WFTV9: Remains Of Young Child Found Near Anthony Home

From WFTV9 in Orlando: The remains of a young child were located in east Orange County Thursday morning, less than a half-mile from Casey Anthony's parents' home, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. An Orange County water meter reader, who had gone into the woods to relieve himself, discovered a bag about 20 to 30 feet off the sidewalk in the area of Chickasaw Trail and Suburban Drive, around three-tenths of a mile from the Anthonys' home. [The location is not accurate. See below.]

According to information obtained by Eyewitness News, when the meter reader picked up the bag a skull fell out. The Orange County Sheriff's Office has confirmed to Eyewitness News that the remains are from a young child. "We are assuming they are the remains of a victim," said Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jim Solomons. It is not known whether the remains are Caylee Anthony. "We know we have a recent discovery. We have investigators on the scene. We need to determine what we have," said Solomons.

Deputies set up a perimeter near a small retention pond. Heavy rain pounded the scene, making the investigation more difficult. FBI agents and agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were also on the scene. Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary said the area had been underwater during previous searches, so it was not surprising the remains hadn't been found before. Equusearch founder Tim Miller, who heads up a group that searches for bodies, said his volunteers had searched the area before but that it was full of water and an ATV had stirred up mud and muck and made visibility poor. When asked if the remains could be those of any other child, Beary responded, "Not that we know of."

Eyewitness News reporter Kathi Belich said sources told her they were taking this very seriously and would expedite DNA tests to determine if the remains were indeed Caylee's. Investigators told her they were "very optimistic" they had found the missing girl. Beary said the FBI had told him experts at its lab in Quantico, Va. would work through the weekend on the case if necessary.

Site of Child's Skeletal Remains Confirmed

A few minutes ago, I reported that FOX35 (and WFTV9) had incorrectly reported the site of skeletal remains found by a utility worker this morning. I have now confirmed that my pinpointing of the site was correct. Here is a overhead shot of the site, from WFTV.com's news helicopter. If you look at the map below, you can clearly see the area I marked as the site is indeed correct.

As I type, Orange County Sheriff's Department officers are preparing to remove the duct taped trash bag, bones and any other evidence from the scene. I also overheard a reporter saying that Sheriff Beary is going to execute a search warrant on the Anthony home and property. Some reports say officers are possibly looking for a shovel.

Presently, the Anthony's are on a flight back from California. They should arrive in Orlando within the next hour or so.

The discovered remains will be sent to FBI headquarters for identification. Due to their proximity to the Anthony home, it is likely that the bones found are that of Caylee Marie Anthony.