Caylee Anthony shrine grows in wooded area – Tbo.com
By ROB SHAW | The Tampa TribunePublished: July 05, 2011Updated: July 05, 2011 – 11:23 AM
ORLANDO –
Carole Fedor gripped two smaller teddy bears, while her 15-year-old daughter hugged a large brown one.
Thirty minutes away from the Orange County Courthouse, in a patch of swampy woods choked with mosquitoes and vines, the two came to pay their respects this morning to Caylee Anthony.
It has been 2½ years since the remains of the 2-year-old were found here, just off Suburban Drive on the outskirts of suburban Orlando.
A jury is deliberating the fate of her mother, Casey Anthony, on first-degree murder and other charges.
“Hopefully, she gets some closure today,” says Fedor, choking back tears. “It’s been dragging on for years now.”
It’s not the first time Fedor has been to the site where the toddler’s remains were found. She came in December 2008, when it went from a missing-person case to a high-profile murder investigation.
“It hurts,” she says. “I don’t see how anybody can throw a body out here in the middle of nowhere and go on like nothing happened.”
There are stuffed animals of all colors, shapes and sizes. There is everything a little girl would want – from Dora to Winnie-the-Pooh to Snoopy and Minnie Mouse.
As a plethora of deputies patrol the neighborhood streets, a short walk away from the house where the Anthony family lives, some people have left candles. Others have left homemade signs.
“Rest in peace, Baby Caylee,” one reads.
“Your safe in the arms of Jesus,” another says.
“Justice will be served,” still another says.
Prosecutors say Anthony killed Caylee because the toddler interrupted her carefree partying and love life. The defense says the girl accidentally died in the family swimming pool. Jurors are weighing testimony and evidence for the second straight day.
Fedor knows the kind of justice she wants: “I wish they’d go back to the hanging days,” she says.
Visitors to the woods have come from Tampa. From Louisiana. From New Jersey.
Fedor and her daughter, Dawn Grant, came from just 15 minutes down the road.
Dawn decided she wanted to leave a large brown teddy bear that she has had for two or three years.
“I just wanted to comfort her (Caylee) and let her know she’s not forgotten,” the teen said. “I think it’s stupid. Just because she wanted to party didn’t mean she had to do that.”
The two placed their teddy bears among the growing shrine, then stood back to take in the moment and pay their respects quietly.
Tears in her eyes, Fedor put a hand to her lips, kissed it, then bent over to place her hand on the muddy ground.
“Rest in peace,” she said.