig because they had enough for conviction it’s just that juries nowadays want to see a video of the actual crime before they convict. CSI TV shows and juries with low intelligence are to blame here.

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freedomisasfreedomdoes
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:19pm
How did the Prosecution not know about these particular internet searches? Did they just know about Baez’s defense argument that it was potentially George Anthony’s searches related to suicide?

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BurntHills
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:18pm
no need to be shocked or surprised since the same FL people who released her as not guilty are the same ones who abort all their babies every month and have all those free obamaphones. the Life of a child means nothing to them.

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Flippy
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:04pm
Baez must be really proud he helped a child killer go free.

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- freeberty
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:21pm
  Maybe you didn’t read the article. It was the complete ineptness of the government union thug parasites, that were to stupid/lazy to do a multiple browser search.
  
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- Flippy
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:36pm
  Maybe you didn’t read my comment. Baez knew they missed crucial evidence and continued to defend her. Sorry I have morals and could never let a child killer walk free.
  
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- Kupo
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 9:08am
  Flippy, everybody is entitled to the best defense they can get. It’s the job of the prosecution to prove their case. If they can’t do that then nobody else is to blame. Seriously, expecting her attorney to roll over on her? He would never be able to practice law again. Might even be disbarred.
  
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Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 3:38pm
The bitch should have been sitting in the electric chair, right along with OJ Simpson.

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semihardrock
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 3:38pm
it doesnt matter, late term abortions are legal under Obamacare. The girls just want to have fun! Abortions are a way to continue to “party” on the weekends AND as a bonus to Government…..no financial burdens!

Woman are FREE to choose!

This one was a little late and no difference to Democrats…..Liberals….Progressives….Communists

More money for them to spend on other things more important to “the cause”

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- hatchetjob
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:12pm
  Oblamo doesn’t want anyone “punished” with a baby.
  
  Report this comment
- FoxieNews
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 2:38am
  Liberals are now saying (google it) that babies up til the “age of autonomy” or the age at which they know they are a separate being from their mother, or about age 1, that “abortion” should be legal. They think it’s OK to murder babies til that age because “they don’t realize they’re alive”! Sickening!!!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
v15
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 3:34pm
The Police Department – the largest gang in the world – excels at disrupting society, implementing costly and inefficient tax-subsidized programs, harassing fellow citizens, tampering with and losing evidence, shooting innocent bystanders, using excessive force, etc. Intellectually, they are as bright as a wet match in a very dark cave.

They only see the bad in people and, because of their lack of humanity, they see everyone as a criminal. Cops only know two things: (1) Use excessive force and, if possible, kill whoever questions your authority and (2) Cover up for other cops.

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- chalkdust
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 3:48pm
  No, none of what you wrote is accurate. Your mind is not mature enough to understand why you’re wrong.
  
  Report this comment
- Acena
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 6:09pm
  I’m sure you’d do a much better job.
  But since you hate them so much, don’t call 911 when getting raped,robbed,assaulted or murdered by upstanding gang members ,insane family members,drug addicts or when an illegal plows into you while drunk.
  
  Report this comment
- Bluedog78
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 12:21pm
  If what you said was true, you’d be dead by now.
  
  Report this comment
FalseFactBob
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 3:19pm
Fun Fact: Casey Anthony moved out of Orlando to Naples Fl. She changed her name to Miss Fischer Price. She spends her days working at Little Tots Day Care and her nite blogging about Justin Bieber & One direction. She is currently in talks with ABC about teaming up with Kate (from jon in kate plus 8) and Octo mom to do a reality tv show called 16 aint enough

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- hkmilford
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 1:31am
  Hey, leave One Direction out of this. Thats just getting down right right dirty now!
  
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Jenny Lind
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 3:17pm
I am sorry, but this has got to stop. Hindsight is always there, but digging and digging is futile, and it does not matter now. For heaven’s sake-let it go, there is a final judge in all things, leave it there and stop using it. Enough already.

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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:36pm
  It should be let go when someone puts a plastic bag over Casey anthony’s head. The lack of justice in this country is beyond offensive.
  
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- Acena
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 6:12pm
  Ok,let her move in next door to you and babysit your children .
  
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- Kupo
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 9:12am
  Acena, I am just as disgusted with her as anybody but what would you recommend? She was acquitted by a jury of her peers. That’s that.
  
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