ORLANDO, FL -- Mourners began gathering before daybreak Tuesday for a public memorial service for Caylee Marie Anthony.
Thousands are expected to attend the service at the First Baptist Church on John Young Parkway in Orlando. The church has a seating capacity of 5,000.
Clarence Watts was one of the first to arrive. "I decided to ride out here tonight to see where the location was and everything. And I planned on being out here first thing in the morning," he told a reporter with WFTV.
Security will be tight. Those attending the memorial will have to pass through metal detectors. There will be no bags, purses, cell phones or cameras allowed inside.
Caylee (photos) went missing last June. Her remains were found in December. Her mother, Casey Anthony (photos), is accused of killing the toddler.
On Monday, Casey released a statement through her attorney, Jose Baez.
"I miss Caylee every day and every minute of every day. I can't be there for Caylee's funeral, but some day I want to go and visit her grave and tell her how much I miss her," Baez read from the statement.
Casey also made it clear that she did not want a public service. "I allowed my parents to be in charge for the funeral for Caylee. I told them I wanted her buried in a casket and I wanted there to be a gravestone so I could go and visit her. I asked them if there could only be a private funeral for just the family," she wrote.
Baez said he wasn't sure if Casey would ask to watch or listen to the service, which begins at 10 a.m.
ABCActionNews.com will carry the service in its entirety.
