Return to Transcripts main page

NANCY GRACE

Prosecution Rests in Casey Anthony Murder Trial

Aired June 15, 2011 - 20:00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


NANCY GRACE, HOST: Breaking news tonight in the case of 2-year-old Florida girl, Caylee. Six months of searching culminate when skeletal remains found in a heavily wooded area just 15 houses from the Anthony home confirmed to be Caylee. A utility meter reader stumbles on a tiny human skeleton, including a skull covered in light-colored hair, the killer duct- taping, placing a heart-shaped sticker directly over the mouth, then triple bagging little Caylee like she`s trash.

The murder trial of tot mom, Casey Anthony, under way. Tot mom`s lawyer tells a stunned courtroom she`s got nothing to do with Caylee`s death, but that her own father, ex-cop George Anthony, shows up with Caylee`s dead body, then hides it, leaving it to rot. Tot mom also claims father George and brother Lee both sexually molest her. In the last 24 hours, we learn tot mom gets a sexy tattoo in the days after Caylee goes missing, and then has a pizza party at the tattoo parlor.

Bombshell tonight. A macabre scenario emerges in court as the state rests its case before the jury. Was 2-year-old Caylee actually still alive when duct-taped and triple-bagged with three heavy-duty black trash bags? And following the emergence of that chilling scenario, tot mom speaks out in court.

The judge considers throwing out the case against tot mom, dropping the charges after a legal battle breaks out when tot mom`s defense tries to stop the jury from hearing how animals actually chewed and scattered 2- year-old Caylee`s tiny bones.

In the last hours, the defense zeros in on framing grandfather George Anthony. George and Cindy Anthony cry, embracing in a courthouse elevator, crying the full 23 floors down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: July 2nd, 2008, Casey Anthony obtained a tattoo. This Italian phrase translates to "beautiful life." Ms. Anthony, do you concur?

CASEY ANTHONY, CAYLEE`S MOTHER: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Caylee Marie Anthony died as a result of duct tape, poisoning by chloroform, based on the evidence that was discovered in the trunk...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Similarities to a hair belonging to Caylee Anthony.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Post-mortem (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The (INAUDIBLE) consistent to decomposition.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did the amount of chloroform surprise you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were shocked.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the evidence connected with how her remains were discovered.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three pieces of duct tape.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) with duct tape present.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With respect to count one, the first degree, premeditated murder, there was no premeditation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When Ms. Anthony decided to place duct tape on the child`s face, sufficient time had passed for her to understand the nature and quality of that act.

CASEY ANTHONY: (INAUDIBLE) from the very beginning, from my first day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Premeditation has been established.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Reasonable hypothesis.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, this case is accident.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What record evidence is there of an accidental death?

CASEY ANTHONY: I`ve noticed this is a question a lot of people ask.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no record evidence of accidental death.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Good evening. I`m Nancy Grace. I want to thank you for being with us. Bombshell tonight. A macabre scenario emerges in court as the state rests its case before the jury. Was 2-year-old Caylee actually still alive when duct-taped and triple-bagged in three heavy-duty black trash bags?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ms. Anthony began preparation for the elimination of the child.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "Bella vita" -- "beautiful life."

CASEY ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As early as March of 2008, when she conducted computer searches for how to make chloroform.

CASEY ANTHONY: (INAUDIBLE) Internet, I can scroll through, read what I want and then just get rid of it (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "Bella vita" -- "beautiful life."

CASEY ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And other means of weapons and how to create injury.

CASEY ANTHONY: And that didn`t look good, but I mean, you can understand why.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "Bella vita" -- "beautiful life."

CASEY ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is not any evidence of anything other than a caring, loving mother.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do you not know where your daughter is? And she said, I just don`t know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "How to make chloroform," spelled correctly, the words "neck breaking."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Duct tape anywhere attached to that child`s face is, to me, indication of a homicide.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "Bella vita" -- "beautiful life."

CASEY ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An intentional act by the defendant designed to cause the child`s death.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Demanding (INAUDIBLE) of acquittal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Denied.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: We are live outside the Orlando courthouse in Orange County, bringing you the very latest in the trial against tot mom, Casey Anthony, in the alleged murder of her 2-year-old little girl, Caylee, Caylee`s bones found chewed and gnawed, strewn by animals, just 15 houses from the Anthony home.

