The Unsolved Mystery: 5 Men Linked To Caylee Anthony's Father And Casey Anthony's Latest Claims

The identity of Caylee Anthony’s biological father remains one of the most enduring and frustrating mysteries surrounding the high-profile case of the Florida toddler. The question has persisted since Caylee’s disappearance in 2008 and continues to fuel public debate and media speculation, especially with new documentaries and interviews emerging in the last few years. As of December 18, 2025, the official record still lists the father as "unknown," a fact that Casey Anthony herself has repeatedly insisted upon, even while weaving a complex web of contradictory stories.

The latest wave of information has not clarified the father's identity but instead has focused on the deep dysfunction and accusations within the Anthony family, particularly following the 2022 documentary, Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies, and subsequent media appearances by her parents, George and Cindy Anthony. The focus has shifted from "who is the father" to "why won't Casey tell."

Casey Anthony: A Brief Biography and Profile

Casey Marie Anthony became a household name after the disappearance and death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony, in 2008. Her life has been defined by the sensational murder trial and the subsequent public scrutiny.

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• Full Name: Casey Marie Anthony
• Date of Birth: March 19, 1986
• Place of Birth: Warren, Ohio
• Parents: George Anthony and Cindy Anthony
• Sibling: Lee Anthony (Older Brother)
• Daughter: Caylee Marie Anthony (Born: August 9, 2005; Died: Estimated June 2008)
• Trial Outcome (2011): Acquitted of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated manslaughter of a child. Found guilty of four counts of providing false information to law enforcement.
• Current Status: She was released from jail in 2011 and has since lived a largely private life in Florida, occasionally working as a legal advocate/investigator and participating in documentary interviews.

The Enduring Mystery: Why Casey Anthony Refuses to Name Caylee’s Father

The identity of Caylee’s biological father is an official non-entity in the legal records of the case, and Casey Anthony has consistently maintained that she does not know who he is. However, her inconsistent and often contradictory statements over the years have led to numerous theories and the naming of several men who were in her life around the time of Caylee's conception. The primary reason for the enduring mystery, according to Casey, is a combination of her own lack of certainty and a desire for privacy for the man involved.

During her 2022 documentary, Casey Anthony claimed she was sexually abused by her father, George Anthony, and that she "didn't know who the father was" after finding out she was pregnant. This claim, which was also part of the defense’s strategy during the 2011 murder trial, has been vehemently denied by George Anthony.

The defense team, led by Jose Baez, introduced the controversial theory during the trial that Caylee accidentally drowned in the family pool, and that George Anthony helped cover up the death. The failure to identify the father, coupled with the defense’s accusations, painted a picture of a deeply troubled family environment, which ultimately led to the jury’s stunning not-guilty verdict on the murder charge.

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The 5 Men Linked to Caylee Anthony’s Paternity

Over the years, various individuals have been named, implied, or suspected of being Caylee Anthony’s biological father. DNA evidence has been used to conclusively rule out some of the most prominent names, leaving the true identity still unknown.

1. Jesse Grund (Ex-Fiancé)

Jesse Grund was Casey Anthony’s fiancé and was dating her around the time she became pregnant. He initially believed he was Caylee's father and helped raise her for the first part of her life. However, Grund provided a DNA sample to investigators, and he was conclusively ruled out as the biological father.

2. Lee Anthony (Brother)

In a shocking moment during the 2011 trial, defense attorney Jose Baez implied that Casey Anthony’s older brother, Lee Anthony, could be the father of Caylee. This implication was part of the defense's strategy to suggest sexual abuse within the family. Like Grund, Lee Anthony provided a DNA sample, and he was also ruled out as the biological father.

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3. George Anthony (Father/Accused Abuser)

While George Anthony is Casey’s father and Caylee’s grandfather, he has been linked to the paternity mystery through Casey's own accusations. Casey has claimed in depositions and the 2022 documentary that she was molested by her father, George. This accusation, though vehemently denied by George, has been used to explain why she may not know the father's identity or why she was reluctant to name him.

4. Michael Duggan (Claimed by Mother)

At one point during the investigation, a woman claimed that her son, Michael Duggan, was Caylee Anthony's father. This claim was never substantiated or confirmed by Casey Anthony or investigators, and Duggan's role in the case remains a peripheral theory.

5. "Eric" and Other Unnamed Men

Theories and unverified reports have suggested other names. One report mentioned that Casey claimed Caylee's father was a friend from junior high named Eric. Another theory suggests two men Casey claimed were the father died in car accidents, though the names are often conflated or unverified. These men, often referred to as "phantom fathers," underscore Casey's pattern of providing false or misleading information about her life and relationships.

The Latest Update: George Anthony’s Lie Detector Test

The most recent information to emerge regarding the Anthony family dynamics came from an A&E special where George Anthony agreed to take a polygraph, or lie detector test, in response to his daughter's accusations. The test focused on questions related to the disappearance and death of Caylee Anthony, including whether he concealed her body or had any involvement in her death.

The results of the polygraph test, though not admissible in court, were presented in the documentary and showed George Anthony’s responses. This public event highlighted the continued, bitter estrangement between Casey and her parents, George and Cindy Anthony, and reignited the debate over the defense's drowning theory and the allegations of familial abuse.

Ultimately, the question of Caylee Anthony's biological father remains officially unanswered. The lack of a confirmed paternal identity is a crucial piece of the puzzle that continues to haunt the case, feeding the public's fascination and the perception that the full truth of Caylee's short life and tragic death has yet to be revealed.