Expert: Heart-Shaped Stickers Found in Casey Anthony's Bedroom
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A forensic expert said Tuesday that heart-shaped stickers were found in Casey Anthony's bedroom but didn't testify whether the items were linked to a similar outline observed on duct tape on the body of the Florida woman's slain 2-year-old daughter.
Even so, the stickers shown at the 25-year-old's murder trial over the objection of defense lawyers were powerful images just before the prosecution wraps up its case. Prosecutors plan to rest Wednesday after some last-minute housekeeping items.
The defense is expected to call its first witness Thursday, assuming a standard motion it plans to file asking for the judge to throw out the case is denied.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The prosecution detailed during several weeks of testimony in the trial, which has gained national attention, a largely circumstantial case. Prosecutors have said the girl was murdered and speculated she was suffocated, though a medical examiner testified the means by which the death occurred were undetermined.
Prosecutors have been able to build their case on Casey Anthony's conduct and the lies she told about her daughter's whereabouts during the month Caylee Anthony was missing. Soon it will be the defense team's turn to counter the evidence. The defense maintains the girl drowned in a pool.
Tuesday's testimony included discussion of some of the physical evidence investigators found.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Crime scene investigator Alina Burroughs told jurors the heart-shaped stickers were found in a box and a scrapbook, along with a letter addressed to Caylee Anthony.
Another investigator previously testified she noticed the outline of a heart on one of three pieces of duct tape while examining it under ultra-violet lighting. There were no pictures taken of what she saw, though.
Neither investigator conclusively linked the stickers to the outline. Also, the description of the outline appeared to be a different size than the stickers found in the defendant's bedroom.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FBI quality control manager Catherine Theisen testified that a hair strand found in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car showing signs of human decomposition was a DNA match to hairs found with toddler Caylee Anthony's decomposed skull. The trunk hair and skull hair also were DNA matches to skin cell samples taken from Casey Anthony.
Also Tuesday, the defendant's mother, Cindy Anthony, took the stand for the third time.
She started crying as the prosecutor asked her about a photo of Caylee Anthony in which the child was wearing the shirt found with her remains in December 2008. Cindy Anthony said the first time she ever saw that shirt was when she gave her deposition after the child went missing.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Later, a tattoo artist testified that Casey Anthony had a tattoo of the words "Bella Vita," or "beautiful life" in Italian, etched on her back on July 2, 2008. She returned on July 15 and scheduled another appointment for a few days later. Her daughter was reported missing on July 15, 2008, though, according to the tattoo artist, Casey Anthony told him she planned to bring her daughter in with her during her next appointment.
"She didn't seem upset or anything. She was happy for the most part," the tattoo artist, Bobby Williams, told jurors.