No immunity for Caylee's mom, prosecutor says

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- The mother of a missing Florida toddler no longer has an offer of immunity from prosecutors to help in the search.

The state attorney's office said it had not heard back from Casey Anthony before the offer expired Tuesday morning. The sheriff's office said earlier that investigators believe 3-year-old Caylee Anthony is dead.

Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, didn't immediately respond to a phone and e-mail message for comment.

Investigators have been searching for Caylee since mid-July when she was reported missing after not being seen for about a month.

Prosecutors had extended an offer of limited immunity to the child's mother in exchange for her cooperation.

The sheriff's office in Orange County, Florida, now says that lab tests have confirmed that a decomposing body had been in the trunk of a car driven by Casey Anthony. Watch why they think the child is dead »

Investigators have called Casey Anthony, 22, a "person of interest" in Caylee's disappearance. She faces charges of child neglect, obstruction and making false statements in the case.

"[FBI] laboratory evidence, along with additional evidence that has not been made public, leads investigators to the belief there is a strong probability that Caylee is deceased," the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

"If any evidence to the contrary is provided, it will be vigorously pursued," the statement added.

Forensics tests confirmed there had been a decomposing body in the car, the statement said. Detectives disclosed at a July hearing the trunk contained hair samples appearing to belong to Caylee, a strong odor and suspicious stain that glowed under black light.

Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, has repeatedly said his client doesn't know what happened to Caylee.

Caylee was reported missing in mid-July, about a month after she was last seen. Casey Anthony told investigators she dropped the girl off with a baby sitter and went to work. Sheriff's detectives have said those details, and just about everything else Anthony has told them, were a lie.

Anthony was released on $500,000 bail August 21, but returned to custody Friday following new theft charges unrelated to Caylee. Prosecutors have offered Anthony limited immunity in exchange for cooperation, but that was set to expire Tuesday.

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