Casey Anthony was acquitted of murdering her two-year-old daughter, but found guilty of lying on four counts to law enforcement officers. Now a judge must decide whether or not she must reimburse over half-a-million dollars to law enforcement agencies, expended in the search for her child and the state of Florida for prosecuting the case.
Chief Judge Belvin Perry is hearing arguments from both sides in a hearing Friday on the case.
Anthony led law enforcement officers on a wild goose chase in search of her “missing” daughter back in July 2008, knowning that the toddler was already dead, one month before on June 16, 2008.
During opening statements at her murder trial, lead defense attorney, Jose Baez said that Casey’s daughter, Caylee, was never missing and died on June 16, 2008, when she drowned in the family swimming pool. The toddler’s remains were found in December 2008, in a wooded area near the Anthony family home off Suburban Drive in Orlando.
Now, law enforment agencies and the State of Florida are requesting reimbursement for a total of $515,000 expended. Here’s the breakdown:
- Orange County Sheriff’s Office………………$293,000
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement…………$71,000
- Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation………….$10,000
- State of Florida for prosecuting the case…….$141,000
Anthony is already being sued by Texas Equusearch (TES), an organization that devoted hundreds of thousands of dollars and man-hours in the search for Caylee. That amount is $112,000.
Anthony, who is not at the hearing today, but is in Florida, remains in hiding since walking out of the Orange County Jail on July 17.
