Parents: Casey Anthony knew where child was buried

[September 15, 2011]  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Casey Anthony's parents offered differing views in a television interview with "Dr. Phil" host Phil McGraw about how they think their 2-year-old granddaughter died in 2008.

Cindy Anthony said she believes that Caylee Anthony drowned, while her husband, George Anthony, was adamant that the toddler died by other means and that his daughter Casey Anthony had more intricate knowledge about how it happened.

Anthony's parents shared their opinions during the second part of an interview with McGraw that aired Wednesday. They spoke with McGraw for a lengthy, taped interview over a two-day period recently. A portion of the interview devoted to Casey Anthony's murder trial will also be shown later this month.

A message left by The Associated Press with one of Casey Anthony's attorneys, Jose Baez, was not immediately returned.

George Anthony said he thinks Casey may have accidentally drugged his granddaughter and tried to cover it up. Cindy Anthony said she does think Casey did know where her toddler was buried and may have had help placing her body there.

"If Casey is watching this someday -- Yes, I think she's responsible for Caylee not being here," George Anthony said.

Caylee Anthony was the focus of a wide-ranging search after her disappearance in June 2008. Casey Anthony told police that a fictitious babysitter had kidnapped the child. The 25-year-old maintained the same story to her family until the child's skeletal remains were found in a wooded area in December 2008 not far from the Anthony family home.

"I think (Casey) was there and she probably had some help," George Anthony told McGraw.

Casey Anthony stood trial for her toddler's death this summer, with her defense attorneys telling jurors the child drowned by accident in the family pool. She was acquitted in July, but convicted of four charges of lying to police.

She is currently somewhere in Florida serving a year of probation on a separate check fraud conviction. Authorities are keeping her whereabouts confidential for her safety.

Anthony's acquittal caused a national uproar, with people protesting their displeasure with the verdict both publicly and through social media.

Cindy Anthony said that while she believes her granddaughter drowned, she didn't believe defense attorney Jose Baez's assertion that George Anthony was there or helped cover up the death. She, too, said she thinks Casey knew where Caylee was buried, and that is what upsets her most today.

"I believe Casey knew or had knowledge of placing Caylee there," Cindy Anthony said. "...I'm not justifying what Casey did. But until I find out what happened to Caylee and what happened to Casey that day, I have to live with what I know."

She also told McGraw that she prayed nightly during the past three years that if Casey was somehow responsible for Caylee's death that she'd go to jail.

She said the fact that her daughter was acquitted tells her she wasn't at fault.

"When that verdict came in and Casey was found not guilty, I got my answer," Cindy Anthony said "...I'm not gonna be her judge and jury. God is her judge and he set her free."

[Associated Press; By KYLE HIGHTOWER]

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