Casey Anthony acquitted of murder in daughter's death, guilty of lying to police

On July 15, 2008, Casey Anthony walked into an Orange County, Florida, police station and reported her two-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony, missing. She told authorities the child had been abducted by a babysitter named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez. Investigators later determined that babysitter did not exist.

But the report came 31 days after Caylee was last seen. During that month, Casey told family and friends the girl was with the babysitter, according to the case file. It was only when Cindy Anthony, Casey's mother, confronted her about the child's whereabouts that the missing-person report was made.

Cindy Anthony called 911 that same day, saying her granddaughter was missing and that Casey's car smelled like death, according to police reports. Officers found a white Pontiac Sunfire belonging to Casey. In its trunk, they found a stain that tested positive for chloroform, a chemical used in some cleaning products and a known sedative. They also detected a decomposition odor and found hair consistent with Caylee's, according to the investigation.

Casey was arrested on charges of child neglect, making false statements, and obstructing an investigation. She was later charged with first-degree murder. The timeline of the case stretched from that July report to a verdict four years later.