It\u00a0was around\u00a011:30AM, \u00a0November 13, 2008 when I received the
\ninitial call asking if I would be willing to assist in a search for missing
\n2 year old Calyee Anthony.<\/p>\n
3am, November 14, 2008. I wait outside a grocery stores parking
\nlot for a friend to arrive to share a ride. The search is to be
\nconducted in Orlando Florida’s Little Econ River. The river is dark,
\nfilled with debris, and alligators.<\/p>\n
We arrive at around 7:30am to see the site, find our spot and unload
\nour gear. Between the time we arrived and the time we entered the
\nwater, which was around 10:20am, a number of news stations as well
\nas curious onlookers have set themselves up along the river.<\/p>\n
Everyone was quite polite and respectful.\u00a0 We received our orders,
\nif we find something, we bring it up, keep it below water level and
\nto pass it off to only one of two people. Jason and I were in the water
\nnot more than 5 minutes when we feel something. I say feel because it
\nwas pitch black and we were only in maybe 4 – 5 feet of water. Zero
\nvisibility. We communicated through hand touching. We both knew
\nwhat we had to do next. Carefully we brought the item to the surface,
\nwaved to shore (that is me waving in the video) to get the attention of
\none of the individuals to transfer the item. Once we passed the item
\nover, we headed back into the water.<\/p>\n
We remained working our way along the bottom, feeling with your hands
\nfor objects, then feeling those objects to see if we found a soda can or some
\ngarbage. Sometimes you could not tell and would have to come up into
\nthe light to look and we usually headed right back down. Jason and I
\nremained in the water for over an hour.<\/p>\n
I vividly remember sticking my head out of the water. I am wearing
\na hood and I hear someone. I look in the direction of the sound and a
\nwoman is at the edge of the river yelling something to me. I can’t make
\nit out, so I swim closer and as I near her, I pull the hood off my ear and
\nshe saying “God bless you.” My heart skipped a beat and I am reminded
\nof why I am here, I have to find Caylee.<\/p>\n
Jason and I exited the water after exhausting our tank. We exchange tanks
\nand eat lunch. Now here shows you the hearts of the people around the
\nworld. We had so much food and fluids delivered to us by local businesses
\nwhere some of the items were paid for by citizens living in other states.
\nOne deliverer tells us a woman from Arazona phone in the order. Literally
\na large cooler full of quiznos sandwiches. We had folks walking up and laying
\ndown cases of water, gatoraide, food at the police line we had set up.
\nI was pleased to see how well people respected the boundries. We had one
\ngentlemen pull up and unload water, food and even started the grill and
\ngrilled burgers and dogs for us, right there. We were not alone!<\/p>\n
Jason and I were taken for a walk to another potential area where Caylee
\ncould be. We discussed priorities, possibilities, probabilities as we headed
\nback to the main search site.<\/p>\n
Jason and I headed back into the water around 2pm. This time we were
\ngiven a different location and instructions on how they wanted the search
\nconducted. The second in, Jason and I had it down. We could now cover
\nmore ground, more thorough after our first pass.<\/p>\n
Here is where I heard . . . . the alligator. I promise you, when they tell you
\nsound travels in water, fast and clearer than air, believe me they’re right.
\nI’m searching through the silt when I hear the roar\/moan of an alligator and
\nit sounded as though it was somewhere right around me. I could not tell which
\ndirection, all I can tell is it was LOUD and clear. I freeze, turn a 90 towards
\nwhat I believe is the direction of our side of the river and move slowly and
\ncautiously. I turned out to be right. I ended up near our camp. Phew! I report
\nthe alligator and the rifles come out.<\/p>\n
We end up with one visible alligator that decided to visit our area. I believe
\nit was saying, I know you are there, and now you know I am here. This is my
\nterritory. Now we understand this, I’ll go on my way and I’ll let you dive here.
\nNice…<\/p>\n
It’s around 4:00pm, a diver is sent into the water to retrieve Jason and I.
\nUpon exiting the water, all the staff diving, our shore support and bounty hunter
\nLeonard Padilla come over to shake our hands. We get together as a group.
\nThis is when it got emotional for me again. The folks that were still around
\ncame over to the line and started taking pictures. There must have been 40+
\npeople and the news all around us taking picture. People saying, things to
\nme like, I have a whole new respect for divers. God Bless you. Thank you.<\/p>\n
It humbles you, yet in the back of my mind, I did not find little Caylee Anthony,
\nI failed.<\/p>\n