Birch, Simon

[Where Is Caylee]

Facility manager of the wrecking yard (Johnson?s Wrecker East) where Casey?s car was towed on June 30, 2008. After the car had been there a couple of weeks, he approached it and began to smell a foul odor. At the time, he did not pay further attention to the white Pontiac. On July 15, 2008, Birch was approached by Nicole Lett, who worked in the office, was dealing with two upset customers, George and Cindy Anthony. Cindy Anthony was trying to negotiate a discount for the towing fees; George agreed to pay the fees and provided the title and his driver license. As they walked, George Anthony mentioned that his daughter had been missing and that she would not allow him to see his granddaughter and has told several lies. When George opened the door of the car, a very foul odor came from inside. Mr. Birch recognized it as the same odor as had been in a car in which a man had committed suicide (his body had been in the car for about 5 days). When Mr. Birch said, ?That?s rotten,? George did not reply. They opened the trunk in order to locate the source of the odor (flies flew out) and found a garbage bag, which Mr. Birch opened. Papers, a pizza box and maggots were in the bag. Mr. Birch threw the bag over a fence into the tow lot?s dumpster. George noticed the fuel gauge read empty and said he had a gas can in his car. He retrieved the gas can, apologized for his wife being upset, poured gas into the Pontiac and drove away.

[Where Is Caylee]

<u>Simon B (Tow Yard Manager) Interview 7/24/08</u>

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