Missing Girl Is Still Alive, Spokesman Says

ORLANDO | The spokesman for a lawyer representing a Florida woman accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter said Thursday that they think the child is alive, and that he never told a national television network the girl was dead.

Caylee Anthony's body has not been found in four months of searches, but her family has maintained she is alive.

"That is our belief," spokesman Todd Black said Thursday. "It's preposterous to report anything else."

The child's mother, Casey Anthony, was indicted Tuesday on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated abuse of a child, aggravated manslaughter and four counts of lying to investigators. Her lawyers have said she is innocent.

Black was interviewed by Headline News on Tuesday. A transcript released by the network showed Black said "this is a very serious case involving not just the loss of the life of this little girl but the loss of whatever is going to happen with Casey Anthony." The network stood by its interview.

"This was a live interview and it is what he said," said Janine Iamunno, a Headline News spokeswoman.

Jose Baez, Anthony's lawyer, agreed with Black's stance.

"We believe Caylee is alive," Baez said in a news conference outside his Kissimmee office. "To take that out of context is a disservice to the Anthonys and the child."

Baez said he has turned over tips on Caylee sightings to Orange County authorities.

The defense got a mixed response on a motion it filed last week asking that evidence testing be stopped to preserve remaining material for analysis by the defense.

Judge Stan Strickland ruled that the state can proceed with the testing, but stipulated that Anthony's lawyers be notified in advance.