Home of Caylee Anthony’s grandparents is searched

ORLANDO, FLA. —  Moments after investigators shut down the crime scene where a meter reader discovered Caylee Marie Anthony’s remains 10 days ago, they served a search warrant at the nearby home of the toddler’s grandparents Saturday afternoon.

The case’s lead investigators and crime scene technicians stayed inside George and Cindy Anthony’s house for nearly two hours before emerging with two large boxes and two bags. Orange County Sheriff’s Capt. Angelo Nieves would not identify what was removed, but said that “items of evidentiary value were found.”

George and Cindy Anthony were home when investigators arrived with the warrant, and a visibly upset George Anthony could be seen as they made their way inside.

“It’s never a good time for anyone who’s lost a granddaughter -- obviously we’re going to treat them with respect,” Nieves said. “But we have an investigation to conduct.”

Nieves said a judge signed the warrant Saturday afternoon, based on evidence that investigators gathered at the crime scene in the last several days. He would not say what that evidence was.

Caylee was 2 when she was last seen in June. Her mother, Casey Anthony, 22, has been charged with murder in her daughter’s death and is in the Orange County jail. Her attorneys say a baby-sitter kidnapped the child.

On Friday, investigators said that a DNA sample taken from bones found at the crime scene matched a sample of Caylee’s DNA.

A steady stream of people continued to visit a makeshift memorial for the toddler on Saturday. Mourners left balloons, notes, pictures and hundreds of stuffed animals.

Kitty Bowersock of Winter Park, Fla., placed three roses at the memorial Saturday morning. She has a 3-year-old granddaughter, Cate, and said Caylee’s story affected her because she can’t understand how someone could hurt a child.

“I can’t comprehend it with Caylee, or with any child,” she said. “I’m shaking right now.”

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heckinger@ orlandosentinel.com