And today, what a day in the courthouse! First of all, the judge considers throwing the case out, as the macabre scenario emerges that little Caylee may have been placed in those bags, triple-bagged like she`s trash, duct-taped, but still alive.

To Jean Casarez, legal correspondent, "In Session," in court all day. Jean, where did that theory come from?

JEAN CASAREZ, "IN SESSION": Nancy, it was fascinating. When the judge announced his decision that the charges would not be thrown out but there was evidence for this case to go forward, the judge, in looking at the charge of aggravated child abuse, what can be done to a living human being, Caylee Anthony -- he said he sees it, number one, by the duct tape, number two, by evidence of chloroform applied to the little girl, and number three, by Caylee Anthony being put in a black plastic bag and other containers. Nancy, Caylee would have had to have been alive to look at that in regard to aggravated child abuse.

GRACE: Michael Christian, senior field producer, "In Session," also in court today. Everybody, we are taking your calls live. That includes not only me, but the whole panel, everyone positioned there at the Orlando courthouse.

Michael, Jean is right. For the judge to have considered the evidence in that light, he would have to believe there is evidence that Caylee was alive when she was placed in those trash bags, alive and duct-taped.

MICHAEL CHRISTIAN, SR. FIELD PRODUCER, "IN SESSION": Yes, and you know, this aggravated child abuse charge is extremely important, Nancy, because that is another way for the juror to get -- jurors to get to first degree murder. If the jurors decide that this isn`t a case of premeditated first degree murder, they still have an option of convicting the defendant of felony murder. And aggravated child abuse would be...

GRACE: Michael! Michael!

CHRISTIAN: ... the felony...

GRACE: Michael! Michael! Please!

CHRISTIAN: ... that would get them to felony murder.

GRACE: Please! I don`t want to hear the legalities right now. I want to hear about the judge`s theory that this child may have been placed alive in those trash bags!

CHRISTIAN: Yes, that`s what he said, just as Jean said. It`s a theory. It has to be proven. But certainly, it`s going to be something -- if the judge can think about this, it`s something that the jury`s going to be able to think about it, as well. And that`s not something that the defense wants them thinking about.

GRACE: Unleash the lawyers. Joining us tonight, Mark Lippman, the family attorney for George, Cindy and Lee Anthony, Randy Kessler, defense attorney, Atlanta, Lorna Owens (ph), criminal defense attorney, Miami.

Mark Lippman, I`m going to go into detail later, the way that we see the defense honing in on framing grandfather George, your client. We see it clear as day. The writing is on the wall, what they`re planning to do to George once the defense starts. And today, we hear evidence the defense is going to bring on about so-called phone calls from the cell phone, I believe, of George Anthony to some convicted felon.

I mean, George Anthony has issued a statement. He doesn`t remember any phone calls like that. For all I know, it was the plumber or the tree trimmer. I don`t know who it was. But we see them beginning to hone in on your client, George Anthony, as the scapegoat. But what is your reaction, mark Lippman, to this theory the judge has put out there, based on the evidence, that Caylee may have been triple-bagged, duct-taped still alive?

MARK LIPPMAN, ATTORNEY FOR GEORGE, CINDY AND LEE ANTHONY: Oh, it`s atrocious to even think about that. And if something like that happened, certainly, it`s just horrendous that that would be something that Casey could consider.

But more importantly, this new witness that the defense is putting forward, Mr. Vasco Thompson -- certainly, my client, as my statement indicates, has no idea who this person is, never talked to him, doesn`t remember talking to him.

GRACE: Well, there he is. Take a look, Mark Lippman.

LIPPMAN: Yes.

GRACE: We`re showing his picture right now.

LIPPMAN: I`ve seen a bunch of research on him today. I know he`s a been a visitor of the Florida correctional system for quite a long time. He did...

GRACE: A visitor?

LIPPMAN: ... approximately 17 years.

GRACE: A visitor?

LIPPMAN: Yes.

GRACE: That`s a nice way to put it, Mark Lippman! But I mean, how do I know that this wasn`t the wrong number? You know, it was cell phones...

LIPPMAN: Exactly. I mean, we don`t know...

