Casey McDingles
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 9:29PM HERE’S WHAT REAL WITNESS TAMPERING IS ALL ABOUT
There is a no-brainer running around like a chicken without its head who insists she knows what witness tampering is all about. She doesn’t, and this will serve to quash any and all rumors she keeps firing into wasted Internet bandwidth. At the same time, it will explain exactly what it is. Merely interviewing someone is not. Suggesting they change the truth most assuredly is.
In reality, two Texas EquuSearch volunteers told WFTV that a private investigator working for the defense tried to manipulate them into changing their stories about what transpired down along Suburban Drive in September of 2008.
Brett Churchill and Brett Reilly have accused PI Jeremiah Lyons of slinging words their way that would cause them to alter their testimony about searching the area where Caylee’s remains were found three months later by Roy Kronk, another defense target.
According to the WFTV report, Lyons was recently in court examining EquuSearch records. The station reports that he’s keeping low key while talking to volunteers who are not very happy about it.
In this case, both volunteers are prosecution witnesses. Churchill has been deposed by the defense and Reilly has talked on record to investigators. Both have stated that the exact area where the toddler was discovered was under water and unsearchable at the time. According to Churchill, Lyons went to his house and lied about Reilly’s story. “He basically was asking me if what I said in my deposition was the exact story because he had others who fared differently, one of them being Brett Reilly.”
Reilly had earlier warned Lyons not to twist his words after witnessing what Casey’s defense had done to others involved in the case. Lyons promised him he wouldn’t.
Let me tell you, from first-hand experience, I know all about what a professional manipulator Jerry Lyons is. They don’t get any slicker, but in my case, the defense ended up with the short end of the stick. What he succeeded in doing was to somewhat change the tenor of this court. It abruptly went from Strickland to stricter. Strickland to stricter… trust me, they will be words that linger.
The report also states that Reilly complained to Cheney Mason and that both volunteers contacted the sheriff’s office.
A DATE WITH CASEY
Great news is coming right up for those who want to see what Casey’s new tooth looks like. She is slated to appear at next week’s hearing, which will be at 1:30 pm on the 29th. It had been scheduled to be a status hearing, but with her attendance announced, it signaled that there would be more to the hearing than just an update from the attorneys. She has not been in court since her mother and brother took the stand back in July. Of course, plain old status hearings don’t require her presence.
What this should mean is that Judge Perry will hear several arguments, two of which should be the simultaneously filed MOTION TO DETERMINE REASONABLE BUDGET FOR DUE PROCESS COSTS IN A CAPITAL CASE AND MOTION TO INCUR CERTAIN SPECIFIED COSTS filed recently by new attorney Ann Finnell, and quite possibly the prior rulings over the public’s access to Casey’s jail records. This would include phone calls, visitor logs and commissary purchases. In my opinion only, I don’t care if she pigs out on nachos or not. I do not need to know how many hair barrettes, hair pins, hair claws, banana hair clips or how many other products she buys, including female doodads. With the latest ruling in south Florida, this information may have to be rerouted through the state and released through document dumps instead of coming directly from the jail. Hopefully, I will know more about that soon.
With regard to the budget request made by Finnell, the funding agency, the JAC (Justice Administration Commission) doesn’t like her cost estimates. The commission filed a response last week that questions some of the estimates as being too high and others that shouldn’t be billed to taxpayers. In a post I published two weeks ago, I wrote:
The distance between Jacksonville and Orlando, from her office to the jail, is 145 miles each way. The distance from her office to Fort Myers is roughly 300 miles. She anticipates at least one trip per month to Orlando and back, and at least two trips to Fort Myers. Overnight lodging is expected for the trips to Fort Myers and some of the trips to Orlando, all of which is feasible. She’s asking for $4,000.00. Let’s see… a round trip from Jax to O’do runs about $134.00. Jax to Ft. Myers would be double that - $268.00. We are 7-8 months away from showtime, so 7-8 Orlando trips would run… let’s give her the benefit of the doubt and say 8 months. 8 trips would cost almost $1,100.00. To Fort Myers and back twice would add up to around $540, bringing our total to $1,640.00, not including hotel stays, and I think it’s safe to assume she’s not going to spend the night at the No Tell Motel, but still, that’s over $2,400 in lodgings. Nope, that one should be questioned by the judge. If the court chooses to approve, it brings our tally much higher…
The JAC is requesting it shouldn’t have to foot the bill for attorneys’ travel expenses; that the costs should come out of the money the Baez Law Firm was paid by Ms. Anthony or be absorbed by the individual attorney.
