Back to Cases
Solved June 16, 2008 Homicide

Caylee Anthony

Status Solved
Type Homicide
Date June 16, 2008
Location Orlando, Florida
Victim Age 2
Gender Female

Two-year-old Caylee Anthony's remains were found six months after her mother Casey failed to report her missing. Casey was controversially acquitted of murder in 2011 in what some called 'the trial of the century.'

On July 15, 2008, Cindy Anthony called 911 to report her granddaughter Caylee, 2, missing—noting that her daughter Casey's car smelled like 'a dead body.' Casey had not reported Caylee missing for 31 days, telling elaborate lies about a nanny named 'Zanny.'

Casey Anthony told increasingly bizarre stories. She claimed a babysitter named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez had taken Caylee and that she had been searching for her daughter secretly. None of this was true.

On December 11, 2008, Caylee's skeletal remains were found in a swampy wooded area near the Anthony home. Duct tape was found near the skull.

In a 2011 trial that captivated the nation, Casey Anthony was acquitted of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated child abuse. She was convicted only of four misdemeanor counts of lying to police. The verdict shocked many and remains one of the most controversial in American legal history.

homicide child Florida 2000s controversial acquittal
2008-06-16
Caylee Anthony last seen alive (estimated).
2008-07-15
Grandmother reports Caylee missing.
2008-12-11
Caylee's remains found.
2011-07-05
Casey Anthony acquitted of murder.

Curated starting points for verifying and researching this case. Direct references are checked; search links are provided as further-reading aids. ColdCaseIndex is an index of public information — see a case correction? Email info@coldcaseindex.com.

Have Information About This Case?

Cold cases are solved when someone comes forward. Even a detail that seems minor can matter. If you have any information about this case, contact law enforcement through one of these channels:

  • FBI Tips (tips.fbi.gov) — submit a tip online to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • FBI Tip Line: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)
  • The local police department or sheriff's office in Florida, or the state bureau of investigation

Tips can usually be submitted anonymously. To report an error on this page, email info@coldcaseindex.com.