Attorney Compares Case To JonBenet Ramsey
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando defense attorney Mark NeJame turned to national television on Wednesday to discuss the search for Caylee Anthony.
NeJame appeared on NBC's "Today" show at 10 a.m., but he spoke with WESH 2 News first.
NeJame said George and Cindy Anthony aren't persons of interest, they're victims. He compared the Anthony case to that of JonBenet Ramsey.
" Everybody had vilified her mother, accused her, law enforcement and the media and the public, and then many years later, the poor lady dies of cancer, and a month after her passing, she's exonerated that she had nothing to do with the death of her daughter," NeJame said.
NeJame said his role is to solely represent George and Cindy Anthony and put the sanity back in what has become an insane situation.
He added that there are only a few things he can comment on.
" We spoke with law enforcement, and law enforcement has specifically asked us not to comment about any communications or anything else, but clearly, law enforcement has answered that. Cindy and George are not suspects, they're not people of interest, they are victims," NeJame said. "My exclusive role is to represent George and Cindy and their quest to find their granddaughter. "
NeJame said the speculation surrounding Caylee's grandparents has to stop and that's why he's involved.
" Many believe Casey has done something to Caylee. How could a mother do something to her daughter but they forget that Casey is Cindy’s daughter and in 60 days you have to work through a lot of things, and how do you do that under most sane of situations, let alone this three-ring circus? " he said.
As far as George Anthony facing battery charges for shoving two protesters, NeJame said he doesn't believe charges will be filed.
" He thought they were on his property. They may have been, and if they weren't, it was a confusing line. There is clearly no intent," NeJame said.
The high-profile case is attracting big bucks from companies hoping to crack Casey Anthony's silence and buy her story.
Todd Black, a representative for Casey Anthony's attorney Jose Baez, said they've received offers of more than $1 million for interviews, book deals, TV movies and motion pictures, including pay-per-view.
Black said they're only listening to the options, but money for the potentially expensive defense has to come from somewhere.
" $50,000 to $350,000, we've even had an offer come from an overseas company that specializes in pay-per-view, and those offers can exceed $1 million," Black said. "We've made it clear to everyone that their inquiry will be put into a file, and we don't know whether that file will ever have to be opened. "
“ George and Cindy have not made one penny off of this. They have not signed one contract. Casey is not my client, and what her attorney, Mr. Baez, may or may not have done is a question that needs to be directed towards them, ” NeJame said.
Black also said they're developing a Web site for Casey Anthony's defense fund.
