Factbox: Prosecution of Casey Anthony

Pam Parent
The prosecutors in the Casey Anthony trial rested their case Wednesday. Over the past 19 days, the prosecution presented its evidence, witnesses and crime specialists.

Here are some memorable facts and information the prosecution brought to light:

* May 24 was the first day of the trial. The first witness for the prosecution was George Anthony, Casey's father. According to Investigation Discovery, George denied that he had any involvement with the death of his granddaughter, Caylee. He also denied accusations that he sexually molested his daughter.

* On trial day 2, May 25, Tony Lazzaro, a party planner and former boyfriend of Casey, testified that he would sometimes play hookey from school and hang with the defendant. ABC News reports Lazzaro said, "We would stay in the bedroom." Lazzaro also said, "Casey never said Caylee was missing, and her disposition never changed."

* On trial day 6, May 31, Cindy Anthony, Casey's mother, testified about the strong odor coming from Casey's car after it was retrieved from a towing yard, reports Fox News. She described removing her granddaughter's favorite doll from the car. Prosecutors believe it could have been with the girl's body at one time.

* On trial day 11, June 6, Dr. Arpad Vass explained the findings behind the newest science that analyzes air samples from a can. According to ABC Nightline, Vass told the court that the samples taken from Casey's car had chloroform, which is a sign of decomposition. Vass said to the jurors: "I essentially jumped back a foot or two. I was shocked that a little itty bitty can could have that much odor associated with it. I would recognize it as human decomposition."

* On trial day 14, June 9, one of the most disturbing images introduced into evidence was a digital photo from medical examiner chief investigator Steve Hanson. The photo was of Hanson carefully scooping from the overgrowth the small skull that belonged to Caylee Anthony.

* On trial day 15, June 10, the prosecution presented two expert witnesses with shocking and graphic information. Dr. Michael Warren, a forensic anthropologist, brought in a graphic video that demonstrated a possibility of how Caylee may have suffocated from duct tape over the mouth and nose. Dr. Jan Garavaglia was called to testify and discuss details of examining Caylee's remains. Garavaglia said "There is no child that should have duct tape on its face after they die," according to WTSP.

* On trial day 16, June 11, forensic entomologist Dr. Neal Haskell testified that the bugs on the paper towels that were found in the garbage located in the trunk of Casey's car were the the type of bugs that are attracted to decomposition fluid.

* On trial day 17 Monday, FBI expert Stephen Shaw matched the hairs taken from Caylee's remains to the hairs found in the trunk of Casey's car. On this date, Elizabeth Fontaine, a print expert for the FBI, explained to the jurors about a heart-shaped outline that appeared on one of the pieces of duct tape. According to the Christian Science Monitor, Fontaine said, "It was approximately the size of a dime." The heart-shaped marking was discovered while using ultraviolet light to see if possible fingerprints could be found on the tape. No prints were found.

* On trial day 18 Tuesday, Cindy Anthony was recalled. She testified about clothes belonging to Caylee, and she was also questioned about possible evidence found in their home during the investigation. Cindy was asked about laundry bags found in their home that were similar to one found with Caylee's remains. She also testified that a Winnie the Pooh blanket found with Caylee's remains was similar to one Caylee had, and that the blanket hasn't been seen since May of 2008.

* On trial day 19 Wednesday, the prosecution rested its case in the Casey Anthony trial, reports the Associated Press. After the prosecution finished, Judge Belvin Perry denied a standard request from Casey's attorneys to have the case thrown out.

Published by Pam Parent - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle

Pam has been published in Crafts 'n Things magazine, and on Yahoo! Shine, Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Voices, Yahoo! TV, Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! omg! and Yahoo! Movies. Pam has her own craft and bakery...  View profile

1 Comments

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  • Carol Bengle Gilbert6/17/2011

    Nice summary.

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