Only on News 13: State expert could be defense’s star witness in Casey case

ORLANDO -- 

A University of Florida expert on soil and water listed as a state expert could become one of the star witnesses for Casey Anthony's defense.

Three-D renderings of the crime scene show how the evidence found was spread out over the area.

"Area A" is identified as the "primary site of interest."

Enter UF Hydrologist Dr. James Jawitz, a professor of soil and water.

According to his deposition, Jawitz was contacted by the Orange County State Attorney's Office and "the question was during the time period of interest what was the best estimate for the water levels at the site."

That was Dr Jawitz's assignment.

“This area was a very flooded area,” said former Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary.
 
The prosecution’s theory is that the crime scene area was inundated with water after Caylee's remains were placed there. The rising water then picked up the evidence, it floated around and then it settled and spread out when the water receded.

That's why, again in theory, no one found anything until December, five months after Caylee was reported missing.

But Jawitz may have dropped a few jaws with his report.

When he turned in his "assignment," Jawitz concluded that for most of the entire period from June 16, 2008 to Dec. 11, 2008, Area A was *not(underlined) inundated."

He added that "the water level at the site *was high enough to submerge Area A between 18 August 2008 and 28 August 2008."

According to the state's expert, the area was only underwater for 10 days in August

However, the search group Texas EquuSearch didn't come to Orlando and start searching anywhere until Aug. 30, according to News 13's archives.

This was two days after Dr. Jawitz said the area dried up.

Then factor in former Anthony private investigator Dominic Casey, who was seen on video poking through the crime scene area.

In addition, psychic Gail St. John has a YouTube video where she gets out of the car and walks right into the woods four months before near the spot where Caylee was found.

News 13 found out that the State Attorney's Office paid more than $5,000 to Jawitz for his research and report.

It could end up helping to prove Anthony's defense that Caylee wasn't there until after Casey was locked up permanently in October 2008.

Dr. Jawitz agreed through e-mail to speak with us Thursday about the science he used in this case, and if it’s rare that a hydrologist would be front and center in a murder investigation.
    
Shortly after we speak, we'll share those details with you on News 13 and online at cfnews13.com.