GRACE: You have people (INAUDIBLE) the last phone -- you know, it was cell phones, Mark Lippman. You have whoever had the phone last, had that number last time, they call you for six months to two years trying to get the last...

LIPPMAN: Sure.

GRACE: ... person attached to that phone number. How do know who this guy is? But what I`m saying is we see where the defense is headed.

I want to go to you, Randy Kessler, defense attorney, Atlanta. If this theory is borne out that Caylee was duct-taped and placed in trash bags alive and left to die, that is death penalty grounds.

RANDY KESSLER, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Absolutely. And it`s prejudicial, and that`s what meant to be, is to start planting the seeds for not only is this a murder conviction, but it`s a death penalty murder conviction. And that`s the only reason to really focus on that. Did she murder her daughter? That`s the issue in this case. But for the death penalty phase, you got to play on the emotions of the jurors.

GRACE: Weigh in, Lorna Owens.

LORNA OWENS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Oh, my goodness! This would be incredible. It is heartless. And if it were so, then definitely, we`re looking at a death penalty case. The defense has to be really very, very careful when they bring these kinds of evidence in because they could open the door for so many things. But this would be heartless.

GRACE: We are live in the Orlando courthouse, Orange County, as we bring you the very latest at the end of the courthouse day and the trial against tot mom, Casey Anthony, on trial for the alleged murder of her 2- year-old little girl.

Today, a shocking and macabre scenario emerges. Was Caylee duct-taped and placed in trash bags alive? George and Cindy crying in the elevator 23 flights down.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CASEY ANTHONY: My daughter has been missing for the last 31 days.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is time to tell the story of a little girl.

CINDY ANTHONY, CASEY`S MOTHER: That`s our Caylee.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Casey and Caylee had a very special bond.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did she ever tell you her daughter was missing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was partying and having a good time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hot body contest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Didn`t feel like leaving bed (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God, I`m such a good liar.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She said that she was with a nanny.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Strong odor from the vehicle.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) bad smell.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a strong odor under the vehicle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I recognized it as human decomposition.

GEORGE ANTHONY, CASEY`S FATHER: Please God, don`t let this be Casey or Caylee.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) lied.

CASEY ANTHONY: I will lie, I will steal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To find my daughter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Garus gives me a final trained (ph) alert.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In one location in the back yard.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It had a hair that exhibited characteristics of decomposition.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Post-mortem (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Key word search hits.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Residues of chloroform.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eighty-four times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We found a human skull.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Homicide of undetermined means.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s the skull.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chewed on by animals.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Larvae were there. Obviously, feeding most likely was decompositional.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right below that is the tape.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three pieces of duct tape.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was circumferential, around the skull.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the state has now rested its case.

Ms. Anthony, does this bear your signature? And do you concur with the stipulation that reads as follows, "On July 2nd, 2008, Casey Anthony obtained a tattoo with the inscription `Bella vita.` This Italian phrase translates to `beautiful life.`" The parties have agreed to this fact, and it should be considered as true in your deliberations.

CASEY ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Welcome back. We are live outside the Atlanta, Orange County, courthouse, bringing the latest of the tot mom, Casey Anthony, on trial for the alleged murder of her 2-year-old little girl.

Tot mom speaks in court. I just played it for you. Is it an O.J. Simpson scenario, where Simpson did speak out? What did he say, Ellie, I am 100 percent not guilty? Let`s here what Simpson said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O.J. SIMPSON: Absolutely 100 percent not guilty.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have no evidence to exclude a reasonable hypothesis that there was no murder at all, that there was no premeditation, demanding (INAUDIBLE) of acquittal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: So you hear tot mom speaking out, just that one phrase in court today, very similar to that quote by O.J. Simpson, when he says, I`m 100 percent not guilty. Today, she stipulates in open court, essentially testifying that that was the meaning of the tattoo that she got.

In the last 24 hours, we learn that not only did she get a tattoo in the hours after Caylee goes missing, but also decides to throw a pizza party there at the tattoo parlor, paying for it, sitting around, talking about Caylee, having a good time after her tattoo, never mentioning anything about Caylee except when asked, Can you bring her by, and she says, Oh, sure, I`ll bring her by next time I come, planning to get another tattoo.

OK, Paula Bloom, clinical psychologist, weigh in.

PAULA BLOOM, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Wow. OK, so the thing with tattoos -- let`s just pretend that none of this was going on...

