Casey Anthony Due in Court: First Public Appearance Since Hiding
Casey Anthony will make her first public appearance since going into hiding as she attends a Tampa court for bankruptcy. Anthony's lawyer had argued for the case to be held in Orlando, which would afford her more privacy, but Judge K. Rodney May denied the request, and Anthony is due in court today.
Anthony's lawyer fears for her life after learning that there is a "$50,000 bounty" on her location, according to reports. Yet Anthony was allegedly seen in public wearing a disguise; she has had to live under the radar since being acquitted of the murder of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in 2011.
Anthony filed for bankruptcy on Jan. 26 after claiming $792,00 in debt and only $1,100 in assets. She reportedly owes at least $500,000 to lawyer Jose Baez, who represented her during the public trial. She also owes $145,660 to the Orange County Sheriff's Office for a judgment covering investigative fees and costs; $68,540 to the IRS and $61,505 to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for court costs.
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She is also the subject of a lawsuit involving Zenaida Gonzalez, who alleges that Anthony used her name in the investigation, leading to defamation of character and slander. She is seeking unspecified damages from Anthony, who apparently has no money to pay.
Anthony is already on probation after being found guilty of check fraud; authorities never disclosed her location for fear someone may retaliate against her and take her life. It will be interesting to see how protected Anthony remains during the court appearance today; her debt could rise with the security needed for transportation to and from court.
Anthony's meeting will take place in a room at the courthouse that is "the most secure … and the public is more familiar with general rules regarding access to and conduct within the building," a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trustees told the Orlando Sentinel.
There will be no cameras allowed in the courtroom, so the only opportunity people have to see Anthony will be during her transportation, if at all.
