Friday, June 19, 2009

Caylee Anthony Autopsy Details

Fox Orlando- The remains of murdered Orlando girl Caylee Anthony found near her home included a nearly complete skeleton, and the 2-year-old didn't have any drugs in her system when she died, according to autopsy and toxicology reports released Friday.

The autopsy says investigators collected "an almost complete skeleton of a young child with only multiple small bones missing. The missing bones include small bones from the wrists and hands, as well as fingers and ankle, hyoid and patella."

There were also several overlapping pieces of duct tape on the toddler's skull, according to the report, penned by Orange County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jan Garavaglia and others.

Click here for photos.

"Although there is no trauma evident on the skeleton, there is duct tape over the lower facial region still attached to head hair," the autopsy says. "This duct tape was clearly placed prior to decomposition keeping the mandible in place."

Crime scene technicians spent more than a week scouring the wooded area where Caylee's bones were found. There were roots growing through the child's remains, and several bags were discovered with them.

The details emerged shortly after a judge rejected a request by Caylee's grandparents to stop the release of her autopsy report.

Circuit Court Judge Stan Strickland said Friday during a hearing that he will allow the release of the autopsy before the October trial of Caylee's mother, 23-year-old Casey Anthony.

Anthony's parents, George and Cindy Anthony, had fought against publicizing the report because it would "cause great anguish" to the family. Strickland denied their request.

Casey Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in Caylee's death.

The child was 2 years old when she was last seen a year ago, but her disappearance wasn't reported until a month later.

Her remains were found in December in a wooded area less than a mile from the home she and her mother shared with the grandparents.

Authorities have said Caylee was murdered but the cause of death could not be determined.

Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty. Anthony has maintained her innocence, saying a baby sitter took her daughter.

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