GRACE: Bloom? Bloom?

BLOOM: ... and someone -- yes?

GRACE: Don`t start up with me trying to compare chloroform to benadryl and watching your children -- letting your children watch TV as a baby-sitter, OK? Don`t go there with me again.

BLOOM: OK. I`ll stay...

(CROSSTALK)

BLOOM: I`ll stay with the tattoo.

GRACE: Yes. OK, go ahead.

BLOOM: So here`s the thing with the tattoo, OK? Basically, it means "the good life." If there was nothing else going on, if someone who didn`t have this whole trial going on had that tattoo, to me, it would be a sign of a new start, optimism. Listen, I treat a lot of clients who have tattoos in my practice and usually -- usually -- unless they`re really drunk, it`s a very well thought-out decision. So obviously -- obviously, it`s about making a new start.

GRACE: And the rest of that testimony that we don`t hear, Marc Klaas, president, founder of Klaas Kids Foundation, is that tattoo parlor owner said when people get a tattoo that is a tribute to someone that has passed away, they talk about it during the tattoo process. Not a word about Caylee from tot mom.

MARC KLAAS, KLAAS KIDS FOUNDATION: Not only not a word about Caylee, but she was upbeat during the entire process.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ms. Anthony has a history of untruthfulness.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there anything about the story that you`re telling me that is untrue?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When the child died.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Or is there anything that you want to change or divert from what you`ve already told me?

CASEY ANTHONY: No, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where she died.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you cause any injury to your child, Caylee?

CASEY ANTHONY: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How she died.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you hurt Caylee or leave somewhere, and you`re worried that if we find that out that people are going to look at you the wrong way?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who, if anyone, was with her in attendance when she died?

CASEY ANTHONY: No, sir.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: We are live outside the Orange County, Orlando, courthouse, bringing you the latest in the trial of tot mom, Casey Anthony, in the alleged murder of her 2-year-old little girl, Caylee. What a day in court today.

To Natisha Lance, our producer in court. Natisha, one of the reporters, a CNN correspondent, Gary Tuchman, rode the elevator down with George and Cindy Anthony. They were -- embracing is not really the right word. They were leaning on each other and crying openly, weeping the entire way down, 23 flights down.

What happened in court to prompt that, Natisha?

NATISHA LANCE, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Well, Nancy there was this denial of the acquittal motion that was put forward by the defense. And obviously, George and Cindy Anthony overcome with emotion after that. Gary Tuchman says that he went up to them, he said, I`m very sorry for what you`re going through. They said, Thank you. They got on the elevator together. And just as you said, they leaned on each other and they cried all the way down those 23 floors. And Nancy, you`ve been on that elevator. You know how long that ride can be. But crying, leaning on each other, so perhaps they were looking for a different outcome today, hoping that Casey would be acquitted from this case.

GRACE: Yes. The elevator up and down -- it`s extremely slow. And it seems like -- you never get the limited. You never get the express. You stop at every floor.

They cried openly, unabashedly, the entire way down, this after in court, Cindy steps down off the stand -- there you`re seeing it -- looks at her only daughter and says -- and tot mom -- and turns away.

Headlines in the courtroom today. The judge considers throwing out the case against tot mom. That motion is denied.

To Randy Kessler. That`s SOP, standard operating procedure, at the end of every state`s case. The criminal defense always files for motion of acquittal, directed verdict, do they not? We`re not surprised.

KESSLER: Absolutely. I mean, you`ve got to play the lottery, right? You`re given a free ticket. You`ve got to ask. There may be an error. There may be something that the judge saw that you didn`t even think of as a defense lawyer. You`ve got to ask for an acquittal. Absolutely. And you know what? Every now and then, you get it.

GRACE: To Mark Lippman. Did your clients, George and Cindy, believe the motion would be granted?

LIPPMAN: As I`ve always stated, Nancy, my clients don`t want to see the ultimate sanction that the state`s looking for.

GRACE: Right.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEE ANTHONY, CASEY ANTHONY`S BROTHER: Spiteful bitch.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfit mother.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Such a good liar.

CASEY ANTHONY, MOTHER OF CAYLEE ANTHONY: We`re going to get our little girl back. She`s going to be just as she was.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bella vita. Beautiful life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How was this child killed?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Baby killer.

