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'Did You Believe Your Daughter Was Alive?': Casey Anthony Asked Under Oath If She Killed Daughter

"I'm going to instruct you not to answer,” her lawyer advised as Anthony fielded questions related to a defamation suit against her. 

By Gina Tron
The Casey Anthony Case, Explained

Casey Anthony was asked under oath about her daughter Caylee Anthony's death as part of a civil case against her that alleges she and her attorneys launched a smear campaign against the man who found her daughter’s body.

On December 11, 2008, the skeletal remains of 2-year-old Caylee were found in the woods near her family home in Orlando, Florida, six months after the toddler vanished. Anthony, then 22, was later acquitted of her daughter’s murder, but questions about Caylee’s death have long lingered.

Currently, Anthony's legal team is gearing up to defend her from an impending defamation suit filed by the man who discovered the child’s body, former Orange County meter reader Roy Kronk. He claims that Anthony's defense lawyers' allegations that he killed Caylee damaged his life financially and emotionally, according to WESH 2 in Orlando. He has always maintained that he stumbled upon Caylee’s remains accidentally.

During an appearance on NBC's Today Show in 2008, Anthony’s defense attorney Jose Baez appeared to suggest that Kronk had something to do with the child’s murder.

"This is a situation where law enforcement never looked into this witness who is a critical witness -- never investigated this man's background," said Baez.

"He's [Kronk] the only one who has been with the body. He is the only who magically discovers it. He takes a day off the day before he discovers it again in December,” attorney Andrea Lyon told Today.

WESH 2 obtained a copy of a 2014 deposition, in which Anthony testified under oath, in relation to the civil suit. Kronk has reportedly been attempting to sue for the past five years.

Anthony, with her attorney Cheney Mason present, was asked questions by Kronk’s attorney Howard Marks about the death of her daughter.

"Do you admit you were involved in the death of Caylee Marie?" he asked, according to that deposition.

Mason, interrupted and defended his client, stating, “I’ll very clearly state, she denies admission. [...] We have instructed her not to answer any questions regarding any knowledge she has or does not have about the death of her child,” Mason added.

Marks continued and asked, "In August 2008, did you believe your daughter was alive?"

Mason interrupted again and said, "I'm going to instruct you not to answer.”

[Photo: Getty Images]