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Source of decomposition smells in yard, car possibly moved in missing girl mystery, detectives say

'Credible' tip of missing girl on flight surfaces; investigators checking

ORLANDO, Fla. – Similar human decomposition smells found in a yard and a car during a search for a missing Orlando girl indicate the source may have been moved, investigators said Wednesday.

A search for Caylee Anthony, 2, continued Wednesday despite questions about whether the girl is still alive.

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Last week, cadaver dogs searched the Orange County back yard of Cindy and George Anthony for signs of their missing granddaughter, who was not reported missing for five weeks.

During the search, cadaver dogs found the smell of human decomposition in the yard, Local 6 learned.

The dogs also hit on the same smell in the trunk of the car the child's mother Casey Anthony, 22, had been driving, police said.

"We had two different dogs from two different counties that hit on the same exact spot," Orange County sheriff's investigator Carlos Padilla said.

The sheriff's office believes it is possible that whatever produced the decomposition smell could have been in the back yard and then moved to the car, Bolden reported.

"Could it have been a body or could it have been clothes?" Padilla asked. "Again, that is something that has to be investigated."

The investigation includes processing other items found in Anthony's car.

"Because they found hair samples in the trunk of the car that are similar in color and length to that of Caylee and they also found a stain in the trunk that came up under black light that is questionable," Orange County Detective Yuri Melich said. "They also found some dirt inside the car that needs to be processed."

Detectives said they don't have enough evidence to file additional charges against Anthony but it could become a potential homicide investigation.

"Is it something that could later on bring more charges?" Padilla said. "That is a possibility. But right now, we have to process that evidence."

Officers said they still have not ruled out the possibility that Caylee could still be alive.

'Credible' Tip Surfaces

Meanwhile, a tip that Caylee was on an airplane at Orlando International Airport has surfaced and is being checked by investigators.

Attorney Jose Baez said the girl was spotted during a nationally televised interview Tuesday night.

"Someone said they were 99 percent sure they spotted her at the airport boarding a flight or on a flight to Atlanta," Baez said. "We don't know what the final destination was."

Hundreds of tips have been called in to police since the girl was reported missing last week, but Baez said the latest is encouraging for the family.

"One of the things that seemed very encouraging was they asked her for her name and she answered her name," Baez said. "The way she answered her name is exactly as the family knows she answers her name by using both her first, middle and last name and the way she pronounces her last name."

Baez did not say who the tipster was but the sheriff's department planned to follow up on the tip.

Currently, the sheriff's department is downplaying the announcement of the tip.

Anthony Could Walk Out Of Jail

Meanwhile, Casey Anthony could walk out of jail Wednesday.

Judge Stan Strickland set bond at $500,000 for Anthony after hearing testimony from officers that a smell in her vehicle was decomposition and not trash and a K-9 dog alerted to human decomposition in her trunk.

Baez was angered by the high bond amount Tuesday night.

"I think $500,000 bond is tantamount to no bond at all," Baez said.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Caylee is urged to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this developing story.


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