JOSE BAEZ, CASEY ANTHONY`S ATTORNEY: Caylee Anthony died on June 16th, 2008.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where was this child killed?

BAEZ: When she drowned in her family`s swimming pool. As soon as Casey came around this corner and went back, she saw George Anthony holding Caylee in his arm. She immediately grabbed Caylee and began to cry. And shortly thereafter, George began to yell at her. Look what you`ve done. Your mother will never forgive you.

CINDY ANTHONY, CASEY ANTHONY`S MOTHER: It doesn`t make sense.

BAEZ: And you will go to jail for child neglect for the rest of your freaking life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you dispose of the body of your granddaughter?

GEORGE ANTHONY, CASEY ANTHONY`S FATHER: No, I did not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was she killed at all?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When Miss Anthony decided to place duct tape on the child`s face --

CASEY ANTHONY: Oh my god.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Or was it an accident?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Duct tape anywhere attached to that child`s face is, to me, indication of a homicide.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Welcome back. We are live outside the Orlando, Orange County courthouse, bringing you the latest in the trial against tot mom, Casey Anthony in the alleged murder of her 2-year-old little girl Caylee.

And today, legal battle breaks out in court as the macabre stunning scenario emerges. Was little Caylee placed duct tape in three heavy duty black trash bags still alive?

Straight out to Ellie Jostad. It boiled down to not only that shocking and stunning scenario, but also a legal argument. As the defense battled to keep evidence of Caylee`s gnawed bones, her bones that had been chewed on by animals and strewn, her tiny bones.

The defense opposed that coming into evidence. Why did the judge allow it in ultimately?

ELLIE JOSTAD, NANCY GRACE CHIEF EDITORIAL PRODUCER: -- said that this was relevant because the defense are the ones that brought up this defense theory where the remains were taken by somebody, they say Roy Kronk, and moved from that location. So the judge said if you hadn`t gone down that road, I wouldn`t allow them to talk about how the bones were chewed by animals. But it is relevant now, it`s part of the timeline so it`s coming in.

GRACE: To Jean Casarez, joining us at the courthouse.

Jean, tomorrow will mark the three-year mark of when Caylee last seen. As the defense starts its case. Do you think any of mention of that will be made?

JEAN CASAREZ, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT, "IN SESSION": You know, Nancy, there won`t be an opening statement, of course. That`s already been done. But there will be questioning, will it come about as part of the questions? We don`t know. But the defense will correlate it with that tragic, tragic accident, drowning in a pool three years ago this very day.

GRACE: We are taking your calls. Out to Wendy in Texas. Hi, Wendy.

WENDY, CALLER FROM TEXAS: Yes, hi, Nancy. We love you.

GRACE: Thank you, dear. What`s your question? Did I lose Wendy, Liz?

Let`s go to Janice in Maryland. Then we`ll try to get Wendy back.

Hi, Janice, what`s your question?

Not hearing Janice. I`m going to try one last time.

Jean in Arizona. Hi, Jean, what`s your question?

OK. Liz, let me know when I get the callers --

JEAN, CALLER FROM ARIZONA: Hi, Nancy.

GRACE: Hi, dear, do I have Wendy, Janice or Jean?

JEAN: Jean.

GRACE: Hi, dear, what`s your question?

JEAN: Hi. My question is, the defense claims that Caylee drowned. But my question is, would duct tape stick over wet or damp hair and skin? And when was the tape applied?

GRACE: Good question. Out to Jean Casarez.

Jean, weigh in with Jean in Arizona`s question.

CASAREZ: Well, Jean in Arizona, the prosecution is saying it was applied when she was alive. Therefore, they said in court today that they believe it is the murder weapon coupled with poison. First time we`ve heard that word today. Poison. Chloroform applied also to Caylee Anthony.

GRACE: Out to the lines. Joy in California. Hi, Joy, what`s your question?

JOY, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: My question, my dear, is about this duct tape.

GRACE: OK.

JOY: They had the writing on the duct tape over the baby`s mouth. They said they found some so many feet away and they searched through the garage and they never found any. And the only place they ever saw it was on the gas can and on the posters for -- that they had put out when the baby was missing. To help them find her.