Any way we look at it, the mere fact that Casey will be in the courtroom almost demands that some semblance of verbal chicken poop will be flying into the fan come next Friday afternoon. I’m looking forward to it, so I must admit, I will not quit. I will attend, as I intend.
Dave Knechel | in Ann E. Finnell, Ann Finnell, Blogging, Brett Churchill, Brett Reilly, Capital Punishment, Casey Anthony, Caylee Anthony, Cheney Mason, Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Dave Knechel, David B. Knechel, David Knechel, Death Penalty, Florida’s Government in the Sunshine, Human Interest, JAC, Jerry Lyons, Jeremiah Lyons, Jose Baez, Judge Stan Strickland, Judicial Administrative Commission, Marinade Dave, Marinade Dave’s Caylee Anthony Posts, Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Roy Kronk, TES, TexasEquuSearch, Tim Miller, WFTV, marinadedave | Share Article 
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Reader Comments (123)
I wonder if George and CIndy participate in handing out candy to the little trick or treaters. I imagine that would be hard for them knowing that Caylee would be 5 and doing the same thing. I don't think Casey even gives Caylee a second thought.
Hi, Tony - I do have an idea in the back of my mind for a book. I may start placing some feelers out in the publishing field. Several journalists have told me to do it, so that's encouraging.
Snoopy - Yup, as the trial moves closer and closer, any book idea must be a priority! Oh, Laura Buchanan is from Mendham, New Jersey, not Kentucky. I get the notion that finnell will have some pit bull in her. I think she's feisty when need be. About that chicken... it was decomposing when it was put up, considering who it represents.
I wonder if the neighborhood children are afraid to go there on Halloween, or if their parents tell them to stay away. To me, it would be sad because, no matter what we perceive of them, they do love children and to ignore them would be crass. Imagine, they would be taking Caylee around the neighborhood this year. This is a pain that will never go away.
Dave~~this was on the page at google... Maybe Laura moved to New Jersery later but when she came on the scene, she was an ex le officer out of Kentucky. ..
David Knechel - Front Page - A Day of Discovery
21 Sep 2010 ... Law enforcement did its work. The state is doing it now. .... I have a feeling that the defense will not go the Laura Buchanan route. .... Laura, being an ex law officer out of Kentucky, decided to contact Joe via ...
Well, tickle my gizzard.
Dave~~ ahhh it's just that darn photographic memory of mine. LOL Your words do linger and are all etched in this old noggin. Tickle your gizzard huh?
I believe Laura lives in New Jersey now. Being an ex LE officer, she should be aware that you cannot avoid being deposed and falsifying documents is a no no. Her handwriting was on the TES record and she also affixed her signature to that statement that it was the truth. Mort Smith, PI, may have some explaining to do as well on this one.
Dave, a thought just went through my mind, as much as I love reading your articles and can't wait for the next one, are we stressing you out with all this.Please know that as much as we love you and your articles, you must first and foremost take care of your health. Have you ever thought of submitting some of your other articles as short stories to magazines or newspapers? I still want a book, but you have some good articles that should be out there for people to enjoy, as we all have.One quick question, the prosecution would have to offer Casey a deal for her to be able to plea out at this late date wouldn't they? Thank you. By the way , that chicken has to go.
Dave, if you start a book you cannot neglect the blog. You will have to be writing for both. Sorry no time off. Has Laura's depo been rescheduled? I think she has been less than honest and now may be a little scared.
Yes, Snoopy, gizzard, since we're on the subject of chickens.
Speaking of falsifying information, Jerry Lyons is a career NYPD detective (Ret.) One would think he should know better, too.
