Casey Anthony's former lead defense attorney, Jose Baez, is striking back against a private investigator who alleges in newly released court documents that Baez traded Anthony legal services for sexual favors.
Baez described the allegations as "completely false" when contacted by The Huffington Post on Thursday.
Advertisement
Florida private investigator Dominic Casey, who once worked alongside Anthony's defense team, made the shocking allegations in court documents related to her Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The Florida woman filed for bankruptcy after her 2011 acquittal in the murder of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, who disappeared from the Orlando area in 2008. The child's remains were later found not far from Anthony's home.
A copy of the deposition, which was recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, was published Wednesday by Tampa's WTSP News.
In the sworn deposition, Casey says he was in Baez's office on Sept. 5, 2008, when Baez allegedly told Anthony she owed him "3 blow jobs" because he had canceled a media interview at her request.
Advertisement
In the affidavit, Casey said that the alleged misconduct "escalated" two weeks later, when he unexpectedly showed up at Baez's office and saw a naked Anthony run "from [Baez's] private office, through the conference room to the hallway."
The private investigator said he later told Anthony that she "cannot allow [Baez] to continue engaging in this behavior."
"Casey [Anthony] told me she had to do what Jose said because she had no money for her defense," he said, according to the affidavit. "I reminded her that Baez had more than enough money ... to pay for her defense. Casey [Anthony] apologized and assured me it would not happen again."
Casey said he quit working for Baez after that incident. Baez says he never had any type of sexual relationship with his client.
Advertisement
"I unequivocally and categorically deny exchanging sex for my legal services with Ms. Anthony," Baez told HuffPost. "I further unequivocally and categorically deny having any sexual relationship with Ms. Anthony whatsoever."
Casey further alleges that "in October 2008, just prior to [Caylee's] remains being found, Casey [Anthony] told me that when Caylee came up missing, the back gate was left ajar. Since Roy Kronk was a meter reader for the house, maybe 'We could say Roy Kronk kidnapped Caylee' … she was insistent that [Kronk] be implicated or blamed in some way."
Kronk discovered Caylee's remains roughly two months later, in December 2008. The timing, Baez said, is a clear indication that Casey is lying about the conversation he claims he had with Anthony.
"He says we were blaming Kronk, but [Casey Anthony] was sent back to jail on October 14 -- two months before anyone knew of Kronk," Baez said. The defense attorney said jail records clearly show Casey never visited Anthony or had any telephone conversations with her while she was incarcerated and awaiting trial.
Advertisement
Baez also denies that he sent Casey to the "swamp on Suburban Drive" prior to the discovery of Caylee's remains, another allegation Casey made in the deposition.
"He says I sent him to the woods, but yet he told the FBI that a psychic sent him to the woods," Baez said.
Casey did, in a Jan. 7, 2009, interview with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, state that he went to the area on Suburban Drive based on information from Anthony's friends, who described it as a "childhood hangout," as well as information he had received from a psychic.
"And just for the record, the information that we're talking about does not relate to any information that Casey [Anthony] provided to you," an investigator asked during the 2009 interview.
"That is correct," Casey replied, according to court documents.
Advertisement
Baez says Casey "has a history of making outrageous claims" and that it was he, not Casey, who terminated their business relationship.
"He was only working for the defense for a couple of weeks until I realized he was not credible," Baez said.
Casey did not return a call for comment from HuffPost.
According to Orlando's WFTV News, the Florida Bar has not received a complaint against Baez and is not conducting an investigation into Casey's claims.
Still, Baez called the allegations "libelous" and said "legal action is forthcoming."
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.