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Casey Anthony hoax puts focus on Newbury
Casey Anthony hoax puts focus on Newbury
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Casey Anthony, who held the attention of a nation as the accused killer of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, made her way into Geauga County last week. But it was in name only.
Media types began spilling into Newbury Township last week after an email was sent to Cleveland television stations claiming that Ms. Anthony was planning a move there.
The email, according to Lt. John Hiscox, with the Geauga County Sheriff's Department, reported that a moving van was spotted in Newbury Township alongside three police cruisers.
Mr. Hiscox said news reporters from the stations began calling the sheriff's department, asking for confirmation on the report, but no confirmation could be given.
He said he asked reporters to identify the department listed on the cruisers that supposedly accompanied the moving van. When they reported back that the cruisers were Newbury police, Mr. Hiscox informed them that the Newbury Police Department was disbanded years ago.
He said news reporters eventually attributed the email to a hoax but still asked the sheriff's department to make a formal statement declaring it as such.
Burton Fire Chief Michael Sestak said he was told that Ms. Anthony was having dinner at Mangia, Mangia, a Newbury restaurant. He said he was told that two deputies escorted her at the dinner.
Mr. Hiscox said the department does not provide such services to the public. He said only a private, off-duty officer hired by a citizen would provide that type of protection.
Mr. Sestak said many people could believe that Ms. Anthony may choose to live in this area, because her parents are originally from Warren.
He said the idea that Ms. Anthony is now living in Newbury was making the rounds on social media from Chardon to Painesville.
For some, the media invasion was too much.
One resident in the eastern end of the township reported to the sheriff's department he was greeted at the front door by a man who identified himself as being with one Cleveland station but having no credentials. The reporter asked about Ms. Anthony being a neighbor, according to the caller.
A resident in the center of the township reported seeing one of the television reports and seeing his home and vehicle on those reports.
The resident asked the sheriff's department for extra patrols in the area, fearing that those angered by the acquittal of Ms. Anthony on murder charges may bring backlash against him and his family.
Ms. Anthony's whereabouts have been subject to speculation since the resolution of her case July 5.
She was charged in Florida with the murder of her daughter in 2008. She did not report her daughter's disappearance for a month and was arrested after telling a string of lies about the case to police.
While acquitted of the murder charges, she was found guilty of lying to investigators.
Caylee's remains were found in December 2008 near the home Ms. Anthony shared with her parents.
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