Oh, Margaret, you're so sweet. Thank you. I take time off and I submit articles to magazines. Sometimes, they're accepted, but most of the time... well, let me say it's a very competitive field. Some are 'at the publisher's discretion' which means they hold it until there's a spot in the magazine. I recently submitted a piece to a well-known magazine and I'm waiting to hear back. It can take up to 18 months in some cases. I occasionally write pieces for themed magazines, too. I go under a nom de plume and for obvious reasons now, I omit all mention on my blogs. The trolls crap everywhere they can.
I can't say how pleas work, but I'm sure if Casey copped a plea next week, the court might consider it because it would save the expense of a trial. Ain't gonna happen, though, because if she pleads, two things come to mind. One, the judge can still sentence her to death unless he offers something else. The state will offer no deal. Never will. The second thing is how it impacts the appeal process. If she pleads, it means she is of sound mind and all appeals are thrown out the window. That's why I said yesterday that she would be examined by psychologists before a plea would be accepted. To be quite frank, she has absolutely no incentive whatsoever to plead and no offer is in the works.
Oh yes, since you were so, so kind, I removed the chicken.
Tony - I would never neglect this blog. It costs money.
Praise the Lord!! I no longer have to look at that blue bird. Thank you, Margaret. Your plea carried more weight than mine.
Speaking of pleas, if Casey were to plea and throw her mercy on Judge Perry, I do not believe he would sentence her to death. As heinous as the crime may have been and the age of the victim, I do not think it qualifies for the DP. Life without the possibility of parole would be worse than death. In general population, each day she would be fighting for her life. She could not sit on her butt all day reading, she would have to work. That may be cleaning toilets or scrubbing floors. You cannot refuse whatever work detail you are assigned to. Casey should be able to go outside in the excercise yard at the prison. She never gets any sun in the jail now.
Here in Canada, prisioners who have murdered or raped a child are put in protective custody and are not in general population. It was that way at the prison where my daughter used to work. I am not sure how it is the same in the United States. Some of our prisons are like the Ritz Hotel, the minimum security are anyway. The maximum prisons are quite different and its clang clang clang 24/7 in the cell blocks.
If Judge Perry does not allow Kronk's past bad acts to be brought into evidence, where will the defense go?
LINDA KENNEY BADEN PULLS OUT!
WHAT? Omg....give us the scoop as you get it Dave.... I wonder if Baez and Mason met with Linda as scheduled. They were due to depose Tony Lazarro on that same trip to New York. This is an upset and that plea bargaining may be getting closer..
Thank you Dave and Snoopy. Poor Roy Kronk, I do not think Casey would have told anyone where she left Caylee. I thinkthe remarks Casey kept making about Caylee being close to home, made Kronk get suspicious of that area. I think he probably searched what he could each time he was in the area, until it finally got dry enough to go deeper. I believe that if he had known for sure that Caylee was therethe first time he looked, he would stayed right there until he got someones attention . I think he called his supervisor because no one was taking him seriously when he had called before. JMO. I slip over and enjoy reading your posts too Snoopy, when I can grab the time. Both of you are very talented.
Thank you, Margaret. Now, it's almost time for Jeopardy!
Thank you so much, Margaret. That means alot to me. Now I need to do some sleuthing about Linda Baden.
I bet when they met with her that this was the outcome. This case just seems to get more interesting as we get closer.
glad ur goin dave..u can sort out the rubbish and help us understand wats goin on again.... look forward to ur report .. as always keep up the great work :))) cinta
SNOOPY and DAVE, there is an article written by LKB on the Huffington Post today, concerningthe Juan Williams and the NPR story. I found her to be very honest .and I agreed with her interpretation.
Thanks, Margaret. I'll have to go read it since you gave her a great review.
LOL- that headless chicken...okay, as a side point, there really was a headless (living) chicken...
http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/story.php
Hi, pacific blue - Oh yes, I'm very familiar with Mike. Most people don't believe me when I mention him. He drowned while his owner was feeding him with an eyedropper. So sad, but he didn't know he was still alive up until that point. It was a good life. He made a lot of scratch for his owners and that wasn't chicken feed.