8/21 - Casey Anthony Released from Jail

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8/21 - Casey Anthony Released from Jail

Casey Anthony Released; Bounty Hunter Says Caylee "Is Alive"

POSTED: 10:20 am EDT August 21, 2008
UPDATED: 1:29 pm EDT August 21, 2008

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Casey Anthony was released late Thursday morning after a $500,000 bond was posted by high-profile, California bounty hunter Leonard Padilla and his behind-the-scenes bail bondsman nephew Tony Padilla. Casey, the mother of missing 3-year-old Caylee Anthony, had been in the Orange County jail for 36 days.

Casey's attorney Jose Baez held an umbrella over her head as she quickly left the jail. A crowd of reporters surrounded Casey as her attorney and Leonard Padilla pushed their way through the crowd.

"Did you kill Caylee?" WFTV reporter Kathi Belich asked as she was led out, but Casey said nothing (watch video).

"Get away! Get away!" Baez yelled at reporters crowding the path to their waiting, black SUV. He got into a scuffle with a journalist, pushing him out of the way.

Casey then got inside the vehicle, followed by Baez and Padilla, and quickly left the scene. Baez said Anthony whispered into his ear on her way out, "I'm innocent. I'm going to walk out of this place with my head held high."

Anthony, who had been jailed since mid-July, arrived several minutes later at her parents' home, where she was fitted for an electronic monitoring device that plugs into her home phone.

"Right now the family is in there hugging and enjoying time as a family together," Baez said outside the home. "There's a lot of tears, a lot of emotion."

Anthony was also arraigned Thursday, but did not attend the hearing. A written plea of not guilty was entered, according to court documents. A pretrial hearing was set for Nov. 5 and a trial date for Nov. 17.

Anthony did not comment outside her home. Her attorney said the first thing she asked to do was take a shower.

"The most important thing is that Casey is home and her parents are very grateful," family spokesman Larry Garrison said by phone Thursday. "Now we are asking the public to please help us find Caylee. Now more than ever, we are convinced that she was kidnapped."

Bounty hunter Leonard Padilla was also at the home and said a member of his team is staying with the family and sleeping there while they work on the case. A $225,000 reward for Caylee's return has been posted anonymously.

"I believe she made a mistake, handed her daughter off and she is alive," said Padilla, who predicted his team would find Caylee within a week.

Shortly after Casey arrived at home, a Domino's Pizza delivery driver arrived to drop off a medium MeatsaPizza, according to the driver. It's not clear who ordered the pizza, but it's an interesting note.

Part of the investigation into Caylee's disappearance centers around a bad smell that supposedly came from the trunk of a car Casey was using. An investigator said he believed the smell was that of a decomposing body. Casey's parents claimed the smell came from a pizza that had been left in the trunk for several days.

Working closely with Tampa, Florida-based Al Estes Bail Bonds and Houston, Texas-based insurance company Financial Casualty and Surety, the Padillas succeeded in posting Casey's bail bond. Al Estes walked into the Orange County jail Wednesday evening and delivered the $500,000 bond.

Anthony was being held on charges related to the disappearance of Caylee. Casey reported Caylee missing in June, but Orange County sheriff's deputies have been frustrated by her lack of cooperation in helping find the child.

Anthony, who has been jailed since mid-July, was instructed to go to her parents' home and plug her electronic monitoring device into her phone, Orange County Corrections spokesman Allen Moore said.

At the request of the Padillas, Casey's monitoring device includes a global position system (GPS). Apparently that was enough to convince the Houston, Texas-based insurance company Financial Casualty and Surety and Al Estes Bail Bonds to accept the financial risk.

Casey is restricted to living in her family's home with some exceptions allowed for going to work, church and any pre-approved appointments. A representative of the Padillas will remain with Casey Anthony 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Padillas hope that Casey being out of jail and in more comfortable surroundings will help the search for missing Caylee Anthony. However, Casey Anthony's attorney Jose Baez says he has instructed the Padillas not to question her about the case and said that Casey knows not to answer any of their questions.

Posted 8/21/08 3:02 PM