Now I`ve done school things and garage sales, and when you use up a roll of duct tape, putting up posters, you find the nearest trashcan to throw it away. So why haven`t they asked the Anthonys, George and Cindy, when they went out with this roll of duct tape, what did they do with it?

GRACE: To Michael Christian, joining us at the courthouse as well.

Michael, wasn`t the duct tape in some of the video or photos with George Anthony, that he was using it, they were using it to put up fliers? Also as Joy in California points out, it was on the gas can.

But originally didn`t Cindy Anthony, grandmother Cindy, state in her depositions that it had been in the house? Then yesterday on the stand she kind of back tread on that a little bit, but hasn`t it been placed in the house?

MICHAEL CHRISTIAN, SENIOR FIELD PRODUCER, "IN SESSION": Yes. She said -- Cindy said on the stand yesterday that there was some in the garage. The garage to the Anthony home. Now she said that she remembered some black tape, maybe some blue duct tape.

She wasn`t quite so sure about the silver or gray, but then she finally said well, she thinks there was some there. She basically said that George was the one who had access to this duct tape. She backpedaled on that a little bit, too. But we have seen and the jury saw yesterday some video and a still photograph taken from that video of a missing Caylee poster and there was some silver duct tape on that poster presumably put on there by George.

GRACE: To a special guest joining us tonight out of Miami, Dr. Joshua Perper, the chief medical examiner of Broward County, author of many books including "When Doctors Kill."

Dr. Perper, it`s wonderful to have you back. Thank you for being with us.

DR. JOSHUA PERPER, MEDICAL EXAMINER, AUTHOR OF "WHEN DOCTORS KILL": Thank you.

GRACE: Doctor, you have seen so many, many bodies and performed thousands of autopsies. The defense went toe to toe with the state trying to keep evidence out that Caylee`s bones had been gnawed on by animals and strewn about. It took them days to find all 200-plus bones in Caylee`s tiny body.

What would that look like to the naked eye if the jurors are looking at photos of her bones to look for animal activity? What would they see, Dr. Perper?

PERPER: They would see in many cases marks of the teeth of the indentation caused by teeth of small animals. They would see like --

GRACE: And --

PERPER: Basically a mark of the tooth or the teeth which definitely are not human teeth, but these are some animals. And the irregularity which to a person would indicate that the bone was chewed by an animal.

GRACE: And to Ron Shindel, former NYPD deputy inspector.

Ron, the defense is claiming that a utility reader found Caylee`s body where George had hidden it, and that he`s the one that set up the scene and left it to be found so he could get the reward. How plausible is that theory?

RON SHINDEL, FORMER NYPD DEPUTY INSPECTOR: I don`t think it`s plausible at all. If he would have just recovered the body any way, there could have been a reward. So he didn`t have to move the body and actually strew it around to get the reward.

It doesn`t make sense, Nancy. No sense at all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That the child was accidentally put into a plastic bag.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Black plastic bag.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Then another bag.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The off-white canvass bag.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Then a third plastic bag?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The plastic Disney bag.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The law is the law.

CASEY ANTHONY: Can`t do anything. Because I`ve done everything.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of Zenaida Gonzalez.

L. ANTHONY: She had not seen Caylee in 31 days.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kidnapped her child.

ZENAIDA GONZALEZ, WOMAN WHOSE NAME CASEY ANTHONY USED AS CAYLEE`S NANNY: She made me up.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Accidental theory.

BAEZ: Caylee Anthony died on June 16th, 2008, when she drowned in her family`s swimming pool.

G. ANTHONY: Look what you`ve done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This was not an accident. Died as a result of the application of --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three pieces of duct tape.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That would be the front of the skull with duct tape.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Died as a result of poisoning by --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The chloroform was shockingly high.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mrs. Anthony and her daughter, Casey --

CINDY ANTHONY: I never had control of Casey.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A motive for Casey Anthony to eliminate the child.

CINDY ANTHONY: Angry, upset, felt betrayed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An intentional act designed to cause the child`s death.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Welcome back. We are live outside the Orlando courthouse bringing you the latest in the trial of tot mom Casey Anthony. She`s on trial for the alleged murder of her little girl, 2-year-old Caylee.

And today the state rests its case in front of the jury. This after legal battle explodes after the defense fights tooth and nail to keep evidence away from the jury that little Caylee`s bones had been gnawed on by animals.

