ORANGE COUNTY, FL -- Sources close to the investigation of the remains of a child found in a wooded area last week say a major announcement is expected today. A 2:00 p.m. news conference is scheduled at the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Orlando media outlets are reporting that investigators will provide updates on the remains, widely believed to be those of
Caylee Anthony (
photos).
It's also expected that the identity of the meter reader who found the remains will be revealed.
A sheriff's spokesman says the worker who discovered the remains on December 11 called three times in August with tips that he had seen a partially submerged bag in the same area. The tips were called in on August 11, 12 and 13, two weeks before Tropical Storm Fay flooded much of central Florida.
Sheriff's Captain Angelo Nieves told reporters Thursday that deputies went to the area twice in August and cleared the scene. He said the sheriff's office is conducting an adminsitrative investigation to determine the thoroughness of the deputies' follow up.
As for the meter reader, Nieves said the utility worker is not considered a suspect. "He is not a suspect in this case," Nieves said. "He is a credible witness and we consider him so at the Orange County Sheriff's Office."
Nieves said the worker had a nagging feeling about the site and returned there last week to have another look. He came across a bag, picked it up and a skull fell out.
It's believed the remains the worker found are those of 2-year-old Caylee, who went missing in June. Some of the remains were sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia for DNA analysis.
They were found less than a half mile from the home of Caylee's mother,
Casey Anthony (
photos).
Casey is charged with murdering Caylee. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
MORE SKELETAL REMAINS FOUNDInvestigators have released new crime scene photographs (see slide show) and said "significant skeletal remains" were found late Thursday along the outer perimeter of the one acre crime scene.
Captian Nieves said the remains were consistent with those of a child.
Because of the discovery, Nieves says the search for additional evidence will continue, possibly into late Saturday.
"We will release the scene when it's appropriate to do so," Nieves said.