And a macabre theory emerges that little Caylee may have been alive when she was duct taped and placed in three heavy duty black trash bags.

We are live and taking your calls. I want to go to Natisha Lance.

Natisha, we all know other evidence was found at the scene, but the jury is not going to know about all the evidence at the scene. At the scene, there was also found a syringe with chloroform in the syringe. It was stuck inside like the paper towel holder, the cardboard portion of it at the center. And then inside a Gatorade bottle.

There you see it. Duct tape -- keep showing all the photos of what we know were found at the scene. The jury never heard about the chloroform.

Why, Natisha? Because it was mixed in with testosterone?

NATISHA LANCE, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: You`re absolutely right, Nancy. And that has been a theory, too, that this syringe that had traces of chloroform and the testosterone may have been what administered the chloroform to Caylee, that fatal dose of chloroform to her.

Now we didn`t hear about it, don`t know why. But think about this once again, Nancy. The state is going to have an opportunity for rebuttal. So there is still a possibility that this could come in.

GRACE: You know, Michael Christian, I`m stunned that it wasn`t introduced already because, Michael, how common is chloroform in a syringe? I mean, you don`t even have chloroform anymore. It was basically banned for consumer use back in the `70s in the U.S.

You`ve got to make it up yourself in your house if you want it. You can`t get your mitts on it. So how common is it to have chloroform in a syringe by a child`s dead body where there`s chloroform traces in the car trunk and chloroform computer searches on tot mom`s computer? Why didn`t they bring it in?

CHRISTIAN: And that`s right. That`s a hell of a lot of circumstances there. A lot of coincidences, Nancy. We know, again, that there were, as you say, computer searches for chloroform and specifically on how to make - -

GRACE: Put Christian up. Put him up.

CHRISTIAN: -- chloroform on the computer in the Anthony home.

GRACE: Michael. Michael. You and I have covered cases, have been in courtrooms since 1997.

CHRISTIAN: Right. Many times.

GRACE: That I can recall. There is no coincidence in criminal law. You think it`s a coincidence? I just heard you say what a cowinky-dink (ph).

Michael, how like is it that this child has chloroform on the mom`s computer, has chloroform in the mom`s trunk and then you find a syringe with chloroform at the scene where her body is?

I don`t understand why it was not introduced, Michael.

CHRISTIAN: Yes, I can`t answer that, Nancy. Certainly the defense would have fought tooth and nail against it. Certainly the prosecution would have loved to have put it in. Again, as Natisha says, it`s something we may hear in the rebuttal case.

GRACE: OK. Marc Klaas, this theory that little Caylee may have been alive when she was put in those trash bags. Have you -- what`s your response?

MARC KLAAS, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, KLAASKIDS FOUNDATION: It`s the most -- as many others have said before me, Nancy, it`s one of the most horrific deaths that I can even imagine. That poor, defenseless little child being abused and tortured and then just discarded like the trash. It is the work of a monster is what it is. Whoever did this is just a monster.

GRACE: I don`t recall this since in the case of Jessica Lunsford. Remember the little girl in the pink hat that was, in fact, buried alive?

KLAAS: Absolutely. Yes.

GRACE: We`re waiting for this to unfold in front of the jury. And now it`s time for the defense.

What do you believe the defense is going to set forth, Ellie Jostad? We`ve got a lot of clues about where they`re headed and I think they`ve got George Anthony in their crosshairs.

JOSTAD: Yes, they do, Nancy. I`m holding a copy of their witness list right here. They`ve got Anthony family members. Not just George, but also Cindy and Lee Anthony are on the list. You`ve also got the meter reader, Roy Kronk, as well as his son. Even his attorney. You`ve got a psychic, Gale St. John, you`ve got a former PI, Dominic Casey.

Also they`ve got their own list of experts that they`ll probably call to refute the experts that the state put on earlier. And you`ve got a laundry list of Casey Anthony`s friends, some of whom we`ve already heard from, as well as investigators in this case.

GRACE: So what I`m seeing, Michael Christian, is this. I see them honing in -- you know what? Hold on, Michael. I`m going to go to Mark Lippman, this is the attorney for George, Cindy and Lee Anthony. A special guest joining us tonight.

What -- they`re building what they think is an arsenal against George Anthony. I don`t think it`s going to hold up.

MARK LIPPMAN, ATTORNEY FOR GEORGE AND CINDY ANTHONY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes.

GRACE: One, the so-called other woman that claims she had some kind of an affair with George -- don`t believe it -- and said George told her it was all a big accident that snowballed. If she`ll lie about an affair, what else will she lie about? That`s going to be the cross exam.

They`re going to bring on this ex-con to say George was contacting him for what? To hide the body? Is that what they`re going to try to allege? They tried to get your client, George Anthony`s medical records. They`re going to hone in on his alleged suicide attempt when he was distraught over Caylee`s death.

They`re going to get that protester in front of his house that he pushed off of his yard to say he`s got this hair-triggered temper.

That`s where it`s all going, Mark.

LIPPMAN: It may all be going there, but certainly it won`t necessarily coincide with his opening statement where they already acknowledged that Caylee died on June 16th. Now they`re trying to add all these other additional things where they`re trying to help their client, but it just confuses and clouds their original story, which, one, you have to first believe the original story then try to understand why they would go with these other issues.

GRACE: Exactly.

We are live and taking your calls here at the Orange County courthouse.

As we go to break, I want to tell you about Wesley Glen, a Methodist home, a loving home for the handicapped desperately trying to raise funds. Even though the state slashed funding, Wesley keeping handicapped residents that can no longer afford to be there. The home sinking into the red but still refusing to uproot residence or kick them out.

If you can help go, to wesleyglenministries.com. Click on "Capital Campaign." Let`s help the handicapped that need us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Father`s Day is about loving our fathers and giving them respect. Well, we are. But when we say I`m a Father`s Day baby.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He took me to the lake when I was little.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Casey Anthony obtained a tattoo with the inscription "bella vita."

CINDY ANTHONY: This little girl.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We found a human skull.

CINDY ANTHONY: Is our entire life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This Italian phrase translates to "beautiful life."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An outline of a heart appeared.

UNIDENTIFIED 911 DISPATCHER: Oh, my gosh.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In one of the corners on the edge of that piece of duct tape.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Moving a dead body be one of the ways that the hair could have been pulled out?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It could, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then it should be considered.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: We are live outside the Orlando courthouse bringing you the latest in the trial of tot mom Casey Anthony and taking your calls.

Back to Ellie Jostad. Today, tot mom speaks out in court. Explain to me how that came about.

JOSTAD: Well, Nancy, there`s been a lot of debate over what the actual meaning of that "bella vita" tattoo is. Some people were saying maybe it means the good life or the beautiful life. So they stipulated in court today that both sides agree, including Casey Anthony, and she was asked, does this mean the good life? Or beautiful life?

She said beautiful -- they asked her is it beautiful life? She said yes, sir. So they clarified that. That`s what that means.

GRACE: So explain to me, Randy Kessler, why should I take tot mom`s word for it that that`s what she meant, when in the vernacular, the common usage, it means "the good life"?

RANDY KESSLER, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Look, she doesn`t speak Italian. She says that`s what it means. The truth of the matter is you shouldn`t take her word for anything. But that`s a distraction. And if that`s what people are going to focus on, let them focus on that because then they`re not focusing on what they`re -- what they`re accusing her of doing.

GRACE: Good point.

Everybody, let`s stop and remember Marine Corporal Timothy Roos, 21, Cincinnati, Ohio, killed in Iraq. Awarded Purple Heart, Navy Marine Corps Achievement medal, a competitive swimmer since age 4. Loved fishing, football, favorite team, Green Bay Packers.

Leaves behind grieving parents Rick and Jan, grandmother Shirley, brother Adam, a lance corporal, also serving Marines, widow and high school sweetheart Sarah, daughter Ann Elyse.

Timothy Roos, American hero.

I want to thank our guests but especially to you for being with us.

And a special happy birthday to Donald Doon. Just completed his duel masters in education. Loves reading, boating on the Hudson, and "The Real Housewives."

Happy birthday, Donald.

Everyone, we will be at the Orlando courthouse bringing you the latest tomorrow night in our own way, seeking justice for Caylee.

I`ll see you tomorrow night, 8:00 sharp Eastern. Until then, good night, friend.

END